SKF Establishes Mike McGrath Memorial Fund To Support Community Crisis Center

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SKF Establishes Mike McGrath Memorial Fund To Support Community Crisis Center

Counterman Staff
By Counterman Staff
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The fund benefits the Community Crisis Center in Elgin, Ill., where Mike was a longtime supporter and frequent volunteer. The Community Crisis Center in Elgin aids Chicago area individuals and families who need it most – those who are victims of domestic violence and abuse, sexual assault or financial difficulties that have led to homelessness and despair.

ELGIN, Ill. – SKF has worked with the family of Mike McGrath to establish the Michael McGrath Sr. Memorial Fund as a meaningful way to honor his legacy. McGrath passed away suddenly in October.

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The fund benefits the Community Crisis Center in Elgin, Ill., where Mike was a longtime supporter and frequent volunteer. The Community Crisis Center in Elgin aids Chicago area individuals and families who need it most – those who are victims of domestic violence and abuse, sexual assault or financial difficulties that have led to homelessness and despair.

“Mike visited the crisis center on a number of occasions to interact with those who just needed a friend to talk to,” says Kenyatta Matlock, a longtime center volunteer and manager at SKF. “Mike would often cook dinner for the residents and made an effort to talk to each woman and child to offer words of encouragement during some of the toughest times.”

The Center provides a safe haven for many women and children in need, but sadly it cannot accommodate all those seeking help. The Michael McGrath Sr. Memorial Fund will help provide housing and day care assistance for those in need and may support the purchase of an additional multi-unit residence in the Elgin area.

How To Contribute to the Michael McGrath Sr. Memorial Fund

Contributions can be made online through the Chicago Community Trust (CCT), a non-profit organization providing fund administration. You can go to the CCT website: http://www.cct.org where you can click “Give” at the top of the page, then “Give online” on the left menu bar and then follow down the list to click on the “Michael McGrath, Sr. Memorial Fund.” (or click the fund name link to go directly there).  A confirmation email will be sent upon receipt of any donation that is made to the fund.

This is a designated trust fund and qualified 501(c)(3) that may be considered a charitable deduction for US income tax purposes.  The fund advisers include Dave Lewandowski ([email protected]), 224-535-2725 from SKF as well as Mike’s daughter Jenna.

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Customer service should be your number one priority, and it all starts with the greeting.

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Eric Garbe is a graduate of Columbus State Community College with a degree in Automotive Maintenance Technology. He has extensive independent and dealership field experience as a technician and shop owner and is an ASE Certified Master Technician and former Adjunct Automotive Professor. He has been professionally writing automotive technical articles and documents for many years and in his free time enjoys restoring old cars and creating custom interiors and upholstery.
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This is always an important topic to discuss, because I consider excellent customer service one of the most important tools you can have to earn trust, respect and repeat business from the customers that come through your door. Whether that customer is do-it-yourselfer from across town or the professional repair shop across the street, your business depends on a solid relationship.It’s a subject that I am passionate about, and it’s one that many people are losing touch with. Whether you are communicating to someone in person, on the phone or using some type of social media, good customer service and bad can both exist. You can’t afford the latter, so this is the first in a series of topics which can and should be shared from the front of the shop to the back. No matter which role you hold, you represent the shop and yourself. Customer service should be your number one priority.First on the list is the greeting. From the second a customer walks in the door, they need to know you appreciate them coming in and how important they are to your business. First impressions are everything and here’s the correct way to do it each and every time: look them directly in the eye, smile and say hello!Of course, you can say “Good morning” or “Welcome to Joe’s Autocare,” but it should be a formal greeting and the most important thing is that you have smiled, looked them in the eye and recognized that they have walked through the door.You should always retain a formal greeting until you are on a first-name basis with a customer. Only once you have established that level of relationship is it OK to use the less formal greeting of “Hi,” followed by the person’s name.This greeting does more than just indicate respect and appreciation for someone walking through the door. Most likely there are customers both new and old who are in earshot of your conversation. For newer customers, this continues to build rapport and reinforce their positive view of your shop; they see that you demonstrate respect and treat everyone in the same manner. For repeat customers, even ones that have been coming for years, the greeting is important because the way you treat them is the reason they continue to come.And when a long-time customer comes in and you greet them with “Hi [First Name],” this indicates your appreciation for them and that you’re glad to see them as a person, more than just a customer. New customers that witness this will see that your repeat customers are comfortable enough to be on a first-name basis, another indication of the trust they have in you.

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