CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts to Wash for a Wish and Attempt to Break Its Own Guinness World Record for Largest North American Car Wash in History

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- What do 2,000 volunteers, mounds of soap suds, 140 CARSTAR stores and more than 4,000 vehicles add up to?  Dreams come true for Make-A-Wish® kids and children with cystic fibrosis across North America!

This June 11, thousands of volunteers across the United States and Canada will be washing vehicles in hopes of breaking the Guinness World Record for "Most Cars Washed – Multiple Venues" it set in 2009 by washing more than 4,000 vehicles in eight hours.  In the process, it hopes to raise funds to help grant wishes for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America and serve children with cystic fibrosis in Canada.

Themed "Wash for a Wish", the third annual Soaps It Up! Car Wash will be held across the U.S. and Canada on June 11, 2011 as a fundraiser for cystic fibrosis in Canada and the Make-A-Wish Foundation in the United States, as well as some local market charities.  More than 140 CARSTAR stores throughout both countries are expected to participate in the one-day event.  Tickets are being sold at participating CARSTAR stores in the U.S. for $10, with 100 percent of the ticket purchase benefiting the selected charities.

"Over the first two years, the Soaps It Up! Car Wash has been able to unite the CARSTAR family across North America to help thousands of children in need," said David Byers, CEO of CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts.  "Now, we are ready to continue the tradition and make the "Wash for a Wish" Soaps It Up! Car Wash the biggest and best ever.  We want to break our Guinness World Record for world's largest car wash – and bring even more support for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America and cystic fibrosis in Canada."

The CARSTAR partners are sweetening the program with special offers for participants:

• 3M Car Care is offering a $6 rebate on the 3M Scratch Removal Kit to help drivers keep their paint finish looking perfect.
• CARSTAR is partnering with Hertz, who is providing an offer of up to $25 off of a weekday or weekend rental with every ticket purchase.
• Cheryl's Cookies is giving participants six free cookies (shipping and handling additional charge)

"We're grateful that CARSTAR is doing so much to help us improve the quality of life for our wish kids and their families through a wish experience," said David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer.  "Wish kids are happier, more self-confident and feel less isolated as a result of their wishes. The Soaps It Up! event will enable even more kids across the country to enjoy those life-affirming qualities."

CARSTAR stores in Canada have been conducting the "Soaps It Up!" Car Wash for the past seven years, and this is the third time the program has been done in the United States.  The 2009 event was the first attempt for any organization to set the record for the largest car wash across multiple locations.

For more information on the "Soaps It Up!" Car Wash and for participating locations, visit www.CARSTAR.com.  

CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts offers high-quality, reliable repair service in 30 states and 10 Canadian provinces.  Just call 1-800-CARSTAR when you need a vehicle repair and they will send the tow truck, contact your insurance company, arrange for a rental car and repair your car. For information and store locations visit www.CARSTAR.com.

About CARSTAR

CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts is the largest group of branded collision repair facilities in North America with over 380 locally owned and operated locations in 30 states and 10 Canadian provinces. CARSTAR is committed to providing consistent quality services to our customers and insurance partners and has repaired more than 2.5 million vehicles since it was founded in 1989. Our technicians and front office staff receive ongoing training to ensure they are qualified to work on any vehicle. Customer satisfaction is our number one priority as we consistently lead the industry in customer satisfaction ratings.

About the Make-A-Wish Foundation

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Founded in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is one of the world's leading children's charities, with 64 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 200,000 wishes in the United States since its inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish®.

SOURCE CARSTAR