The Story of Tommy’s Express: MDA Golf Scramble

The MDA Golf Scramble was hosted annually by Quality Car Wash for six years starting in 2002, raising a significant amount for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.   

Quality Car Wash’s vision was always to be more than just a car wash. While giving their community access to affordable and professional car washing, their vision always included supporting the surrounding communities by holding events and fundraisers.   

This vision of giving, highlighted by the MDA Golf Scramble, continues to inspire the culture and actions of Quality Car Wash and Tommy’s Express today.   

MDA Golf Scramble

In 2002, Quality Car Wash partnered with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) to run the 1st Annual MDA Golf Scramble. The goal of the golf scramble was to raise money and awareness for muscular dystrophy.  

MDA’s focus spreads beyond just muscular dystrophies, as they also support research and treatments for all neuromuscular diseases. Their mission is to “empower the people we serve to live longer, more independent lives”.  

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes muscular dystrophy as “a group of muscle diseases caused by mutations in a person’s genes.” These slow and unforgiving diseases weaken and waste muscles over time, leaving many patients reliant on wheelchairs.   

MDA has given hope to patients and families for over 70 years. They have contributed to important research and advocated for improved care and quality of life for people with muscular dystrophy.   

The golf scramble was hosted at Clearbrook Golf Club in Saugatuck, MI. Team members included both beginners and professionals who golfed 18 holes. This included carts, dinner, T-shirts, games on the course, and prizes. 

Community Impact

Many businesses in the community helped by sponsoring the event and games. Their logos appeared on the backs of the t-shirts given to volunteers and participants in the golf scramble.  

The golf tournament’s proceeds went to MDA-funded programs. This included summer camps for kids, free clinics, support groups for parents and patients, and ongoing ever-important research.  

Tradition of Giving

As a national brand, Tommy’s Express supports Water Mission, an organization that works to develop clean water solutions globally. Individual sites and franchise groups are also encouraged to partner locally with organizations to serve their communities and give back specifically.   

Being a large brand with a history of giving creates a wonderful opportunity for impact nationwide. As our presence grows across the United States, so does our positive impact on communities.  

More Tommy’s Express locations mean more sites that are able to leverage their business as more than just a car wash but a venue for change and community benefit.  

The story of Tommy’s Express begins when the Essenburg family established Quality Car Wash in 1969 and expanded to seven locations across West Michigan. Years of innovation and operations experience propelled the Essenburgs to offer their car wash parts and equipment through Tommy Car Wash Systems. In 2016, the Tommy’s Express franchise was born with a vision to establish a recognized national car wash brand and expand globally.  

Passionate about car washes and the communities they served, Sonny and Jun, the founders of Quality Car Wash and Tommy’s Express, found ways to show their communities how much they appreciate them.  

To learn more, read our blog covering the history between Quality Car Wash and Tommy’s Express!