Successful Lights On! Program Support Citizens in Need and Makes Roadways Safer for All

Minneapolis, Minnesota (November 5, 2018) – Bobby & Steve’s Auto World, the Twin Cities’ most respected and recognizable auto service provider announced today its continued support of the Lights On! program which offers motorists a voucher to replace burnt out automobile lights instead of getting a ticket.

Established by MicroGrants in the spring of 2017, the Lights On! program was created in response to the death of Philando Castile which started with a traffic stop for a broken taillight. Since then the program has expanded rapidly. The program is now available across the metro area and police departments across the country are inquiring about how to start up similar initiatives. Recently Lights On! handed out its 700th voucher, far exceeding initial expectations.

The program works like this: When a motorist is stopped by police for a broken light, they are given a voucher to get it fixed instead of getting a ticket. MicroGrants covers the cost of the bulb and Bobby & Steve’s takes care of the labor. The hope is to make the roads safer, but to also establish a trusted bond between citizens and law enforcement.

“Bobby & Steve’s have been an awesome steward of this program,” said Mike McCloskey, COO of MicroGrants. “For those people who need to drive but can’t afford to get it fixed, this lessens the stress and offers a diversion from a ticket which just adds to the burden.”

MicroGrants, is a local nonprofit whose main work is partnering with 50 Twin Cities service agencies to distribute grants, averaging $1,000, to advance individuals economically.

“The Lights On! program is catching on across the country,” said McCloskey. “It’s been a success because of the partnerships we have formed with Bobby & Steve’s.”

For leadership at Bobby & Steve’s the decision to join this initiative was an easy one.

“We have been committed, since our company began, to be good stewards in our community,” said Braden Scheeler, Corporate Accounts Specialist for Bobby & Steve’s Auto World. “Lights On! is a program that fits what we do not only as a company, but it helps us get closer to our goal to make the communities we serve safer.”

Scheeler points out that not all Lights On! visits are as easy as a simple light bulb change.

“What is great about this program is that if the light isn’t a simple fix, MicroGrants provides grants for repairs,” he said. “There is more to it than just a new bulb. We are all committed to helping others. We look at it as an outreach program that puts a positive light on our industry.”

Recipients of services from the Lights On! program report feelings of gratitude for the small but important gesture the program provides.

“I was having a bad day the night I was pulled over,” said Audrey, a resident of North Minneapolis and a recipient of the Lights On! program. “Getting a ticket would have added to my problems. Being given the resources to get it repaired made me feel like someone cared. I want to be abiding by the law and this boost helps me do that.”

Community outreach is paramount to the mission of Bobby & Steve’s Auto World.

“Sometimes the auto repair industry gets a bad name, or we are looked at as a whole in a negative light because people only visit us when something is wrong,” said Scheeler. “We want to change that. We want people to know we are there for them and that we can be trusted members of a community committed to service.”

About Bobby & Steve’s Auto World

The Bobby & Steve’s brand has been providing premier auto repair service to Twin Cities motorists since 1996. Bobby Williams along with his five partners currently operate eight metro locations: three in Minneapolis, two in Bloomington and one each in Columbia Heights, Eden Prairie and West St. Paul. Public auto auctions are also held several times at year at Bobby and Steve’s in Columbia Heights. For more information, visit https://bobbyandstevesautoworld.com

About MicroGrants

MicroGrants gives grants, averaging around $1000 to low income people of potential. These are designed to be a hand up and not a hand out. The grants are designed to help people achieve financial stability and economic independence. MicroGrants believes in eliminating poverty through work. Investments are usually made in three areas; education, small business development, and transportation. The inspiration for MicroGrants came from the micro-lending programs of 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus. But since many low-income people in the US are already burdened by debt, MicroGrants gives grants rather than loans. For more information go to https://microgrants.net/ or call 612.200.8174.