One of our main goals as a company is to serve communities.  

Around the country, Tommy’s Express team members serve at the window, inside the wash tunnel, and outside in the vacuum bays as they help guests.

Collectively and in cities around the country, Tommy’s Express franchise owners and operators partner with local organizations to give back.

Local impact of Tommy’s Express locations

The following are just a few (of many) examples of various locations and their heart for giving.

This is not required by the Tommy’s Express franchise or corporate headquarters. It’s just part of who we are. 

• Tommy’s Express in Mounds View, MN helps Rise Inc. “Rise unlocks potential and opens doors to success for people with disabilities or other challenges through creative solutions and customized support.”   

• Tommy’s Express of Spring Hill, FL donated $1 donated for every car washed between 10-2 on February 18, 2023 to the Springstead High School Soccer Team ($1,182), and did the same for the Strike City Youth Bowling Team ($916) on March 25, 2023.  
    
• Tommy’s Express of Orland Park, IL hosted a guest appreciation event and toy drive, raising $2,000 for the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation, supporting children with cancer.

• Tommy’s Express of Richmond, VA supports the Humane Society. Gotta love helping out the dogs and cats!  
    
• Tommy’s Express of Lansing, MI supports a different nonprofit every month. In May of 2023, it’s Head Start, supporting young children in school and beyond.

Central to our core values: giving back 

Every year, Tommy’s Express offers free washes to active and retired military on Veterans Day.   In 2021, we washed 3,766 cars for free, and in 2022: 5,661 cars.  

With every single wash at Tommy’s Express, we donate to Water Mission, a clean water charity that builds safe water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions in developing countries and disaster areas. To date, Water Mission has served more than 7 million people in 57 countries.  

While we are many locations across the country, we are one when we join together to serve others. This Fourth of July (and all year long), it’s a great reminder of the unity of our purpose.

If you’re a team, group, charity, or nonprofit organization, check with your local Tommy’s Express for fundraising opportunities in your area. We’d love to partner with you!  

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The story of Tommy’s Express starts 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.  

Serving communities, adding value, and enriching lives is the mantra Quality Car Wash and Tommy’s Express both live by, initially inspired by the Essenburgs.

Beginning with Quality Car Wash in 1969, the Essenburgs always put others before themselves and constantly expressed gratitude for those surrounding them. This heart of giving continued when they branched out to franchise internationally with Tommy’s Express Car Wash, which is still alive and thriving today.  

For more information, check out our blog on the history between Quality Car Wash and Tommy’s Express!

Passed down by the generations, the Essenburgs have continued to lead their washes with these core values, putting community first above all things.  

This mission wasn’t just a spoken goal either, as it was actively and constantly demonstrated! Events and ongoing fundraisers such as the Helping Hands fundraiser, the annual MDA Golf Scrambles, the Holland PD Racecar Day, and many more exemplified the Essenburg family’s pursuit to make a positive change in their community.

These actions haven’t gone unnoticed either. Several streets and parks in the Holland area have names dedicated to and in honor of the Essenburg family.  

As of Summer 2022, Jun Essenburg continues to lead by example by being a regular contributor at the office; despite being in his 90s, he values spending time with others and discussing the business.  

The visionary impact of these core values started by Sonny and Jun has continued to ripple into our efforts today as the story of Tommy’s Express continues to be written, carrying on the tradition of giving back to the communities who have welcomed us into their lives. 

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The story of Tommy’s Express starts 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.

Helping Hands Fundraiser

In 1999, after three decades of continuous support and love from the Holland community, the team at Quality Car Wash sought to repay the community for their kindness by giving back. Thus, the Quality Car Wash team created the Helping Hands Fundraising Program. 

The program allowed organizations in the area to buy discounted wash vouchers which they could then resell and keep the proceeds.

This program created unlimited fundraising potential for community members and program users, allowing them to raise money for their cause.

Helping Hands Impacts Communities

Groups that participated in the fundraiser came from all corners of the Holland community: Churches, youth groups, baseball teams, schools, science clubs, little league soccer teams, and nonprofits. 

When the fundraisers finished, the groups earned an average of $1,000 to return to their organizations.

With the growing demand for the innovations implemented by Quality Car Wash, Tommy Car Wash Systems was specifically developed to handle producing, selling, and distributing the technology created by the Essenburgs. 

Paving the Way

The success of this brand then led to the creation of the Tommy’s Express Car Wash franchise, which would be the name for washes outside of West Michigan. Turning Tommy’s into a franchise was done to achieve the modernity needed for creating a global car wash brand.

Our guests, families, and community have always been a priority at Tommy’s Express, and we look back at our roots with pride. View our history timeline to learn more about the Quality Car Wash and Tommy’s Express story, or check out our blog!

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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!

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Before the 2021-2022 school year, employees at the Tommy’s Express headquarters volunteered with Hand2Hand by packing lunches for students across West Michigan.  

These lunch kits provide food for over 8,300 West Michigan students, but Hand2Hand operates differently than many food programs. The food is placed directly into the hands of the students who need it. 

Over 105,000 kids in West Michigan receive free and reduced lunch at school five days a week. But what about the weekend? That’s where Hand2Hand comes in. Hand2Hand wants to eliminate that 68-hour weekend gap so that every kid can leave school for the weekend without worrying about where they will get their next meal. 

Hand2Hand delivers nutritious food to students over the weekends and on extended school breaks by mobilizing churches, schools, individuals, and businesses to join together, providing hope and opportunity to thrive. 

How does Hand2Hand operate?

A backpack of food is placed discreetly into a student’s locker for them to take home. To protect the students’ privacy, the volunteers who distribute the food never know the names of the kids they are helping, only which locker number to place the food in.   

“Hand2Hand makes a difference in the lives of our students daily. Knowing their basic needs are being met gives them peace of mind.” 

 -An elementary teacher 

Hand2Hand currently serves students ages 3-18 in 40 school districts and 256 schools across West Michigan. 

Serving West Michigan Communities

As local community members, we wanted to focus our efforts right here in the communities we serve. Tommy’s Express team members were able to pack 3,000 lunch kits in a single day.  
 
Many of our team members have young children and understand the importance of organizations like Hand2Hand that help children thrive. The enthusiasm and excitement from the team (as well as the competitive spirit of who can pack their group’s quota the fastest) was a highlight of the day. Everyone was thrilled to participate and to be a part of an organization that encourages these acts of service as part of the workday. 

We strive to enrich lives, add value, and serve communities at Tommy’s Express. This makes partnering with an organization like Hand2Hand an easy choice. We are so grateful for organizations like Hand2Hand that saw a need and found a way to help kids.  

“My favorite part of working with Hand2Hand was knowing that we were able to make a difference in the lives of over 3,000 students in our community. As someone who grew up receiving free lunches at school, I know the importance of organizations like these.” 

– Tommy’s Express Employee 

Want to get involved?

Help to eliminate childhood hunger in your community. There are several ways you can volunteer to help eliminate weekend hunger for children in West Michigan. 

 Visit h2hkids.org for financial and volunteer support, and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn by searching for @h2hfeedkids.  

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At Tommy’s Express, we strive to enrich lives, add value, and serve communities. One of the ways we achieve this goal is by partnering with nonprofits like Water Mission.  

With every single wash at Tommy’s Express, we donate to Water Mission, a clean water charity that builds safe water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions in developing countries and disaster areas.  

To date, Water Mission has served more than 7 million people in 57 countries. 

Recent response efforts include:  
 

1. Deploying emergency water treatment equipment into Ukraine and assembling hygiene kits for those displaced by the conflict. Water Mission was one of the first nonprofits to produce water in multiple cities in Ukraine.     

2. After the August 2021 earthquake in Haiti, Water Mission utilized its nearly 40 safe water projects in southern Haiti to produce extra water for neighboring communities that had lost access to water. They helped ensure the uninterrupted flow of safe water for impacted communities, deployed emergency water treatment systems from their Haiti warehouse and North Charleston headquarters, and sent Water Mission engineers to help repair municipal 
   water systems.  

3. During the February 2021 arctic freeze across the state of Texas, teams restored safe water access by mobilizing skilled plumbers and providing urgently needed supplies due to water shortages and widespread power outages. 

Thanks to our incredible Tommy’s Express guests, we have positively impacted over 9,100 lives with Water Mission. That number continues to grow with each wash. 

Water conservation and Water Mission

Water Mission’s mission is to honor God by developing, implementing, and sharing best-in-class safe water solutions that transform as many lives as possible as quickly as possible.  

This pairs closely with our goal to be a sustainable car wash. 

At every Tommy’s Express location, our advanced water reclamation technology safely cleans vehicles with less than 30 gallons of fresh water per car.  

Other car washes on average, use 40+ gallons per wash, and usually, the water is not repurposed or contained, causing runoff into storm drains and natural waterways. 

Each Tommy’s Express is purposefully designed with high-efficiency water-saving equipment.  
 
We engineer our buildings to dispose of used water in a responsible manner. Everything from booster pumps and specialized nozzles to water reclamation tanks and precise detergent dilution rates contribute to a green car wash. 

About Water Mission

Water Mission is a nonprofit Christian engineering organization that designs, builds, and implements safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions for people in developing countries and disaster areas.  
 
Since 2001, Water Mission has used innovative technology and engineering expertise to provide access to safe water for more than 7 million people in 57 countries.  
 
Water Mission has over 400 staff members working in its headquarters and around the world in permanent country programs located in Africa, Asia, North, South and Central America, and the Caribbean.

Notably, Charity Navigator has awarded Water Mission its top four-star rating 15 years in a row, a distinction shared by only 1% of the charities rated by the organization.   

Making a difference with every green car wash

When we know better, we do better. And we can all make a difference today. 

Water Mission is a nonprofit that saw a need, had the skills, and adapted to help.  

Their website shares an impactful World Health Organization (WHO) stat: Every $1 invested in safe water yields $6.80 in economic return.

Solving the global water crisis won’t happen overnight.  
 
But step by step, wash by wash, we can make a difference.

You directly impact the global efforts every time you visit a Tommy’s Express.  
 
Thank you for washing with us.  

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In 2021, Tommy’s Express partnered with the American Heart Association (AHA) on a national marketing campaign. During the month of February, for all new TommyClub members who purchased The WORKS wash, Tommy’s Express automatically donated a portion of the proceeds back to the national nonprofit organization.  

A few Tommy’s Express employees at the corporate headquarters have personal connections to the Grand Rapids, Michigan chapter of the American Heart Association.

In June of 2022, eight female Tommy’s Express employees attended the local Go Red for Women luncheon. Featuring inspiration, education, and community among women, the lunch was a call to know your heart health numbers and draw attention to heart disease.  

Go Red for Women

The American Heart Association movement Go Red for Women was launched in 2004 with the goal of raising awareness and fighting a woman’s greatest heath threat — cardiovascular disease.

Today, Go Red for Women not only advocates for the health of all women but also funds lifesaving research and educates women across the United States and around the world. It is committed to removing the unique barriers women face to experiencing better health and well-being. 

Here are three facts you need to know about women and cardiovascular disease: 
 

1. Cardiovascular disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined, and yet only 44% of women recognize that cardiovascular disease is their greatest health threat. 
     

2. Among females 20 years and older, nearly 45% are living with some form of cardiovascular disease, and less than 50% of women entering pregnancy in the United States have good heart health. 
     

3. Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of new moms and accounts for over one-third of maternal deaths. Black women have some of the highest maternal mortality rates. 
    

Sparking CPR education and training

The Tommy’s Express employees were inspired at the lunch. Together, they initiated annual first aid/CPR training at offices in Michigan and asked to have AEDs available at all Tommy’s Express offices and warehouses.  
 
The American Red Cross offers a variety of training and certification options, both in-person and online.  

Are you up-to-date on training? Could you help in an emergency? Shorter response times save lives. 

Do you own a business? Learn more about CPR training for your employees.  

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Each year on Veterans Day, observed on the 11th of November, America as one nation takes time to honor and celebrate those brave men and women who choose to serve in the United States Armed Forces, giving their time, strength, and blood to protect and keep the security, ideals, and freedoms that we so easily take for granted.  

This sacrifice is why each year, all Tommy’s Express washes are pleased to recognize our service members with the following special offer: 

On the 11th of November, all Veterans and active-duty personnel in the United States can visit Tommy’s Express for a free car wash, no questions asked.  

Please, help us spread the word by sharing this article on social media and letting the veterans in your life know that this offer is open to them. Thank you! 

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Hortencia Perez, a single mother of six in the small community of El Encanto, Mexico, used to get water for herself and her family from a shallow well in her yard. This water used to make them sick, and it used to cost her more than she could afford to buy clean water from other sources.  

But thanks to you, me, and Water Mission, this isn’t the case anymore! 

What is Water Mission? 

Water Mission is an organization that builds sustainable clean water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions in developing nations and areas ravaged by natural or man-made disasters.  

Based in South Carolina, Water Mission is 100% nonprofit and committed to the values of love, excellence, and integrity as they pursue their mission.

How big is the problem?  

Without clean water, you can’t live a safe or productive life.  

Take a minute and think about how much water you’ve used today. I showered, brushed my teeth, ran the dishwasher, had a tall, ice-cold glass of filtered water with lunch, and I have some flowers to water and clothes to wash when I get home.  

Now think about how different your life and my life would be if there were a chance that any of that water could hurt or kill you, me, or the people we love.

Think about how much time and energy it would take to boil all the water we use every day and how much it would cost to buy and ration bottled water instead.  

I can’t fathom it. 

And today, in 2021, over 2 billion people lack access to safe water. That’s about 1 in every 3 human beings who face an increased likelihood of illness and premature death from waterborne diseases and parasites.

That means massive amounts of time and energy are needed to source water. This led to reduced productivity in terms of education and work, and even permanently disrupted normal childhood development, depending on the type of contamination they’re drinking. 

And when these effects are compounded by disasters like storms, wars, and droughts, things only worsen for those caught in the middle.  

What sets Water Mission apart? 

This is where Water Mission comes in. Instead of just delivering truckloads of water or digging a deeper well and walking away, Water Mission works with local support to come up with lasting, sustainable, and affordable solutions for bringing clean water to those who have never had it before and to keep those solutions running despite wear and tear. 

Take our friend Hortencia, who writes, “This clean water helps keep us healthy and helps our budget because the water is very affordable… I go to the Water Mission meetings and support the water project. I am trying to do all I can to help Water Mission because it is good what they are doing.” 

What about in the United States? 

Do you recall February 2021? “Historic” winter storms swept through Texas and pushed the energy system to the brink of failure. Thousands upon thousands of homes and businesses experienced plumbing catastrophes as water pipes froze and burst as power and heat went out.  

It just shows that even here in the US, extreme conditions can leave any of us or our friends and neighbors in situations where the clean water we all take for granted suddenly becomes a critical issue.  

Amid this disaster, Water Mission was on the ground, ready to help. According to their publications, Water Mission began working immediately with Plumbers Without Borders, the Austin Disaster Relief Network, and corporate partners to get skilled labor and plumbing supplies to where they were needed most, especially when it came to residents who were elderly, disabled, uninsured, or underinsured.

How can we help support Water Mission together? 

If you wash your vehicle at Tommy’s Express Car Wash, you already are! 

Each time a car rolls down the belt at any Tommy’s Express facility nationwide, a portion of the proceeds are automatically contributed to Water Mission, directly supporting their work and ministry related to clean water and sanitation worldwide. 

Of course, if you would like to do more, you would be more than welcome to contribute to Water Mission on your own by visiting their website.

Safe, clean water is unbelievably precious, and with the right innovation, engineering, and passion at work, I’m happy to say that Tommy’s Express and each and every one of our fans and supporters (that means you!) are all helping to make clean water more and more accessible every day.  

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It’s the dog days of summer. Whether you’re on your way out of town or coming back from a road trip, your local Tommy’s Express is the perfect place for clean cars after some fun in the sun.

Local specials and events

Each Tommy’s Express Car Wash is locally owned and operated, and many are busy planning summer events for you and your family to enjoy.  

Like your local Tommy’s Express Facebook page to learn more. 

Nonprofit partnerships

As an organization, we believe strongly in corporate social responsibility and feel that we have a duty to give back and help those in need. 

Water Mission is our first and oldest corporate partner. With every car washed, we donate to Water Mission as they work to provide long-term clean water solutions for at-risk communities globally. 

Our franchise owners and operators at locations across the country support many local groups, charities, and nonprofits. Read more on our blog about a few (of many) examples of Tommy’s Express locations and their heart for giving. 

This is not required by the Tommy’s Express franchise or corporate headquarters. It’s just part of who we are. 

Sustainability

Tommy’s Express gives you an eco-friendly, sustainable option for fast, easy car washing. 

Sustainability is high on our priority list. Each Tommy’s Express uses high-efficiency wash equipment, much of it custom-engineered. This equipment includes high-pressure applicators, reverse osmosis systems, and reclaim systems. 

By constantly optimizing our systems, we’re able to wash cars using less than 35 gallons of water per vehicle, about as much as you would use taking a bath and much less than the average driveway car wash.  

And even after your wash, the used water and detergents are safely routed to a water treatment plant via the sanitary sewer. This keeps our detergents out of storm drains and your local streams, lakes, and rivers. 

The perfect summer outing

If you need some ways to keep your kids busy, a Tommy’s Express TommyClub membership might be just the thing! 

Our team members love that we get to entertain your kids day after day, and with memberships priced at around a dollar a day (or less!), trips to the car wash can be one of the most cost-effective summer activities for you and your loved ones. 

Looking for adventure? We’ll be here when you get back!

If you’ve got a family car trip on the books, make sure to visit your local Tommy’s Express for a post-vacation cleaning when you get back. 

Deep cleaning your vehicle after vacation is basically part of the experience! With floor mat cleaners, powerful vacuums, and affordable detailing kits, Tommy’s Express washes are a one-stop solution for everything from hiking mud to beach sand, to lost French fries. 

Cheers to a great summer, and don’t forget the sunblock! 

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