TMCP #645: John Kairys on AACF – Saving the Automotive Aftermarket When Life Hits Hard
The MuscleCar Place
Robert Kibbe
4.5 • 702 Ratings
🗓️ 17 April 2026
⏱️ 40 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode of The MuscleCar Place, Robert Kibbe sits down with John Kairys, Executive Director of the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF), to uncover one of the most impactful yet under-the-radar organizations in the industry. Since 1959, AACF has quietly provided financial assistance to individuals and families within the automotive aftermarket facing life’s toughest challenges—from illness and injury to natural disasters and unexpected hardship. With a fast and efficient process, they’re able to step in quickly and help people get back on their feet when it matters most.
What makes AACF truly special is its focus on community—helping the very people who keep the aftermarket moving every day. From technicians and warehouse workers to managers and corporate employees, AACF serves as a vital support system across the entire industry. This conversation highlights not only the organization’s mission, but also the real stories behind it, reminding us that at the heart of every build, every business, and every part is a person—and sometimes, that person needs help.
The post TMCP #645: John Kairys on AACF – Saving the Automotive Aftermarket When Life Hits Hard first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The Muscle Car Place Online Podcast, episode number 645. |
| 0:05.0 | This week, our guest is John Carey's from the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation, AACF is what it's called. |
| 0:12.0 | This organization has been around for over 50 years, and I am embarrassed to say that until about a month ago, I had no idea about that. |
| 0:20.0 | And maybe you hadn't either, but you're sure we're going to realize that the world a month ago, I had no idea about that. And maybe you hadn't either, |
| 0:22.1 | but you're sure we're going to realize that the world does have some good Samaritans |
| 0:25.3 | after you hear all of this. The individual only has to be employed for one year with a single |
| 0:30.9 | employer within the aftermarket, again, within all those different segments I had mentioned |
| 0:35.3 | earlier. Right now, I could tell you to share with you that we're running in the mid-90s from approval |
| 0:40.5 | rates on the applications, partly due to that pre-qualification, if you will. |
| 0:45.3 | And then the average grant that we're providing individuals is in around $4,000. |
| 0:49.4 | But our intent and our mission is to really be the first line of recovery, to get somebody back on their feet. |
| 0:59.7 | This is the Muscle Car Place Online Podcast, brought you by National Parks Depot. |
| 1:06.6 | This is the weekly show dedicated to people worldwide who love American muscle cars. |
| 1:12.9 | If you're buying, selling, restoring, even racing them, this is the place for you. |
| 1:19.2 | Now here's your host, Rob Kibby. |
| 1:22.8 | Yes, indeed I am, Rob Kibby, and welcome to the Muscle Car Place podcast. |
| 1:26.2 | Well, here we are. |
| 1:26.8 | Final show of April, and our guest is John Carey from the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation. |
| 1:33.0 | This organization exists specifically to be the first charitable step that gets people working in the aftermarket back on their feet in times of need. |
| 1:42.1 | And that's cash. |
| 1:46.4 | What I'm talking about is the thing that they need most usually is cash. This might be for a natural disaster issue, medical issue, et cetera, |
| 1:53.4 | things like that. And it's that first little, look, we've all been there. Right after disaster |
... |
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