Meet AACF: The Foundation Quietly Backing the Aftermarket Industry

John Kairys is the Executive Director of the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF), a position he has held for the past two and a half years. Before stepping into the role, he served on the AACF board, giving him deep organizational context from both a governance and operational standpoint.

Kairys brings more than 40 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket to the foundation. He is a consistent presence at industry conventions, trade shows, and annual meetings; including Auto Care Connect and the APSG, working to raise awareness of the AACF across every segment of the aftermarket.

In this episode…

Most shop owners know their employees by name. They know who just had a baby, who's been with the shop for fifteen years, who's holding things together and who's quietly struggling. What they don't always know is what happens to that person when a car accident totals their vehicle, a house fire displaces their family, or routine back surgery leaves them unable to walk.

The automotive aftermarket has a safety net built specifically for those moments. It isn't workers' comp. It isn't a GoFundMe. It's a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a 29-person volunteer board, a mid-90s approval rate, and a five-day window from application to ACH deposit. The people it helps aren't just technicians and counter staff; they're marketing managers, warehouse drivers, and executives. Anyone employed in the aftermarket qualifies, whether the hardship is work-related or not.

John Kairys runs that organization. He's spent two and a half years as Executive Director making sure shop owners and their employees know it exists because awareness is still the AACF's biggest obstacle.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

[01:01] Meet John Kairys, Executive Director of the AACF

[02:15] Who qualifies and what hardships the AACF covers

[06:01] The annual Classic Car Sweepstakes: How to donate and enter

[07:54] Stories of hope: A routine surgery that changed everything

[12:42] Stories of hope: A totaled vehicle, then a house fire two weeks later

[15:39] Corporate giving, sponsorships, and the annual SEMA fundraiser

[19:28] Two paid staff, a 29-member board, and how to connect

[22:14] The Aftermarket Hearts Giving Circle: Recurring giving for industry insiders

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation Website
• John Kairys on LinkedIn
• Tread Partners
• Gain Traction Podcast on YouTube
• Gain Traction Podcast Website
• Mike Edge on LinkedIn

Quotable Moments:

• "We like to say we take care of our own."
• "Our biggest challenge is awareness, and that is getting people to know who we are and what we do."
• "The AACF is the on-ramp to the freeway of recovery."
• "After losing so much so quickly, the AACF gave me hope and a way to start over." — AACF recipient, shared by John Kairys
• "God forbid, if ever you need that help, the AACF will be there for you."

Action Steps:

1. Share the AACF with your team this week. Send an internal message or post a one-pager in your break room with the link to aftermarketcharity.org.
2. Make a corporate donation or explore sponsorship. The automotive aftermarket charitable foundation is a 501(c)3, meaning contributions are tax-deductible.
3. Sign up for the Aftermarket Hearts Giving Circle. Recurring donations start at $5 a month.
4. Add AACF to your employee onboarding materials. The application is at aftermarketcharity.org, reviewed within 24 hours, and results in a direct ACH deposit within five days.
5. Attend the SEMA events if you're in Las Vegas. Reach out to John Kairys directly through the leadership page at aftermarketcharity.org to get involved.