Rolls-Royce partners with the Michael Fux Foundation to raise funds for underprivileged children
by Jessica Jones-Gorman
When Michael Fux came to Newark in 1958, he was a 15-year-old Cuban immigrant, sharing a seven-story, one-bedroom walk-up with his brother and parents. There was little room, a lot of secondhand clothes, and few opportunities to break free of his impoverished circumstances. But somehow he triumphed.
After years of hard work and ambition, Fux founded successful companies in the home furnishings industry. Now the CEO of Comfort Revolution, a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of high-end sleep products, he has never forgotten about his humble beginnings, a memory that fuels a long-standing dedication to children’s charities.
“I didn’t have the best childhood; we were very poor,” he said. “So my heart and my thoughts were and are always with children who are underprivileged or sick.”
So he donated, but it wasn’t enough. In 2003, he started hosting star-studded Christmas parties for sick children at the Miami Children’s Hospital. There were gifts, characters, face-painting, DJs, and visits from Fux’s celebrity friends. In 2006, he formed the Michael Fux Foundation, which supports groups like the Children’s Cancer Caring Center (CCCC), which assists young people who lack medical funds. His monetary donations also helped build the Michael Fux Family Center at Miami Children’s Hospital, a respite for families of ill, underprivileged kids.
A car enthusiast, Fux uses his exotic car collection (there’s 135 in total, including 25 Ferraris, 12 Porches, 11 Aston Martins, and six Rolls-Royces) to raise funds for his charity. “When I was five-years-old, my grandfather was a taxi driver in Cuba and would let me sit on his lap and steer,” Fux recalled. “Ever since then, I have loved cars. When I was young and could barely afford anything, I promised myself that one day I would have them all. Now I use them for charity…send them to different events and car shows to help raise money for kids.”
The recent marriage between Fux and Rolls-Royce was a natural fit. The two joined forces to raise funds for children with the Rolls-Royce Program, in which major donors to the Michael Fux Foundation receive a chauffeured Rolls-Royce Phantom for business use or other special events—for the best possible reasons.
“Michael is a tremendously well respected member of our Rolls Royce family; we have a great relationship with him as an owner and car collector,” noted Gerry Spahn, head of communications for Rolls-Royce North America. “This is the first time we’ve done this sort of partnership with any of our owners but because he is such an important member of our family whose work in the community is beyond admirable, we knew it would be a good fit.”
According to Spahn, the only question for Rolls executives after meeting with Fux was how they could best help support his cause.
“The question was how can we support him in a creative way?” Spahn explained. “Instead of giving one-time monetary support, we wanted to give him more, so we chose the best benefit we had to offer.”
The idea for chauffeured rides was modeled after something Rolls had done in the past—a similar program that raised money for a children’s charity in the United Kingdom. From seamstresses to polishers, it takes 60 pairs of hands to design, craft, and polish each Phantom at the home of Rolls- Royce at Goodwood, UK. Designed to be chauffeur-driven, the car features a white interior, plush lambs wool carpet, and spacious seating.
“We wanted something that was unique,” Spahn said. “And this is truly the pinnacle luxury car in the world.”
The suggested minimum donation for a full eight-hour day with the car is $3,000 ($1,700 is suggested for a four hour day). Vehicle signage will advertise that the car is being driven to help children at Monmouth Medical Center, where the creation of the second Michael Fux Family Center at the Unterberg Children’s Hospital in Long Branch is currently under development. The Center is scheduled to open in 2016.
“This is such a wonderful cause, and we are extremely proud to help raise funds for and awareness of what the Michael Fux Foundation is accomplishing,” Spahn concluded.”
For more information about the
Michael Fux Foundation, call
732.272.9112, or visit michaelfuxfoundation.org