Elashkar and his son at Ford Road Motor Sales’ office in Dearborn

DEARBORN—After Mike Elashkar, general
manager of Ford Road Motor Sales, learned a needy single mother’s car was
stolen, he decided to help by donating a 2006 Malibu.

Stefanie Irvine’s old Dodge Neon
was stolen from Cass Avenue in Detroit while she was taking her children out to
a coffee shop and nearby museums.

She penned a letter to FOX 2 asking
for help that read, “Dear person or persons who stole my car, I’m not sure what
your situation is but let me tell you a little but about mine…It took me over a
year to pay $1,200 for that ugly beaten up Neon you took from me.”

Elashkar said both his sister and
a salesman brought the report to his attention. Ford Road Motor Sales is a
family-owned business. He contacted his father and explained Irvine’s situation
to him.

He also said the dealership was
initially going to sell the Malibu. Before donating it to Irvine they changed
the battery and brakes and detailed it.

“Giving back is a great feeling,
but I did not expect to get this much attention,” Elashkar said.

He said Irvine was emotional when
she received the car. Irvine and her children had to move in with her mother to
make ends meet and they all share one car.

“She was very excited,” Elashkar
said. “She can go to school. She can go to work. The family is not stuck
anymore.”

This is the second time the
dealership has donated a car to somebody in need. It previously donated a car
to a domestic violence victim whose boyfriend set her car on fire.

Irvine recently contacted
Elashkar to tell him Detroit police found her stolen vehicle, which she plans
on donating to somebody else in need. The Elashkar family’s generosity has
indirectly helped more than one family.

Elashkar stressed the importance
of the community coming together to help people in need.

“I think when you do good things,
good things will come back your way,” he said.