Cottman Transmission donates coloring books to UF Health
Ron Vinduska, owner of the Jacksonville-based Cottman Transmission and Total Auto Care franchise, delivered more than 100 Cottman Man coloring books to children at UF Health Jacksonville last month.
“Coloring books allow children to use their imaginations,” he said.
“The purpose behind the campaign is to brighten the mood of children staying at UF Health Jacksonville since staying at a hospital away from loved ones can be scary or lonely and we hope this coloring book can help them feel more at home.”
The idea for the Cottman Man coloring book spawned from Derik Beck, the company’s vice president of digital marketing, who brought the mascot to life through a series of digital shorts.
“He brought a few preliminary sketches home with him and left them on the kitchen table only to find colored pages when he returned,” Vinduska said of Beck. “His children had a great time coloring Cottman Man and it got him thinking of how he could extend this activity to other kids and the idea of the Cottman Man coloring book was born.”
The coloring books were printed by the Cottman corporate team and were sent to nearly 40 hospitals across the country.
Aside from UF Health Jacksonville, the coloring books were also delivered to Nemours Children’s Hospital and the Florida Hospital for Children near Orlando.
“I feel so fortunate to work with a company that has a passion for touching each community it serves,” Vinduska said.
“When Derik released the news of the coloring book campaign, our Jacksonville team couldn’t have been happier.”
Vinduska added that he hopes the coloring books entertain the children in the hospitals.
“Whether they are awaiting treatment or test results, we hope to ease that stress and inspire some fun,” he said. “Even more, we hope they know the community – even us folks at the neighborhood auto shop – are thinking of them and wishing them well.”
Jessica Cummings, director of development of UF Health Jacksonville, coordinated the delivery of the coloring books with Vinduska.
“On behalf of the staff at UF Health Jacksonville, we’re so thankful for the donation,” she said. “We had an amazing time handing these coloring books out to the children here and feel tremendously blessed to be surrounded by such caring residents and local organizations that are looking to help any way they can.”
Vinduska said it’s a great feeling to be able to touch the lives of those in his community.
“For our team, it feels as though our work has come full circle,” he said. “We enjoy being a trusted business in the Jacksonville community and we’re so happy that we’re making a difference in the lives of children – potentially our customers’ children. It’s an amazing feeling.”