For Sean McIntosh, President of Kirmac Collision & Autoglass, giving back has never been separate from the way Kirmac does business.
It starts with something much simpler: how you treat people.
“I think the number one thing is how you treat people,” Sean says. “That has always been at the heart of Kirmac, treating people well.”
It was a lesson passed down by his father and one that continues to shape how Sean leads Kirmac today. Over time, that same philosophy has grown beyond the business and into Kirmac Cares for Kids.
SUPPORTING A CHILD MEANS SUPPORTING A GENERATION
Kirmac Cares for Kids began in 2010, after years of the McIntosh family supporting different causes. Then came the idea of focusing on children.
“We feel like if we support kids, we support generations, not just one specific cause,” Sean says. “There’s a whole bunch of different things that kids need. And you’re giving hope for a long period of time.”
That idea remains at the heart of the company’s continued investment in children’s health today.
Kirmac’s relationship with Surrey Memorial Hospital began after Sean’s uncle received care there. Wanting to give back, the family learned more about the Children’s Health Centre and saw a natural connection with the work Kirmac Cares for Kids was already doing.
What could have been a one-time donation became a long-term relationship.
“It connected the dots,” Sean says. “This is how we can help for a long period of time.”
With Kirmac locations serving communities throughout the Fraser Health region, including the Tri-Cities, Surrey, Langley, Chilliwack, Mission and Maple Ridge, supporting health care close to home felt like a natural fit.
SEEING WHAT COMMUNITY INVESTMENT MAKES POSSIBLE
One of the first major milestones in the partnership was Kirmac’s support for children’s play spaces at Surrey Memorial Hospital’s Children’s Health Centre.
But what has stayed with Sean most from his visits is not simply the physical transformation. It is the people.
“When we come to the hospital, I always like those days because it’s the people that you meet that actually work there,” he says. “They’re the ones making it happen.”
Those experiences have influenced how Kirmac approaches its support today, with increasing interest in equipment and other investments that give health care teams the tools they need to provide exceptional care.
“It’s similar to our business, we know if we find new equipment and technology how much better that can make someone’s job,” Sean says. “We see a lot of value in that.”
Sean draws a parallel to his own business, describing Kirmac as “a hospital for cars.” Vehicles arrive, teams assess the problem and rely on skilled people and the right equipment to get the best result.
The stakes in health care are, of course, very different, but the lesson is familiar: better tools help talented people do their jobs better.
MORE THAN A DONATION: BUILDING SOMETHING THAT LASTS
For Sean, the most important ingredient in philanthropy is not the size of a single gift.
“I think the most important part is longevity,” he says. “That’s better than just making donations that go here, there and everywhere.”
Over time, that consistency has helped Kirmac Cares for Kids become part of the company’s culture. Employees, customers and business partners all contribute to its success, creating a cycle where the growth of the business creates more opportunities to give back.
That means the care an employee puts into their work can ultimately contribute to something much bigger. A positive experience builds trust with a customer, the business grows and Kirmac has more opportunity to invest back into the communities it serves.
“Our team members know they’re making a difference,” Sean says. “Giving kids hope and giving them opportunity, and hopefully getting them healthy so that they can have a positive life.”
As the program has grown, so has Kirmac’s ambition. Sean remembers a time when the question was whether Kirmac c ould donate approximately $120,000 a year. Today, the long-term goal is to build toward $1 million in annual giving.
Keeping that momentum going also means helping the people behind Kirmac see what their contributions make possible. For Sean, that is where partners like Surrey Hospitals Foundation play an important role.
“We need stories that we can share back so that the people that are supporting us, whether it’s an employee or a business partner or a customer, can see how they’re making an impact,” Sean says. “That makes it real. It connects the dots.”
It is a cycle that has grown over time: people contribute, they see the difference their support makes and that connection creates an opportunity to keep building on the impact.
A LEGACY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
For Sean, building on that impact means continuing to look ahead.
When he thinks about Kirmac’s relationship with Surrey Hospitals Foundation 10 or 20 years from now, his measure of success is simple: he hopes it is still going.
For him, the relationship has never been about recognition.
“It’s not for our name on a building or room,” he says. “The main thing we’re focused on is helping the foundations we support continue to grow and improve care. That’s why we’re doing this.”
After more than 15 years, what began as a way to give back has become something Sean hopes will continue for generations.
“Kirmac Cares for Kids has started to become part of our family’s legacy.”
It is a legacy grounded in the same mindset that continues to drive Kirmac forward.
“We’re always looking at the business going, ‘What can we do better?’” Sean says. “That’s in our fabric. That’s in our culture.”
That same question can be asked of philanthropy: What can we do today that makes care better tomorrow?
Through Kirmac Cares for Kids, one family’s belief in treating people well has grown into something shared by employees, customers, business partners and the communities they serve.
It’s not only about what one generation gives. It’s about inspiring the next generation to keep it going.
This is the kind of care your support helps strengthen.
During the Kirmac Cares for Kids Match Campaign, every gift can make twice the impact for children and families. Help strengthen children’s care with Kirmac Cares for Kids Match Campaign
