Kauff’s Signs, Tint & Wrap along with Tinters for a Cause have raised more than $7,000 to help a fellow member of the window film industry and his family pay for medical expenses by offering a three-day vinyl wrapping course.
The registration fees from the course went to Billy Aiton and his family after he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.
Chris Brooks, owner of Kauff’s Signs, first learned of Aiton’s circumstance in communication circles on Facebook. “In my heart, I felt like I needed to do something to give back,” Brooks said. “If it was me, I would hope that someone in the industry would help me out.”
With more than 30 years in the industry, Brooks offers installation training in his shop two to three times a year. He was familiar with Tinters for a Cause and its goal to assist members of the community in times of need. He decided to offer the course and donate all of the proceeds from registration.
“In the industry, I get to know a lot of people,” Brooks said. “I started making phone calls.”
Brooks collected sponsorships from a variety of companies, both nationally and globally, including Accent Distributing, a 3M Authorized distributor of wrap film, paint protection film, decorative finishes and window film. Accent Distributing donated the rolls of 3M Wrap Film for the class to use during its training.
“We were happy to donate the film that Chris needed to run his class and know that it was going to help further build the industry while helping someone within the tinting family,” said Shawn Cabral, CEO of Accent Distributing.
With all of the supplies donated, Brooks was able to host the class on March 27-29 in his Palm Beach Gardens shop. Class participants walked away with about $1,600 worth of products and tools after the three-day learning experience.
“Tinters for a Cause was more than happy to facilitate the donation,” said Dean Mitchell, president/founder of the organization. Tinters for a Cause began when a local window film installer’s wife needed a heart transplant about five years ago. A “Tint-A-Thon” to benefit her brought people together in Texas.
“At the time, several of us started talking about how we should form a foundation to provide more ways to help members of the window film community with financial assistance when tragedy strikes,” Mitchell said.
In 2022, Tinters for a Cause became an official nonprofit organization and has since helped dozens within the industry. Brooks’ class was the second fundraiser for Aiton and his family. TintWorks out of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, hosted a paint protection film course in which all of the funds from registration and a raffle were donated to the family. To date, there has been more than $25,000 raised.
“I never asked anyone for money,” Aiton said. “I’m so overwhelmed. I had no idea that I had that much of an impact.” In December, Aiton, 55, was told that his cancer had spread and he had just months to live. Based in Scottsdale, Aiton sold his window film business, Pro-Tech Window Tinting. Aiton has been installing window film for 41 years. He is undergoing a form of chemotherapy and not taking any moment for granted. He said that people from all over the world have reached out to him to thank him for his friendship and, in some cases, his mentorship. “I don’t know how to say thank you that many times,” Aiton said of the outpouring of support and the donations.
Mitchell said there are more fundraisers planned to help Aiton and his family, including events during the International Window Film Conference and Tint-Off at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando from September 19-21, 2024, and the Window Film Revolution at the Chattanooga Convention Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, from August 27-30, 2024.
“It’s wonderful to see how the people in our industry step up and help one another,” Mitchell said. “They leave the competition between the window film brands and tint shops aside and just work together on the cause.”
