MCKAY NAPA REACHES $1 MILLION IN DONATIONS

TO MAKE-A-WISH ILLINOIS

For more than 20 years McKay NAPA Auto Parts has been raising money for Make-A-Wish Illinois. And this year, McKay’s total donations to the nonprofit organization topped $1 million.

The partnership began in 2003 when the company had 16 stores in Illinois and donated $5,000 to the group. Today, McKay is 28 NAPA stores strong and raised $102,085 in 2025, an amount more than 20 times greater than the first year.

“We’re very excited to have reached this $1 million milestone,” said McKay President Earl Flack. “Make-A-Wish Illinois has helped to put smiles on so many children’s faces over the years. Our team and all those who support us are grateful to be part of that work.

“This year we are especially thankful to the Herschelman family who generously donated $10,000 in memory of their late daughter Grace who died at 9 ½-years old after a life-long battle with INAD (infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy).”

INAD is a rare, and unfortunately fatal progressive disorder that affects the nervous system.

One Family’s Grace-Filled Donation

Grace, her parents Mary and Kyle Herschelman, and sister Charlie, have been a huge part of the McKay family and its Make-A-Wish journey. Kyle Herschelman’s father, Randy Herschelman, is a 48-year McKay NAPA Auto Parts employee.

Grace had her own wish for a trip to Hawaii with her family granted in 2014 and especially liked swimming in the ocean. Grace’s mother said, "Our Make-A-Wish trip was one of the best weeks on our whole Grace-Filled Journey. We are honored to be able to help other kids and families have that same experience."

The Herschelman’s generous donation to McKay and Make-A-Wish Illinois was made possible by donations and fundraisers held by Montgomery County volleyball teams and their “Grace-Filled Tourney.” 

Many Ways to Contribute

In addition to individual donations, McKay NAPA also raises money for Make-A-Wish Illinois in various other ways including its annual Golf Outing held in August at the Rolling Hills Golf Course in Godfrey, Illinois, where one of its stores is located. Strut Your Stuff Cruise-In and corn hole tournament registrations, a Pancake for Wishes breakfast hosted by Staunton Masons Lodge, and t-shirt sales also contribute to the donation amount.

Flack ties the Cruise-In to McKay NAPA stores by encouraging participants to visit as many of its locations as possible where they receive a ticket for an entry in a prize drawing. The more stores visited and tickets collected, the greater the chance of winning. This year, a lucky Cruise-In participant won the grand prize, a Carlyle floor jack.

Flack added, “In addition to our fundraisers, we are grateful for donations and support from our customers, friends, and business associates; as well as NAPA corporate representatives; our McKay employees and corporate owners.”

Donations Benefit Local Children

Flack continued, “The reason we chose Make-A-Wish 22 years ago and are continuing our support today is because this organization reaches children and their families in the communities where our stores are. In other words, the funds we raise stay local.”

Make-A-Wish Illinois creates life-changing wishes for children battling critical illnesses. Since its founding in 1985, Make-A-Wish Illinois has granted more than 19,000 wishes and continues its mission to share the power of a wish^® with children in all 102 counties across the state. Over 18,000 local wishes have been granted since the organization was founded in 1985, with 700 granted last year.

Bri and Her Mystery Machine

Brianne (Bri) Bagwell, a student at Marquette Catholic High School in Alton, Illinois, recently received one of those wishes. While in middle school Bagwell learned she had acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a type of cancer that starts in the bone marrow and moves into the blood. And just three months later, she learned she had hemophagocytic lymphohisiocystosis (HLH), a rare genetic disease that was activated by her weakened immune system.

Bagwell underwent months of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant in December 2019 at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. Today, she is in remission. Her wish was for a Mystery Machine Van inspired by her favorite Scooby Doo cartoon. Her family purchased the van and Make-A-Wish made the transformation possible.

Bagwell uses her Mystery Machine as a way to give back to the community, taking it to hospitals with her Irish wolfhound therapy dog. She also drives it in parades and to Camp HIS KIDS, a summer camp for children with cancer and their siblings, where she volunteers.

This summer she also drove it to the annual McKay Golf Tournament benefiting Make-A-Wish Illinois. Although not a fan of public speaking, Bagwell told her story to the crowd of 204 golfers and according to Flack, “there wasn’t a dry eye in the bunch.”

With $1 million donated to Make-A-Wish Illinois over the years, there is still more work to be done and wishes to be granted. McKay NAPA is looking forward to next year’s fundraising efforts.

McKay NAPA Locations

McKay NAPA added two more locations this year, making 28 McKay NAPA stores in addition to its corporate headquarters and distribution center in Litchfield, Illinois.

McKay NAPA stores can be found throughout central Illinois and surrounding areas including Arcola, Belleville, Bethalto, Carlinville, Carlyle, Centralia, Charleston, Chatham, Collinsville, Edwardsville, Fairview Heights, Gillespie, Godfrey, Granite City-North & South, Greenville, Highland, Hillsboro. Jerseyville, Litchfield, Mt. Sterling, Nashville, Nokomis, Pittsfield, Rushville, Staunton, Vandalia, and Virden.