Mark Pieloch’s collection encompasses more than 250 muscle cars, and he doesn’t keep his sexy cars to himself. He has parlayed his love of autos into a serious charitable enterprise by lending his valuable museum to a variety of local nonprofits that use the facility to raise funds for their programs.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – It is easy to see why Mark Pieloch considers himself an optimist. If you were surrounded by $33 million dollars’ worth of muscle cars, you, too, might be looking at the world through rose-colored glasses.
His collection encompasses more than 300 muscle cars, including 40 Indianapolis 500 pace cars, 30 Shelby vehicles and 24 Yenkos, those highly desirable customized Chevy muscle cars, all of which he keeps in his American Muscle Car Museum next to the Melbourne Greyhound Park.
Pieloch doesn’t keep his sexy cars to himself. He has parlayed his love of autos into a serious charitable enterprise by lending his valuable museum to a variety of local nonprofits that use the facility to raise funds for their programs.
Last year, the 123,000-square-foot museum, which is not open to the public, hosted more than 30 charity events.
When Hurricane Irma roared into town, Pieloch’s museum was untouched, but the neighboring Melbourne Greyhound Park was under a foot of water at the time the facility was needed as the staging area for more than 1,300 utility workers from around the country who had arrived to restore power to the more than 300,000 left without lights.
Mark Pieloch’s collection encompasses more than 250 muscle cars, and he doesn’t keep his sexy cars to himself. He has parlayed his love of autos into a serious charitable enterprise by lending his valuable museum to a variety of local nonprofits that use the facility to raise funds for their programs.
Pieloch immediately offered his museum property to the workers and overnight the 42 acres of the American Muscle Car Museum turned into at tent city of trailers for the workers.
The self-made pet pharmaceutical entrepreneur is a huge supporter of animal causes. Pieloch donated $1.5 million to the Capital Humane Society of Lincoln, Nebraska, to build a no-kill shelter that saves the lives of more than 6,000 dogs and cats each year.
He also gave $600,000 to support the expansion of the veterinary school at Washington State University and $125,000 to Auburn University’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
The Central Florida Animal Reserve in 2013 benefited from his support to the tune of $12,000 He presented the American Cancer Society with a gift of more than $100,000 last year and donated a 1994 Camaro Z28 to be raffled to an active duty military for free.
Pieloch has launched six human and companion animal health companies. Among his patents is Phycox, a product that treats arthritis in companion animals, helping them to live pain-free lives.
He has developed more than 20 pet pharmaceutical products that have helped millions of dogs, cats and horses. Whenever a good cause knocks at his door, Pieloch is glad to help.
“When people need help, you help,” he said.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE CENTRAL FLORIDA HUMANITARIAN ALUMNI
For more information or to make a reservation to attend the 2018 Central Florida Humanitarian Awards Gala, call 321-323-4460 or 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com
2018 CENTRAL FLORIDA HUMANITARIAN AWARDS SET NOV. 8
The 2018 Central Florida Humanitarians have been announced and include outstanding individuals and organizations from the medical, business, education and governmental communities. The Central Florida Humanitarian honorees will be recognized during a Gala event on Thursday, Nov. 8, at the Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place in Melbourne, Florida.
Recognizing Outstanding Individuals & Organizations Who Dedicate Their Time, Talent and Treasure
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The 2018 Central Florida Humanitarians have been announced and include outstanding individuals and organizations from the medical, business, education and governmental communities.
The Central Florida Humanitarian honorees will be recognized during a Gala event on Thursday, Nov. 8, at the Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place in Melbourne, Florida.
The Central Florida Humanitarian Awards were created nine years ago by Space Coast Daily to recognize outstanding individuals and organizations that dedicate their time, talent or treasure to help people in need locally – and around the world.
TIME: In this category consider candidates who have selflessly and consistently devoted their time as volunteers at hospitals and nursing homes, in activities for the less fortunate and as organizers, administrators or operatives in the many other altruistic endeavors in our community.
The 2018 Central Florida Humanitarians have been announced and include outstanding individuals and organizations from the medical, business, education and governmental communities. All Humanitarian alumni are presented a specially commissioned medallion.
TALENT: In this category give consideration to those who have volunteered their special talents and expertise to address specific circumstances in which the lives of those in need are improved.
TREASURE: The humanitarians in this category will include those who have generously shared their monetary good fortune and/or volunteered their time and efforts in fundraising for the advancement of a philanthropic cause.
All 2018 honorees will be featured in the Oct/Nov 2018 edition of Space Coast Daily magazine and on SpaceCoastDaily.com. The magazine will be available the first week of October in both print and digital editions, which will also be available on SpaceCoastDaily.com
ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO BE HONORED INCLUDE:
• Jessica Andre
• Leonard Beam
• Harry Brandon, in Memoriam
• Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Pet Posse
• Brevard Veterans Memorial Center Volunteers
• Bridges Foundation
• Michael Bross, A Step Up
• Keri Anne Demott Foundation
• Lori Duester and Liz Mikitarian, Youth Mental Health Task Force
• Florida Wildlife Hospital & Sanctuary
• Christine Lance
• Rev. Lorenzo Laws
• Larry McNamara, Giant Recreation World
• Dr. David Neely
• Neighbors of Suntree
• Ashley Nolan
• Mark Pieloch, Founder of the Muscle Car Museum
• Dr. Mark Pinsky
• Joe Rodriguez, McDonald’s Restaurants of Brevard County
• Susan Slaton
• Stephen Thaggard, Embrace Home Loans
• The Avenue Viera
• Barbie Thrower, Community Treatment Center
• Valiant Air Command Volunteers
• Mac McLouth, 2018 Central Florida Humanitarian Lifetime Achievement honoree
Each honoree or organization will be presented the Central Florida Humanitarian Crystal Globe. Stay tuned to Space Coast Daily for exclusive and comprehensive multimedia coverage of each honoree as we present their compelling stories.
HONORING SELFLESS VOLUNTEERISM
As always, the Central Florida Humanitarian committee will also honor hospital and hospice volunteers from Health First Hospice, the Dr. Jey Pillai Center for Hospice Care at Wasdin Woods, VITAS, Hospice of St. Francis, Health First Cape Canaveral Hospital, Health First Viera Hospital, Health First Holmes Regional Medical Center, Health FirstPalm Bay Hospital, Melbourne Regional Medical Center, Rockledge Regional Medical Center, the VA Clinic in Viera, and Sebastian River Medical Center.
Dr. Jim Palermo
“Over the years, our editorial team has had the distinct honor and pleasure of identifying and featuring the many members of our community who give back so much and are dedicated to reaching out and helping others, here and throughout the world, in a multitude of ways,” said Space Coast Daily Editor-In-Chief Dr. Jim Palermo.
JOIN US FOR AN INSPIRATIONAL EVENING
This inspiring and compelling event is sponsored by First Choice Medical Group, Clear Choice Health Care, Total Home Roofing, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Rock Paper Simple, Embrace Home Loans, Adventure HQ, Florida Pain Institute, CFP Care Team, Dr. Mark Pinsky, Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place, Friday Night Locker Room, Safari Mail House and SpaceCoastDaily.com.
Each honoree or organization will be presented the Central Florida Humanitarian Crystal Globe. Stay tuned to Space Coast Daily for exclusive and comprehensive multimedia coverage of each honoree as we present their compelling stories.
For more information or to make a reservation to attend the 2018 Central Florida Humanitarian Awards Gala, call 321-323-4460 or 321-615-8111 or e-mailContact@SpaceCoastDaily.com
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