St. Lucie Battery and Tire earns Spirit of Philanthropy Award

Front: Leah Miller, Joey Miller, Jackson Miller
Back: Evan Miller, Marissa Martinez, Marlene Miller, Doug Miller, Darlene Duckworth, Mickey Miller, Bob Duckworth, Kelly Miller, Caleb Miller, Matthew Miller

Credit: Melissa Winstead of St. Lucie Habitat for Humanity.

FORT PIERCE – It is with great pride and excitement that St. Lucie Habitat for Humanity and the Boys and Girls Club of St. Lucie County nominated Joey Miller and the Miller Family of St. Lucie Battery and Tire for the National Philanthropy Day Spirit of Philanthropy Award.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals describes a philanthropist as a “person or group with a giving heart who seeks to promote the welfare of others, especially by the generous donation of money that causes that change in the world.” On Nov. 7, 2018, the Association of Fundraising Professionals Treasure Coast Chapter, awarded Joey Miller, and the Miller Family of St. Lucie Battery and Tire, the prestigious Spirit of Philanthropy Award.

Like many successful entrepreneurs, Joey Miller started out rather modestly. In the early 1970s, Joey sold fresh eggs at the Miller family stand on Orange Avenue in Fort Pierce. Today, the ambitious Joey is the founder of 15 St. Lucie Battery and Tire locations in four counties, with nearly 200 employees, many of whom are as loyal as their long-time customers.

The spirit of philanthropy found its origin with Joey Miller’s company tagline; “Home of Honest, Reliable Service,” and is shared by the Miller family and their employees. According to Joey, it’s more than worth the time and effort, and the place to start is with the people in the very community where we live and work.

Over the years, the Miller family has motivated hundreds of donors and volunteers to act on behalf of United Way, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County, Council on Aging of St. Lucie County, Raw Dawgs Youth Corps, Project Rock Youth Program, Community Outreach Youth Organization, Avenue D Boys Choir, Castle for the prevention of child abuse, and the Sunrise Theatre Foundation.

St. Lucie Battery and Tire and the Miller family supports the Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County as a corporate sponsor in numerous ways. Including collecting in-kind donations of school supplies and toys, to re-sodding the
Joey recently remarked, “When I can help a child, it means the world to me – there’s nothing better.”

The “giving culture” of St. Lucie Battery and Tire can be seen in their dedication and continued partnership with St. Lucie Habitat for Humanity. This partnership provides St.Lucie Battery and Tire employees with great team building experiences as well as opportunities to collectively give back to their community. Dozens of employees turn out for each St.Lucie Battery and Tire Habitat workday, and, according to Joey, “You see real, tangible results when people donate their hard-earned money and time.”

In April, during Habitat’s Home is the Key fundraising event, Doug Miller, one of Joey’s two sons, and the President of St. Lucie Battery and Tire, bid on, and won the Diamond Lil’ Tiny Home built by St. Lucie Habitat and the participants of a local YouthBuild program. Wanting to raise even more money and awareness for St. Lucie Habitat for Humanity, the folks at St. Lucie Battery and Tire are selling 5000 Tiny Home raffle tickets for $20 each with the plan to raise $100,000 for Habitat.

Over the years, Joey Miller has taken the lead on many initiatives for which he feels great passion. He believes in giving back to the community who helped make St. Lucie Battery and Tire what it is today. With community service and volunteer leadership at the root of their success, St. Lucie Battery and Tire conceived of the “Changing Oil, Changing Lives” campaign, which gives back to local non-profits working toward improving our community. Alzheimer’s Association of the Treasure Coast, Molly’s House, Treasure Coast Food Bank, Hibiscus Children’s Center, Treasure Coast Builders Association Charitable Fund, Humane Society of St. Lucie County, SafeSpace, American Legion South, 4 Kids, Dogs for Life, and Family Meals are the recent lucky recipients of these impactful gifts. Additionally, St. Lucie Battery and Tire employees walk in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, donate turkeys and hams during the holidays, adopt animals, pass out food to local families, paint new homes, landscape and lay sod, collect school supplies, donate tires, and sponsor many more events and initiatives. The impact that the St. Lucie Battery and Tire “Changing Oil, Changing Lives” campaign has on local non-profits is; each is about to do more, reach more, and serve more. All because of the “spirit” of philanthropy Joey has encourages in his family and everyone who knows him.

“It is difficult to quantify the impact that Joey and the Miller family have made on our community. One thing is clear, they consistently inspire others to be a better version of themselves – their spirit of philanthropy is absolutely contagious!” said Melissa Winstead, Development Director of St. Lucie Habitat for Humanity.

This article was distributed through Treasure Coast Business, a news service for the readers and advertisers of Indian River Magazine.