Bidding Begins at 99 Cents for High Performance Automotive Parts Packages,
VIP Experiences, Autographed Memorabilia and Custom-Made Bicycles

MILWAUKEE, WI – OPTIMA® Batteries will host an online auction on eBay to raise money for its new Build-A-Bike program and not-for-profit partner, Golden State Foods Foundation beginning Thursday, July 5 at 7 p.m. PDT. The Build-A-Bike program was first announced in May of this year as a way for OPTIMA Batteries and automotive enthusiasts who participate in OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car events to give back to the communities where industry events are held.
 
“We got together with other people in the industry and thought about what first got us into cars when we were kids,” said Cam Douglass, director of product development and marketing for OPTIMA Batteries. “What we discovered is that it was really our first bicycle, and how as a kid you were constantly modifying it and working with tools to fix it. We wanted to pass that passion onto another generation.”
 
Several industry celebrities and organizations have stepped up in support of OPTIMA’s Build-A-Bike program. Pete Chapouris and Jimmy Shine, the legends behind So-Cal Speed Shop and Troy Ladd of Hollywood HOT RODS have each built a custom bicycle for the auction. Ladd has also contributed a custom painted guitar.
 
Other companies and industry figures that have contributed to the auction include: Monster Jam®, Wilwood Disc Brakes, K&N Filters, MagnaFlow, Former WCW and WWE Wrestler Bill Goldberg, MSD, Vintage Air, Chris Alston’s Chassiswork, the World Challenge SCCA Pro Racing series, Offshore Powerboat Association, drag racing legends Tom McEwen and Don Prudhomme (on behalf of Beckett Media), Chicago Fire and Major League Fishing.
 
Those interested in participating in the online auction can visit optimabuildabike.com to view available auction items and start planning their bids. Current available items include high-performance automotive parts packages, exclusive VIP experiences and more.
 
All proceeds from the online auction will go to the Golden State Foods Foundation for the purchase of additional bicycles and helmets to support the program throughout 2012. The auction is open to all U.S. and Canadian residents, and bidding is scheduled to end Sunday, July 15 at 7 p.m. PDT. Auction Cause, one of eBay’s leading online cause marketing agencies, will manage the auction.
 
“This is a great cause to be involved in,” said Mark Wetterau, chairman and CEO of Golden State Foods. “Not only are we giving children bicycles that otherwise might not have them, we are teaching them basic skills about working with tools. We are also giving them a sense of self-confidence and accomplishment.”
 
During the Build-A-Bike events children are paired up with mentors to work together to assemble their own bicycle. Afterwards they are fitted with helmets to promote bicycle safety and customize their bicycle with onsite professional pin-stripers and decals. With two events under its belt, the program has already benefitted 125 Boys & Girls Club and YMCA children in Texas and Wisconsin.
 
Upcoming Build-A-Bike events include:
 
Holley LSFest
Friday, September 7, 2012
Location: Beech Bend Raceway Park (798 Beech Bend Road, Bowling Green, KY
42101)
 
2012 SEMA Show
Friday, November 2, 2012
Location: Las Vegas Hotel & Casino (3000 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, NV)
 
To find more information on OPTIMA’s Build-A-Bike program and auction, please visit optimabuildabike.com.
 
About OPTIMA® Batteries
OPTIMA® YellowTop®, RedTop® and BlueTop® batteries are available through leading battery distributors globally. When looking for OPTIMA Batteries consumers should look for the unique, colored-top and SIX PACK™ design which OPTIMA is known throughout the world. In 2012, OPTIMA added to its product line with the innovative OPTIMA® Chargers Digital 1200 Battery Charger for all automotive and marine batteries. To find out more information or purchase OPTIMA products consumers may visit optimabatteries.com. Consumers can also call 1-888-8OPTIMA (1-888-867-8462) for additional information.
 
OPTIMA Batteries are manufactured by Johnson Controls, Inc. Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI - News) is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of more than 150,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. Our commitment to sustainability drives our environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in our workplaces and communities, and the products and services we provide to customers. For additional information, please visit johnsoncontrols.com.
 
About GSF Foundation and Golden State Foods
The Golden State Foods Foundation (GSF Foundation) is a non-profit organization established to help children and families in need. A natural extension of Golden State Foods’ value-based business, the Foundation is designed to improve the lives of individuals in the areas where GSF’s associates live and work through personal involvement and contributions. More than 80 percent of GSF associates participate in the Foundation, leading its 26 local committees throughout the U.S. A key differentiator for the Foundation is 100 percent of all donated monies go directly to its charitable partners or programs. For more information, please visit www.gsffoundation.org. Golden State Foods is a $5 billion diversified supplier to the quick service industry. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif. the 65-year-old company services more than 20,000 restaurants in more than 50 countries. Its core businesses include: processing and distribution of liquid products, meat, produce, bakery and other services. For more information, visit goldenstatefoods.com.