Press Releases

Colony, TEXAS, April 25, 2014 – BraunAbility and Ally Financial recently joined together to donate a wheelchair accessible vehicle to a Dallas-area student and his family. The companies were inspired by the efforts of the local Colony, Texas community, which has rallied together over the last few months to support student Brian Bravo and his family’s need for more suitable mobility equipment.

The companies presented a BraunAbility Dodge Rear-Entry to Bravo and his family during a ceremony at The Colony High School on Friday, April 25. The van will allow for Brian to more easily travel with his family.  The ceremony served as a way to thank the school and the local community for their Bravo4Brian fundraising efforts, collecting $25,000 for the Brian Bravo Trust Fund. The fund was created in support of Bravo, who suffered a brain injury in a 2005 auto accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. With the vehicle donation from BraunAbility and Ally, the trust funds can be used for other ongoing expenses, rather than for the vehicle purchase.

In addition, local mobility dealer United Access is installing a tie-down device to secure Brian’s wheelchair, and will also pay for one year of insurance on the vehicle. Huffines Dodge/Chrysler has offered to donate a maximum care coverage extended warranty on the vehicle.

BraunAbility also presented its inaugural Spirit of Ability Award to The Colony High School and Coach Cleve Ryan, who helped establish the Brian Bravo Trust Fund and motivated the school and community to help raise money for a new wheelchair van. The award recognizes that just one person has the ability to make a difference in the lives of people with physical disabilities.

“The van, the extra monetary support, the rallying around a family who needed it — none of that would have happened without the first person saying, “Maybe we could do something…”, said Greg Kiser of BraunAbility. “Ralph Braun, our founder, lived that same spirit when he built the first motorized scooter and first wheelchair lift. He built an industry and proved just one person can make a difference, and we celebrate people who do the same.”

Added Tim Russi, president of auto finance for Ally, “The story of support around Bravo4Brian is nothing short of inspiring, and Ally is honored to be able to help make a difference for Brian, his family and the Colony community.”

For more information on Bravo4Brian, visit http://bit.ly/1hfN4iY.

About BraunAbility
BraunAbility is the world’s leading manufacturer of wheelchair accessible vehicles and wheelchair lifts in the mobility industry. Founded nearly 50 years ago by Ralph Braun, the corporation was built on the age-old adage, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Ralph Braun was a young man who used a wheelchair and had no reliable transportation to and from his place of work. He built his first wheelchair accessible vehicle in 1972, and since then the company has grown into the most well-known and experienced name in the mobility industry, bringing independence to tens of thousands of individuals across the world.

About Ally Financial
Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a leading automotive financial services company powered by a top direct banking franchise. Ally's automotive services business offers a full suite of financing products and services, including new and used vehicle inventory and consumer financing, leasing, inventory insurance, commercial loans and vehicle remarketing services. Ally Bank, the company's direct banking subsidiary and member FDIC, offers an array of deposit products, including certificates of deposit, savings accounts, money market accounts, IRA deposit products and interest checking. Ally's Commercial Finance unit provides financing to middle-market companies across a broad range of industries.

With approximately $151.2 billion in assets as of Dec. 31, 2013, Ally operates as a financial holding company.  For more information, visit the Ally media site at http://media.ally.com or follow Ally on Twitter: @Ally.

Contact:
Megan Wegner
BraunAbility
800-946-7513 x3125
megan.wegner@braunability.com

Jacquelyn Johnson
Ally Financial
646-781-2544
jacquelyn.johnson@ally.com