National valet company parks big donation check in hands of Simon Youth Foundation

Earnest, left, with Patterson
and Durnil, right

Chip Patterson, the CEO of AmeriPark, one of the country's leading parking management companies, built his business from scratch. While in college, he started parking cars at a local business, paying rent to the property owner for the spaces and keeping the remaining revenue from the valet services he provided. Today, his company still utilizes that model, providing services to more than 150 U.S. corporate clients.

Patterson's story of perseverance and ingenuity inspires our team at SYF as we work with thousands of at-risk Simon Youth Academy students each year. We take a lot of pride in providing education opportunities that ignite hope in students, giving them the confidence to believe that they can write Patterson-like stories for their future and become successful self-made business people, too.

Given his understanding of how important it is to seize life's opportunities, it is no surprise that Patterson and AmeriPark are annual supporters of SYF.

SYF, AmeriPark and Simon staff members
at the check presentation

On Thursday, March 22, 2012, Patterson presented SYF Board Member Tim Earnest and President and CEO J. Michael Durnil, Ph.D., with a gift of more than $38,000 during an informal reception at Shula's Steakhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. AmeriPark raised its donation funds through its 2011 Holiday Valet Program at Simon® malls and outlet centers nationwide.

The $38,000 plus gift is enough money to support an entire senior class at one of our Simon Youth Academies through graduation day. That's 38 lives changed forever. It's 38 young people who'll have the hope and the tools to become the next Chip Patterson.