AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi,
Lean on Dee Senior Home Care Services, and
Midas of Annapolis and Pasadena
Christopher Mohns, Sr., the franchise owner of four Midas Auto Repair shops located in Annapolis, Pasadena, Laurel and Wheaton, was known and admired for his caring nature and generosity. He’d helped individuals and families going through rough times financially and in need of critical auto repairs countless times over the years.
Mohns’ good deeds were an inspiration to all of those who knew him including his wife Robin, who worked with him as a business partner. He’d talked with her in June of 2022 about expanding the number of people they could help. Sadly, two days after their conversation, he passed away at the age of 67.
Robin Mohns never, in her wildest dreams, imagined she’d be involved with a non-profit foundation. But she was determined to carry on her husband’s legacy and founded the Chris Gives Foundation shortly after his death. In addition to assisting families and individuals struggling to pay for auto repairs, the foundation funds scholarships for high school students pursuing an auto repair curriculum.
We learned about the foundation when introduced to Robin by Nancy Greer during the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber’s Spring SHOP LOCAL Fun Festival. We’d also heard about the fundraiser being held for the Chris Gives Foundation on June 21 at the Severna Park Taphouse featuring two bands and emceed by Larry Sells and wanted to know more.
Robin met with us last week to provide more information about the foundation and the fundraiser. We also chatted about the curious path her life took from meeting Chris Mohns in 1984 to meeting him again in 2018 and marrying him a year later.
Living in Cumberland, Maryland in 1984, she’d attended a community college but decided to finish her degree at the University of Maryland in College Park. Her brother lived in Columbia at the time and she figured she’d spend the summer there and get a job to get acclimated to the area. She answered an ad for what was then the Midas Muffler franchise in Laurel, halfway between Columbia and College Park.
“When I walked in to apply for the job, I found the man who would be my future husband standing behind the counter,” Robin said. “His father owned 12 Midas Muffler shops at the time and Chris was running that one.”
After filling out an application and convincing him she was serious about the job, he interviewed and hired her. Though meant to be a summer job, Robin was good at it and worked for a total of six months. Mohns was older and she wasn’t really interested in him other than as her boss. But he did make quite an impact on her young life.
She was impressed by the way he dealt with customers, by his charitable nature, by his ability to spot people who were in distress and by his desire to help them.
“The things I learned from him like an emphasis on customer service stayed with me for many years and served me well in my career,” she said.
There was no Internet or cell phones during those years, and Robin lost touch with him. But Chris didn’t forget her. Five years later, he tried and succeeded in locating her back in Cumberland where she moved when her father became ill.
“He sent me an old-fashioned letter that I didn’t answer thinking that there was no point since we lived so far apart and I had a career. But flash forward 34 years to 2018 when we rediscovered each other on Facebook,” she said. “We reconnected and immediately knew we wanted to be together for the rest of our lives.” One year later, we married in August of 2019.”
Chris had two Midas shops at the time, but they became partners and ended up acquiring two more shops and making all business decisions for the four shops together.
The couple continued Chris’ practice of gifting auto repairs including presenting one to Dennis McQuire on Valentine’s Day in 2020.
“I thank God for that time with my husband because he passed away so unexpectedly,” Robin said. “Thinking back, I realize there may have been some signs that he wasn’t quite as well as he seemed.”
One morning, he asked her to come into his study and told her he felt they’d been blessed to spend money on things they wanted and enjoyed, and it was now time to focus on others. They made a pact to do more to help people. Two days later he passed away.
“We were thrilled because we’d just bought a Condo in Ocean City. We were about to take out a new boat we’d bought when he suffered heart failure and died instantly,” she said.
His words from two days before, seemed to have been a message to her and an inspiration to carry on with what he’d been planning. So, a short time later, she started the Chris Gives Foundation.
“It went a little slowly since I was grieving and suddenly had four Midas auto repair shops to run,” Robin noted. “I was going through a huge learning curve figuring out how to run the shops by myself. Nevertheless, I put together a board of directors – a great group of people who are all volunteers.”
“We began by hosting an annual fundraising event. The first one, held at Baldwin Hall in Millersville in 2023, was more of a memorial to Chris and kick-off for the charity. We then started doing what my husband used to do naturally, helping people who work and make a difference but are suffering financial setbacks and unable afford critically needed auto repairs. We received referrals from churches and other organizations about people who could use our assistance.”
One family the Chris Gives Foundation was particularly pleased to help was that of disabled veteran Patrick Turner who’d just moved from Florida to Maryland with his family including a disabled child. The Turner family was distressed to learn that, to pass a Maryland inspection, they needed auto repairs totaling $4,000. They had no idea how they were going to come up with that amount of money and were extremely grateful when the foundation offered to pay for the repairs.
A second important element for the Chris Gives Foundation is something Robin strongly cares about.
“Running the four auto repair shops, I came to realize there are not a lot of eligible auto repair technicians out there. There is definitely a shortage of them,” she said. “I’m a big fan of trade schools having attended a Votech program when I was young. So, I started looking at high schools in the area that offer an auto repair curriculum and was pleasantly surprised to find three, CAT-North (Center of Applied Technology-North) in Pasadena, CAT-South in Edgewater, and Thomas Edison High School of Technology in Silver Spring.”
She began talking to all three schools about offering scholarships. The Chris Gives Foundation board met to vote on Robin’s scholarship proposal and were excited to voice their approval. The scholarship program ties in nicely with the foundation’s mission to invest in the future, empowering individuals and families by enhancing opportunities for them and hopefully strengthening the workforce.
These days learning to be an auto repair technician is complicated. Students need to have their own tools which are incredibly expensive, and they also have to learn the computer technology installed in today’s automobiles.
The foundation held its first award ceremony at CAT-North in Pasadena last week and awarded two students $750 worth of tools each. This week they’re going to Thomas Edison to award $l,500 worth of tools for two additional students.
“We chose tools because they are so vital to a career as an auto repair technician and so costly,” Robin said before personally awarding $750 worth of tools to students Alejandro Hernandez and Bladen Taylor.
She noted that both students will be introduced during the Chris Gives Foundation Fundraiser being held June 21 from noon to 10 pm at the Severna Park Taphouse.
The fundraising event features the bands Genghis Kahn and 8-Ball Deluxe and Robin’s friend and mentor Larry Sells will be the emcee.
To follow the activities of the Chris Gives Foundation visit Facebook.
Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber announces July 4th Parade Grand Marshall
The Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that this year’s Independence Day Parade Grand Marshal is the noted town historian Scott Jay.
“It is such a fitting selection for our 50th Anniversary as Scott was born and raised in Severna Park, has lived here all his life and is our town’s local historian,” commented Chamber CEO Liz League.
Parenting for a Different World Happiness Hour at the Yoga Barn on June 6th
On Friday June 6th, from 5 to 6 pm, area residents are invited to attend Parenting for a Different World “Happiness Hour” at the Yoga Barn at 44 West Earleigh Heights Road in Severna Park. We will be practicing breathing exercises, stretching, and other relaxation techniques to encourage healthy coping skills and self-care. It’s a lot of fun, very peaceful and perfect for anyone age about 10 on up through adults. For more information, visit Facebook.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
And, we welcome a new sponsor this week. Midas of Annapolis and Pasadena, A family- owned business with four locations (Annapolis, Pasadena, Laurel and Wheaton) and 40 years’ experience and the backing of a national brand, they are committed to earning customers’ trust by offering the expertise, value and responsiveness they expect – “every time they visit us.”
