Post
Throwback Thursday
Auto dealer honored for civic activism
Sep 01, 2022
By Jason G. Zencka For the Central Wisconsin Business publication
“There are no hospital wings or gymnasiums named after Mark Olinyk, but he seems proud of that fact.
It’s not that Olinyk, owner of Mark Toyota, 1765 Park Ave., in Plover isn’t a philanthropist. The 52-year-old was recently featured in Time Magazine when Mark Toyota received the 2007 Dealer of the Year Award for Wisconsin, in recognition of Olinyk’s dedication to organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of Portage County.
Olinyk contributed more than $10,000 toward the construction of the Boys & Girls Club’s Stevens Point facility. And Olinyk’s Mark Motors – which includes Mark Toyota, Mark Scion and two dealerships in Wisconsin Rapids – donated a rapid response vehicle to Portage County emergency services.
Olinyk said his footprint on the community is one he likes to leave with his feet, working side by side with the people of Portage and Wood counties. Olinyk sponsors Special Olympics teams and sits on the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Portage County.
‘A lot of people will say, ‘OK, we’re going to wait (until) we die,’ and then they’ll give some money, get a hospital wing named after them or a gymnasium, but I don’t like that,’ Olinyk said. ‘I like being able to see the fruits of our fun stuff with the things that are going on now, and there’s a lot of need in these communities.’
What are the fruits of his labor? Olinyk and his dealershihps have recently reaped a handful of awards and award nominations for business success and civic involvement.
In addition to the nod from Time, Olinyk was a finalist for the American International Automobile Dealers Dealer of the Year award, which also recognizes community activism.
Olinyk said his work within Portage and Wood counties is charged by the smaller community of Mark Motors. The company’s family atmosphere, he says, encourages community service.
‘That was always Mark’s, I guess you could say, ‘MO’ from day one,’ said Olinyk’s longtime business partner, Tim Durigan. ‘Our philosophy is we believe in putting back into the community we live and reside in.’”
“There are no hospital wings or gymnasiums named after Mark Olinyk, but he seems proud of that fact.
It’s not that Olinyk, owner of Mark Toyota, 1765 Park Ave., in Plover isn’t a philanthropist. The 52-year-old was recently featured in Time Magazine when Mark Toyota received the 2007 Dealer of the Year Award for Wisconsin, in recognition of Olinyk’s dedication to organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of Portage County.
Olinyk contributed more than $10,000 toward the construction of the Boys & Girls Club’s Stevens Point facility. And Olinyk’s Mark Motors – which includes Mark Toyota, Mark Scion and two dealerships in Wisconsin Rapids – donated a rapid response vehicle to Portage County emergency services.
Olinyk said his footprint on the community is one he likes to leave with his feet, working side by side with the people of Portage and Wood counties. Olinyk sponsors Special Olympics teams and sits on the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Portage County.
‘A lot of people will say, ‘OK, we’re going to wait (until) we die,’ and then they’ll give some money, get a hospital wing named after them or a gymnasium, but I don’t like that,’ Olinyk said. ‘I like being able to see the fruits of our fun stuff with the things that are going on now, and there’s a lot of need in these communities.’
What are the fruits of his labor? Olinyk and his dealershihps have recently reaped a handful of awards and award nominations for business success and civic involvement.
In addition to the nod from Time, Olinyk was a finalist for the American International Automobile Dealers Dealer of the Year award, which also recognizes community activism.
Olinyk said his work within Portage and Wood counties is charged by the smaller community of Mark Motors. The company’s family atmosphere, he says, encourages community service.
‘That was always Mark’s, I guess you could say, ‘MO’ from day one,’ said Olinyk’s longtime business partner, Tim Durigan. ‘Our philosophy is we believe in putting back into the community we live and reside in.’”
Boys & Girls Club of Portage County
P.O Box 171
Stevens Point, WI 54481
941 Michigan Ave.
Stevens Point, 54481
info@bgclubpc.org
715.341.4386
Tax ID #: 73-1630506
Thank You, United Way of Portage County!
The Boys & Girls Club of Portage County is a United Way sponsored agency.
Help Open Doors
Thank you for contributing to the Boys & Girls Club of Portage County. We rely on the support of the community to keep our programs and services available to more than 2,000 youth in Portage County.