Modesto has been home to the Porges family ever since relocating here in 1984, when she opened her arms and greeted our family with a big, warm welcoming hug.  After fighting the constant “life battle” in Los Angeles, it didn’t take long for us to realize just how special the Central Valley is.  It was Modesto's small-town charm, family-centricity, and the incredibly generous people that made Modesto such a wonderful place to grow up, work, play, and raise a family.   

The yearly Fourth of July parade is a perfect example of what makes Modesto so special. Year after year, thousands of folks of all ages line the downtown streets to wave our flag and celebrate what it means to be an American and be fortunate enough to live in the greatest country ever assembled. Adults, kids, and babies arrive early to show their support, enjoy the floats, and watch classic cars cruise by before heading home and firing up the BBQ.  Riding the parade route in a beautiful 1954 Packard beside my wife Leia while our daughter Lauren, her husband Nick, and their new baby Luciano watched from close by made for an even more elevated honor for us all.  

As defined by the Kiwanis, The Champion of the Fourth is bestowed upon those who have made exceptional contributions to the Modesto community and exemplifies the spirit of Independence Day through leadership, volunteerism, philanthropy, and civic service.  For almost 30 years, our family operated Prime Shine Car Wash, which provided an opportunity for us to become ingrained in the communities of Stanislaus County through the support of our great employees and so many deserving local organizations.  In short, we’ve always been hyper-focused on giving back to the people and the place that gave so much to us.  

Today our family is even more committed to making a difference in Modesto and Stanislaus County through the Porges Family Foundation that concentrates on non-profit success, youth opportunity, and economic mobility.  Although the sale of Prime Shine was bittersweet, it did provide our family with the opportunity to significantly elevate our commitment to philanthropy.  These days, it would be fair to say that instead of cleaning up lots of cars, we are doing our part to help clean up our community! 

Happy 250th to our great country that provided the platform for our family to prosper and then to provide.