Charitable foundation Tinters for a Cause became a 501(c)(3) organization in August 2022, raising more than $120,000 since. Founder Dean Mitchell, New England territory manager at XPEL, says the organization has already provided $50,000 of that total to film industry professionals in need with more help on the way.

Making a Difference

Founder Dean Mitchell, New England territory manager at XPEL, says the organization has already provided $50,000 to film industry professionals in need with more help on the way.

“It made me realize how generous our industry is,” Mitchell says of the donations. “It blew me away. People would give the shirt off their backs to help someone in need. That was a big eye-opener and why I want to keep pushing this.”

The organization is made up of a selection committee and a board of directors, which help determine who is eligible for financial backing. The board includes founder Mitchell; Chris Hardy, XPEL’s director of sales; Manny Hondroulis, vice president of Energy Products Distribution in Baltimore; Steven Sala, dealership account manager, LLumar Performance Films at Eastman Chemical Company; and Brandon ‘Hoss’ Evans of Xtreme Shades in Smithfield, N.C.

Various window film industry suppliers and dealers support the Tinters for a Cause mission by donating time and monetary funds. The organization’s Shop Owner’s Association Program is comprised of 50 companies.

Founder Mitchell formed a giving attitude when he entered the industry two decades ago.

“Nobody wanted to share tips and tricks to help their neighbor improve because it ultimately turned into competition,” he says. “But I never had that mentality. I always had the mindset that one bad tint job makes the entire industry look bad. So if we can help our neighbors avoid mistakes, it will add value to what we do.”

Mitchell first took note of industry hardships across social media groups and at events like The International Window Film Conference & Tint-Off™ (WFCT) and the SEMA Show. “It broke my heart,” he says. “I was like, ‘There’s got to be a way we can all come together as an industry to help each other.’”

Before becoming a 501(c)(3) organization, Mitchell and key Tinters for a Cause members banded together to help peers in need. WINDOW FILM magazine covered two of the early initiatives:

• All in on Autism: Tinters Travel for Tint-A-Thon

• Window Film Community Rallies Behind One of Their Own

Getting Involved

Tinters for a Cause will have a booth at WFCT 2023, where the organization will raise funds for window film professionals enduring hardships. For more information on how you can help the organization, click here. It will be the benefit of the “Race for a Cause,” held during the event and an auction on the show floor.