Vince’s Auto Care and the Work of Community

In a place like Sherwood Park, a business can be more than a service provider. Over time, it can become something else entirely — a point of continuity, a trusted presence, a reflection of the values that hold a community together.

Vince’s Auto Care is one of those businesses.

Founded in 1978 by Vince Gatti in a small service station in the Maplewood area, the business has grown and evolved over the decades. What has remained constant is a commitment to strong customer service, word of mouth, and taking care of people well.

Today, under the ownership of Tony Malinowski, that commitment is deeply rooted in personal connection.

“My family moved to Sherwood Park in 1975,” he says. “I grew up just blocks from the original Vince’s Auto location. I’ve never had any desire to move away — and now my kids are going to the same schools I did.”

That sense of continuity — of staying rooted and investing in the place that helped shape you — informs how Vince’s Auto operates, both as a business and as a community partner.

“I’ve seen Sherwood Park grow,” Tony says, “but it’s kept that small-town feel. Supporting local organizations — whether that’s minor sports or groups like Robin Hood Association — is what keeps that connection strong. When customers support us, it’s only right that we give back.”

That belief is what led Vince’s Auto to step forward as the Presenting Sponsor of The Empowerment Gala in support of Robin Hood Association.

For RHA, community support is foundational. We support hundreds of individuals and families every day, work that depends on strong partnerships and a shared belief in what inclusive community can look like.

Vince’s Auto’s connection to that work is both practical and personal.

On a day-to-day level, the team helps service and maintain RHA’s paratransit vehicles, working closely with staff to keep that fleet safe, reliable, and on the road.

“It’s a partnership to keep the fleet rolling and safe while balancing costs and needed repairs,” Tony explains.

But the connection runs deeper.

Through his brother-in-law Christian, and through his family’s firsthand experiences with Robin Hood Association, Tony has seen the impact of that work up close.

“Having that personal connection went a long way,” he says. “Really, it just felt very right to me.”

At its core, Vince’s Auto has always been about more than repair.

“It’s in the name,” Tony says. “We care about cars — but we also care about the people and families that rely on them. Repairing is just a small part of the process.”

That perspective carries through to how the business approaches community.

“The only way RHA can continue to grow and offer the programs people need is with the support of the community.”

It’s a simple idea — but one that speaks to something essential.

Organizations like Robin Hood Association do not operate in isolation. They are sustained by relationships, by trust, and by people and businesses who choose to invest in the work.

Vince’s Auto’s support of The Empowerment Gala reflects that understanding — and a belief that strong communities are built when people show up for one another.

Robin Hood Association is deeply grateful to Vince’s Auto for their leadership, generosity, and commitment to this community.