Fred Beans Automotive Group participated in this year’s Textron Aviation Special Olympics Airlift, transporting the New Jersey Special Olympics tennis team to and from the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota.
This is the third year Fred Beans Automotive Group has participated in the event, covering all operating expenses for the flights, the company said in a press release.
Fred Beans Pilot Eric Smith volunteered his time to the effort, returning from the games with members and coaches from New Jersey’s Special Olympics tennis team. Smith works at the Fred Beans Automotive Group’s corporate office in Doylestown, Bucks County.
“Being part of this mission for the third consecutive year is a privilege for our team,” Beth Beans Gilbert, vice president of Fred Beans Automotive Group, said in a statement. “As a family-owned company with a personal commitment to community involvement, participating in the Airlift allows us to use our resources to make a meaningful impact while honoring the determination, perseverance and spirit of the athletes.”
In an emailed response, the company said Cessna reached out to Fred Beans Automotive Group to see if the company would be interested in participating in the effort. Several members of the Beans family have their pilot’s licenses.
The Special Olympics Airlift is organized by Textron Aviation in partnership with customers and the Special Olympics USA Games to mobilize volunteer pilots and aircraft for transporting athletes and coaches to the national competition. The most recent Airlift involved about 120 aircraft and 200 volunteers to ensure more than 600 athletes from 23 states could compete in Minnesota during the games, held June 20-26.
Fred Beans Automotive Group encompasses 30 dealerships, 21 brands, 10 Fred Beans collision centers —– nine franchised as CARSTAR, two AutoExpress locations, a parts warehouse, two Carquest locations, four Autorents rental locations, and commercial truck sales.