MIDLAND (WWJ) – A Michigan couple is already getting into the giving holiday spirit this year.
Michael and Dianne Morey of Mount Pleasant have pledged to donate 35 classic cars from their automotive collection to Northwood University and the Northwood idea.
The cars total more than $2 million and the school plans to liquidate the Morey Collection with Mecum Auctions by the end of June 2023. The current plan is to take the cars to auction on Jan. 6 at at Mecum’s Kissimmee Auction.
The school will use up to $1 million of the auction proceeds to “enhance the campus experience and build upon recent campus improvements dedicated earlier this year in May.”
The remaining proceeds will be used to build a scholarship and endowment fund supporting Northwood University’s free-enterprise mission, according to a university press release.
All but one car will be auctioned, as Northwood will retain a 1958 Chevrolet Corvette to display on campus.
Northwood President Kent MacDonald said the Morey family’s story is “one of success from hard work.” It dates back to 1983 when “they believed they could build a wood chipper better than anyone else.”
Michael Morey left his job, invested in a small workshop, and with six employees and a small operating budget, built the Model 100 Brush Bandit, a 12-inch capacity disc-style chipper. Four years later, based on the success of the Brush Bandit, he launched Bandit Industries and his wife joined the company.
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Bandit designed and launched the world’s first self-propelled track whole tree chipper in 1990 and continues to be a leader in the industry, with a network of more than 180 dealer locations worldwide.
In 2018, the Morey’s announced they would sell 100% of the company to their 462 employees in an employee stock ownership plan. This came after the company entertained two offers to sell from private firms.
“We realized neither was a good fit for Bandit, so we made the decision to sell to our trusted employees,” Dianne Morey told the Morning Sun in 2018, according to the press release.
The company now has 725 employees.
“The Morey’s are stellar examples of how ingenuity, persistence and dedication pave the way for success in a free-market society,” said Justin Marshall, chief development and engagement officer for Northwood University.
Morey said the cars “have been a large part of our lives, and each tells a story.”
“It’s time for these cars to write a new chapter, and support young men and women who want to work hard, build something of their own, and positively influence the communities they call home. Northwood University is a special place, filled with wonderful students, and we are thrilled to support their mission.”
Details about the Jan. 6 auction, including a list of the available cars, can be found on the Mecum website. The earliest models available are several 1932 Ford Roadsters, while there are numerous 1957 Chevrolets.
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