Meet our Back to the 80s Gala Philanthropy Partner Honorees, the Andonian Family. Sergio Andonian, President of Discount Tire & Service Centers talked about his family’s business and how they got involved with Alzheimer’s Orange County in this Q&A.

 

What drew your family to getting involved with Alzheimer’s Orange County? Was there a personal connection that you’d like to share? 

Our relationship with Alzheimer’s Orange County began about twelve years ago in a wonderfully unexpected way. 

Mike Lancaster from Alzheimer’s Orange County happened to visit our Rancho Santa Margarita Discount Tire & Service Centers location as a customer. During his visit, he asked if we would consider sponsoring a hole at the organization’s annual golf tournament. We were honored to say yes. I attended the tournament, experienced firsthand the passion behind their mission, and immediately knew this was an organization we wanted to support. 

That one conversation with Mike became the beginning of a partnership that has now spanned more than twelve years. We were later invited to attend the annual Gala, participate in the Walk4ALZ, and become more involved with the organization year after year. 

Not long after, the mission became deeply personal. My grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and later my grandfather also received the same diagnosis. They have both since passed away, but watching their journey transformed Alzheimer’s from a cause we supported into a cause we carry in our hearts. 

One experience that profoundly impacted us was inviting Alzheimer’s Orange County to speak at one of our company leadership meetings. As they shared the realities of the disease, something remarkable happened. Many of our own employees, our work family, began sharing that they, too, were caring for parents, grandparents, spouses, and loved ones facing Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. 

In that moment, we realized this disease touches far more families than most people ever imagine. It wasn’t affecting “someone else.” It was affecting people we cared about every single day. 

From that point forward, our commitment evolved beyond sponsorship. It became a responsibility. Today, supporting Alzheimer’s Orange County is not simply something our company does; it is part of who we are as a family and as an organization. 

Looking back, it’s remarkable to think that one conversation in one of our stores could blossom into a partnership that has touched so many lives. It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes the smallest act of saying “yes” becomes the beginning of something truly extraordinary. 

How long have you been supporting them and why? 

We have proudly supported Alzheimer’s Orange County for approximately twelve years, and with each passing year, our commitment has only grown stronger. 

We believe businesses have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to make a meaningful difference in the communities they serve. Alzheimer’s Orange County embodies hope, compassion, education, and support for families navigating one of life’s most difficult journeys. Their work changes lives every single day. 

Our continued involvement is fueled by both personal experience and a deep belief that no family should have to face this disease alone. Every event we sponsor, every fundraiser we support, and every dollar we help raise brings us one step closer to better treatments, better care, and ultimately, a cure. 

Alzheimer’s is more than a diagnosis. It impacts entire families, generations, and communities. If we have the ability to help lighten that burden or contribute in some small way toward finding a cure, then we believe it is our responsibility to do so. 

Until that day comes, we will continue standing alongside Alzheimer’s Orange County and the countless families whose lives have been forever changed by this disease. 

Is there anything else you’d like the audience to know about you personally or professionally? 

One of the greatest privileges of leading a family business is recognizing that success is measured by far more than financial results. It’s measured by the lives we impact, the relationships we build, and the legacy we leave behind. 

At Discount Tire & Service Centers, we often refer to our employees as our work family because that’s genuinely how we see them. We believe caring for people extends far beyond the workplace. Whether it’s supporting our employees, our customers, or organizations like Alzheimer’s Orange County, we strive to lead with compassion, integrity, and purpose. 

I’ve always believed that our health, our families, and our time together are life’s greatest gifts. They are also the very things Alzheimer’s threatens to take away. That’s why this mission resonates so deeply with me. 

 

About Discount Tire & Service Centers

Discount Tire and Service Centers, California’s #1 Family-Owned Tire & Service Centers, was founded by the Andonian family in 1975 with a commitment to quality products, honest service, and taking care of the people who trust them with their vehicles. Learn more about them and find a location near you here.