Fresh Coat Franchisee Provides Free House Painting for Elderly Woman in Austin

In the heart of Austin, a heartwarming story is unfolding as Fresh Coat Painters, the renowned residential and commercial painting franchise with over 170 units, steps up to make a difference in the life of an elderly woman. Through its Fresh Coat Cares corporate responsibility program, the franchise is on a mission to provide no-cost painting services to individuals, charities and nonprofits, making a tangible difference in communities across the nation. 

Erick Estrada, a Fresh Coat franchisee based in Austin, is at the forefront of the latest iteration of this initiative. While Estrada comes from a background in higher education, he also holds an MBA and always knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur. After facing lay-offs eight years ago, he and his wife decided they were ready to take control of their own destiny and finally start a business of their own. When they discovered the Fresh Coat franchise, all the stars aligned. 

"After facing layoffs at the University of Phoenix, I transitioned into this role,” said Estrada. “We were very interested in the painting industry, and while I wasn’t a painter by trade, I had an MBA that I wanted to put to good use. That is why we decided to go the franchising route. Right away, we could tell Fresh Coat was a leading brand in the painting sector. 

Estrada officially opened his Fresh Coat of Round Rock, TX franchise in 2016. “The timing was just right, and my wife and I decided to launch this franchise,” he said. “It has been a blessing to watch it grow."

When Estrada first heard about the Fresh Coat Cares program, he says it resonated deeply with his community-driven aspirations. Fresh Coat Cares is an opportunity available to all franchise owners that provides assistance to offset $500 of the labor costs for any charitable projects, with Sherwin Williams also contributing a $500 donation of paint. 

After being introduced to a local elderly woman in need of assistance, Estrada knew it’d be the perfect opportunity to finally take part in the program and didn't hesitate to say yes. 

"This woman was introduced to me through Partners in Hope, a local organization here in Texas,” Estrada said. “When I met her and heard her story, my wheels started turning. She is in a tough situation — there is a homeowners association that is on her about the appearance of her home. We decided to help her by painting the exterior of her house. The joy and appreciation she expressed were heartwarming."

Partners in Hope is an independent, collaborative ministry that addresses social isolation in communities across the Central Texas area. Their mission is to empower communities to work together to end social isolation and the hopelessness it causes.

"We connected with this client after a neighbor recommended her — she is the type of person who is always helping others, but it is difficult for her to ask for help herself,” said BJ Rogers, Ministry Director for Partners in Hope. “After listening to her story, we were able to partner with her. We’ve had volunteer work days cleaning up her house, and now, thanks to Fresh Coat, we are excited to get the house painted. Our goal is to connect people in need with a solid network so they can see the mental, emotional and spiritual health benefits that come with that. This kind of partnership helps us fulfill our mission.”

Estrada says the painting project will most likely be completed later this year. “We are excited to put a smile on her face,” he said. “This is just a great way to say thank you to a community that has given so much to me as a small business owner.” 

Looking ahead, Estrada's commitment to impacting his community is unwavering, and he is eager to find more ways to make a difference through his Fresh Coat franchise. 

“We are in the business of changing lives through paint,” said Estrada. “This is even more fulfilling because we aren't getting anything out of it — making one customer’s life better is a small token of our appreciation. I wish we could do this for every one of our clients. The fact that Fresh Coat gives us the platform to do this as a franchisee really is amazing. I can’t wait to see her reaction!"

Overall, the collaboration between Estrada and Partners in Hope is a testament to the power of community and is a perfect example of the type of connections the Fresh Coat Cares program fosters. 

For more information on franchising with Fresh Coat Painters, visit https://freshcoatfranchise.com/.