Automotive – Thomas DeFranzo

The owner of Tommy’s Twin Mill Garage in Windsor, Connecticut, Thomas DeFranzo builds custom hot rods, some of which are full-sized replicas of Hot Wheels Cars. Outside of his professional life, Thomas DeFranzo supports nonprofit organizations like the Make-A-Wish foundation, which provides life-changing experiences to children who are suffering from life-threatening illnesses.

In late 2019, Make-A-Wish once again partnered with Subaru of America in its 12th annual Share the Love fundraising event. The event allowed people to contribute to Make-A-Wish and other charities alongside the purchase or lease of a Subaru vehicle. Additionally, Subaru itself contributed $250 for each vehicle purchase and lease.

Through the eight years Make-A-Wish has been a partner in the Share the Love event, it has over brought in over $20 million in donations from the program. Last year alone, the event raised $3.6 million, which is the largest single-year total yet. To learn more about Make-A-Wish and its life-changing work, visit wish.org.

Thomas DeFranzo is an automobile enthusiast who owns the Windsor, Connecticut-based hot rod shop Tommy’s Twin Mill Garage. Supplementing his ownership of the business, Thomas “Tommy” DeFranzo attends the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Vegas. He won an award at the event in 2015.

Although the 2019 SEMA Show began on November 5, awards were handed out for best vehicles of the year the night prior as part of the SEMA Vehicle Reveal. For the second consecutive year, the Ford Mustang was named the SEMA Car of the Year. The Jeep Wrangler and Polaris RZR Turbo S were also awarded once again as SEMA 4×4/SUV of the Year and SEMA Powersports Vehicle of the Year, respectively. The Chevrolet Silverado displaced the Ford F-Series as SEMA Truck of the Year and the Audi RS 3 was named SEMA Sport Compact of the Year, which was awarded to the Ford Focus in each of the past four years. Awards were chosen based on votes from SEMA Show exhibitors.

The SEMA Award was created in 2010 to recognize vehicles with the most aftermarket potential. Only current or next year models are eligible for the award. SEMA announces the finalists for each category in October before honoring the winners at its Monday Night Reveal event.

Category: Automotive

Make-A-Wish and Subaru Team Up Again

Vehicles of the Year Announced by SEMA