Ally unveils Memorial Day paint scheme to honor fallen soldier

Rhea-AI Summary

Ally has unveiled a military-themed paint scheme for the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro, driven by Alex Bowman, to honor Army Specialist Matthew E. Baylis, killed in action in 2007. This initiative is part of NASCAR Salutes, with donations made to the Specialist Baylis Memorial Fund and the USO. The commemorative design features royal blue and red accents, symbolizing remembrance. The event coincides with Memorial Day, marking 15 years since Baylis's passing. Ally's Employee Resource Group played a key role in recognizing Baylis's legacy through this tribute.

Positive

• Ally's initiative strengthens its brand image by honoring military service.
• Engagement with the community through donations to the Specialist Baylis Memorial Fund and the USO.
• The paint scheme promotes Ally's commitment to supporting veterans and their families.

Negative

• None.

• The military-themed paint scheme on the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, driven by Alex Bowman, pays tribute to Army Specialist Matthew E. Baylis, who was killed in action in 2007
• As part of the NASCAR Salutes initiative, Ally will make donations to the Specialist Matthew Baylis Memorial Fund and USO

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice serving in the U. S. Armed Forces, Ally today unveiled a military-themed paint scheme for the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 driven by Alex Bowman at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 29. This year's paint scheme will honor Army Specialist Matthew E. Baylis, who was killed in the line of duty in 2007 while protecting his fellow soldiers in Baghdad.

Spc. Baylis was nominated by his stepmother, an Ally employee, Kerri Baylis, and his family through Ally's Veteran Employee Resource Group (ERG), whose mission is to unite employees and "do it right" for the U.S. Armed Forces. Any Ally employee can be part of the Veteran ERG, regardless of service or connection to the military, and can support military members and their families through volunteerism, education, and honoring fallen service members like Spc. Baylis.

"I think it is really special to be able to honor a fallen service member on Memorial Day," said Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. "Everything that NASCAR does around this event to pay tribute to the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice is really meaningful and I feel humbled to be able to have Specialist Baylis ride along with me at Charlotte Motor Speedway. After hearing his story and everything he did to protect his team, I am looking forward to honoring his legacy and meeting some of his family at the racetrack."

The commemorative paint scheme will trade Ally's traditional brand colors for a powerful royal blue hood accented with the Ally Veteran ERG's military ID tag logo, silver stenciled numbers, and a striking red roof and stars. The No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will proudly carry Army Specialist Baylis' name across the windshield as part of the NASCAR Salutes 600 Miles of Remembrance in Charlotte this month. In honor of Spc. Baylis and all members of the U.S. Armed Forces, Ally will also make donations to the USO and the Specialist Matthew E. Baylis Memorial Fund, which is dedicated to providing scholarships to veterans or children of veterans that need financial assistance with either college tuition or the cost of a trade school.

"This year marks 15 years since Matthew's passing.  Matthew was a wonderful son, a great brother, and great friend. He knew very early in his life he wanted to join the Army and make a difference in the lives of others. I could not be prouder of him," said Richard Baylis, Matthew's father. "Working together with Ally, it is our hope to provide even more scholarships to veterans and their families, to help pay for trade school or college.  We are so grateful to Ally, Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports and NASCAR to have Matthew honored in such a unique way."

To learn more about the Specialist Matthew E. Baylis Memorial Fund and to donate, please visit mattsmemorialfund.com.

About Army Spc. Matthew E. Baylis
After feeling called to join the military post-Sept. 11, Spc. Matthew E. Baylis became a member of the U.S. Army in 2005 and was deployed to Iraq in 2006. He was killed in action in a firefight on Memorial Day, May 31, 2007, when his platoon came under heavy fire. His platoon leader was hit, and Spc. Baylis immediately laid down a base of fire allowing the other soldiers to retrieve his platoon leader and get to cover. While Spc. Baylis was fatally hit, he saved his platoon leader's life that night and the lives of his fellow soldiers on previous combat missions. In honor of his bravery, Spc. Baylis was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

About Ally Financial
Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a digital financial services company committed to its promise to "Do It Right" for its consumer, commercial and corporate customers. Ally is composed of an industry-leading independent auto finance and insurance operation, an award-winning digital direct bank (Ally Bank, Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender, which offers mortgage lending, point-of-sale personal lending, and a variety of deposit and other banking products), a consumer credit card business, a corporate finance business for equity sponsors and middle-market companies, and securities brokerage and investment advisory services. Our brand conviction is that we are all better off with an ally, and our focus is on helping our customers achieve their strongest financial well-being, a notion personalized to what is important to them. For more information, please visit www.ally.com and follow @allyfinancial.

Contacts:

Ally
Ericka Houck
ericka.houck@ally.com
704-444-5034

Hendrick Motorsports
Jaret Arneson
jarneson@hmsracing.com
704-576-6079

USO of North Carolina
Suzanne Milano
smilano@uso.org

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SOURCE Ally Financial

FAQ

What is the significance of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro's paint scheme?

The paint scheme honors Army Specialist Matthew E. Baylis, killed in action in 2007.

When will the military-themed Camaro be showcased?

The Camaro will be showcased at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 29, 2022.

What organizations will Ally donate to from this initiative?

Ally will donate to the Specialist Matthew Baylis Memorial Fund and the USO.

How does this initiative relate to Ally's brand values?

It aligns with Ally's commitment to support veterans and their families, reflecting its brand conviction.