OUR STORY
The Custom Cares Charities, Inc. was founded on the premise of always doing the right thing.
Custom Cares Charities was founded by Perry Mandera, a pioneer in the Transportation Industry with a strong commitment to helping others, a dedication to his family and church and a passion for sports.
OUR STORY
The Custom Cares Charities, Inc. was founded on the premise of always doing the right thing.
Custom Cares Charities was founded by Perry Mandera, a pioneer in the Transportation Industry with a strong commitment to helping others, a dedication to his family and church and a passion for sports.
After graduating from a Chicago public high school in 1975, Perry immediately joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. During his tour of duty with the Marine Corps, Mr. Mandera was assigned to the motor pool where he learned to drive a truck. Mr. Mandera received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Marine Corps while returning to civilian life.
At the age of 23 and after working for several different transportation companies, Mr. Mandera began his own business in 1980, which he later sold in 1985.
With an interest in politics, Mr. Mandera served as the Republican Ward Committeeman for the 26th Ward in Chicago from 1984-1988. At the time, he was the youngest person to be elected to that position.
In February 1986, Perry Mandera started The Custom Companies, Inc. Today, The Custom Companies, Inc. serves thousands of customers ranging from family-owned small businesses to Fortune 100 corporations and has annual sales that exceed 200 million dollars, and employs several hundred people. The Custom Companies, Inc. headquartered in Northlake, IL, with offices and agents located in other cities in America, is a “Full-Service Transportation Provider” offering a complete range of Logistic services and products which include Truckload and LTL services, Domestic and International Air Freight Forwarding services, Local Cartage and Dedicated Contract Cartage and various Logistic Products and Services, including a U.S. Custom Bonded Warehousing and Distribution Center.
In 2000, Perry Mandera was named to the “Top 100 American Transportation Executives of the Millennium” by the Illinois Transportation Association [ITA], for which he currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors.
As a community leader and on behalf of The Custom Companies, Inc., Perry Mandera has donated his energy and financial resources to many charitable organizations and charitable causes throughout the years. Specifically, Mr. Mandera has focused on charitable efforts towards children’s and youth organizations, veterans as well as Cancer Cures and Prevention; these charities include but are not limited to (All Charities listed on our website), The Walter & Connie Payton Foundation and The Jesse White Tumblers, both of which he serves as a current member of the Board of Directors. As a result of his commitment to those organizations, Mr. Mandera provided transportation and donation of 6,500 winter coats to needy children in the Chicagoland and surrounding counties.
Mr. Mandera is very proud and honored that The Custom Companies, Inc. was able to provide relief for the victims of the tornado that struck Washington, IL in 2013, by donating transportation and supplies to families and victims. The Custom Companies, Inc. transported more than 40 truckloads of purchased and donated food and various supplies to Louisiana and Mississippi for relief of the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Mr. Mandera continues to support victims of natural tragedies by donating transportations and supplies to the victims of the California Wild Fires. Mr. Mandera was also instrumental in starting The Custom Companies’ own charitable organization called “Custom Cares Charities”, a 501(c)(3) organization. During the holidays, Mr. Mandera, Through Custom Cares Charities, gives out tens of thousands of dollars to needy families so they can have a meaningful holiday season.
The Custom Companies, Inc. was founded on the premise of always doing the right thing and giving back to the community… In a sense, paying it forward… In an effort to continue our commitment, Custom Cares Charities was established to provide support to those organizations that are aligned with our mission and to specific individuals in need. Custom Cares is proud to champion a diverse group of charities and organizations. Custom Cares Charities has sponsored over 100 youth sports teams throughout Chicagoland and Illinois communities. Custom Cares also provides financial educational support to those young adults and children, primarily the underprivileged, disadvantaged or abused. In addition, Mr. Mandera has always had the, “We need to help veterans” in any and every way we can, mindset! We work closely with Hiring our Heroes and Marines for Life.
Personally, Mr. Mandera has coached youth sports for basketball, football and baseball teams. With a passion for professional boxing, Mr. Mandera has supported and managed boxing competitors including Chicago’s own, Donnell “Doc” Nickelson who competed as a U.S. Olympic Super Heavyweight in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. Up until recently, Mr. Mandera helped manage “Irish” Andy Lee, a middleweight Olympian who represented Ireland in the 2004 Olympics.
Mr. Mandera married in 1989 and has (2) two children and remains very involved in school, youth sports and is active in the community and church.
After graduating from a Chicago public high school in 1975, Perry immediately joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. During his tour of duty with the Marine Corps, Mr. Mandera was assigned to the motor pool where he learned to drive a truck. Mr. Mandera received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Marine Corps while returning to civilian life.
At the age of 23 and after working for several different transportation companies, Mr. Mandera began his own business in 1980, which he later sold in 1985.
With an interest in politics, Mr. Mandera served as the Republican Ward Committeeman for the 26th Ward in Chicago from 1984-1988. At the time, he was the youngest person to be elected to that position.
In February 1986, Perry Mandera started The Custom Companies, Inc. Today, The Custom Companies, Inc. serves thousands of customers ranging from family-owned small businesses to Fortune 100 corporations and has annual sales that exceed 200 million dollars, and employs several hundred people. The Custom Companies, Inc. headquartered in Northlake, IL, with offices and agents located in other cities in America, is a “Full-Service Transportation Provider” offering a complete range of Logistic services and products which include Truckload and LTL services, Domestic and International Air Freight Forwarding services, Local Cartage and Dedicated Contract Cartage and various Logistic Products and Services, including a U.S. Custom Bonded Warehousing and Distribution Center.
In 2000, Perry Mandera was named to the “Top 100 American Transportation Executives of the Millennium” by the Illinois Transportation Association [ITA], for which he currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors.
As a community leader and on behalf of The Custom Companies, Inc., Perry Mandera has donated his energy and financial resources to many charitable organizations and charitable causes throughout the years. Specifically, Mr. Mandera has focused on charitable efforts towards children’s and youth organizations, veterans as well as Cancer Cures and Prevention; these charities include but are not limited to (All Charities listed on our website), The Walter & Connie Payton Foundation and The Jesse White Tumblers, both of which he serves as a current member of the Board of Directors. As a result of his commitment to those organizations, Mr. Mandera provided transportation and donation of 6,500 winter coats to needy children in the Chicagoland and surrounding counties.
Mr. Mandera is very proud and honored that The Custom Companies, Inc. was able to provide relief for the victims of the tornado that struck Washington, IL in 2013, by donating transportation and supplies to families and victims. The Custom Companies, Inc. transported more than 40 truckloads of purchased and donated food and various supplies to Louisiana and Mississippi for relief of the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Mr. Mandera continues to support victims of natural tragedies by donating transportations and supplies to the victims of the California Wild Fires. Mr. Mandera was also instrumental in starting The Custom Companies’ own charitable organization called “Custom Cares Charities”, a 501(c)(3) organization. During the holidays, Mr. Mandera, Through Custom Cares Charities, gives out tens of thousands of dollars to needy families so they can have a meaningful holiday season.
The Custom Companies, Inc. was founded on the premise of always doing the right thing and giving back to the community… In a sense, paying it forward… In an effort to continue our commitment, Custom Cares Charities was established to provide support to those organizations that are aligned with our mission and to specific individuals in need. Custom Cares is proud to champion a diverse group of charities and organizations. Custom Cares Charities has sponsored over 100 youth sports teams throughout Chicagoland and Illinois communities. Custom Cares also provides financial educational support to those young adults and children, primarily the underprivileged, disadvantaged or abused. In addition, Mr. Mandera has always had the, “We need to help veterans” in any and every way we can, mindset! We work closely with Hiring our Heroes and Marines for Life.
Personally, Mr. Mandera has coached youth sports for basketball, football and baseball teams. With a passion for professional boxing, Mr. Mandera has supported and managed boxing competitors including Chicago’s own, Donnell “Doc” Nickelson who competed as a U.S. Olympic Super Heavyweight in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. Up until recently, Mr. Mandera helped manage “Irish” Andy Lee, a middleweight Olympian who represented Ireland in the 2004 Olympics.
Mr. Mandera married in 1989 and has (2) two children and remains very involved in school, youth sports and is active in the community and church.