New Car Dealers Give $50,000 More to Orange County High Schools

    COSTA MESA, Calif.--Jan. 23, 2002--Student athletes at high schools in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach will benefit from a major gift from the Dollars for Schools Program sponsored by the new car dealers in Costa Mesa.
    The auto dealers are contributing $40,000 to the athletic training program in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. The announcement was made at the district school board meeting Tuesday night.
    The funds will support and expand the professionally trained and certified training staff, so that coverage is given to boys and girls sports teams at all four high schools. "These trainers play a very important role in the safety of the student athletes in our schools," said Jim Robins, president of the dealer group. "Certified trainers help prevent injuries by carefully taping athletes, by teaching students how to tape themselves properly, and by providing ice or heat to injuries. They administer first aid, evaluate injuries, and advise the athletes and their families on treating any injury that may occur," said Robins, who made the announcement.
    According to Superintendent of Schools Robert Barbot, "Our trainers maintain injury logs and accident reports, and notify parents in emergencies. They also mentor and teach student trainers, even coaches and the athletes themselves, to further assist in injury prevention. We appreciate this special gift from the Harbor Boulevard of Cars auto dealers who now have contributed $200,000 since the Dollars for Schools Program was begun in October, 2000."
    A $10,000 gift was presented to the Youth Achievers program at Costa Mesa High School. The dealers contributed $25,000 to this program last year to fund a computer center for the seventh and eighth grade students who participate in Youth Achievers. This program is a collaboration between the high school, the Central Orange Coast YMCA, the Orange County Congregation Community Organization, and the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant in Costa Mesa, where the students meet after school.
    In announcing this gift, Jim Robins said "We have heard of excellent results with students in this program and we wanted to help it grow in its second year of operation. The dealers recognize the importance of education in our community and support the district's mission to graduate students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to achieve success in our society.
    "The Dollars for Schools Program is intended to fund significant resource acquisition, educational programs, and facility improvements to enhance quality education in the district," added Robins.
    The Motor Car Dealers Association of Costa Mesa, commonly called the Harbor Boulevard of Cars, achieved over $650 million in new and used car sales in 2001. Annual sales volume by the Harbor Boulevard of Cars dealers generates more than $50 million in sales tax for California with more than $6.5 million in sales tax returned to local governments. Association members invest more than $10 million annually in local advertising to attract customers to the dealerships on Harbor Boulevard.