1-800-Radiator Launches New Matching Funds Program to Raise Money for West Contra Costa County Schools

25 Percent of Profits on all Bay Area Radiator Sales to Benefit Fiscally Strapped Public Schools

BENICIA, Calif., April 12 -- 1-800-Radiator, the nation's leading independent provider of radiators to consumers, auto repair shops, and home mechanics, today announced a new fund-raising initiative to aid financially troubled public schools in California's West Contra Costa County. Under the program, 25 percent of the profits from all car radiators sold in the Bay Area from now through Labor Day will go to benefit West Contra Costa County schools.

Beginning today, one quarter of the profits from auto radiators purchased by auto repair shops, collision repair shops, gas stations, and do-it-yourself mechanics anywhere in the Bay Area will be donated to West Contra Costa County schools to fund sports programs, libraries, music and art curricula, and other programs affected by the recent $16.5 million budget shortfall. To participate, repairs shops or consumers merely have to call 1-800-Radiator to place an order or arrange a repair, mention the school program, and monies will automatically be donated to West Contra Costa schools. The company expects tens of thousands of radiators will fail throughout the Bay Area with the coming summer heat. The average radiator replacement typically costs less than $160.

"With the defeat of the $7.5 million parcel tax in the last election, Contra Costa schools are facing the biggest fiscal crisis in the state's history," said Mike Rippey, president of 1-800-Radiator. "As a locally owned business, we owe it to our employees and our community to do what we can to save school programs and to stop the decline in the quality of public education. With this new incentive program, we are putting out a call to all Bay Area auto repair shops and motorists to help us ensure the quality of education in Contra Costa County."

In order to try to eliminate the $16.5 million budget deficit, the West Contra Costa school board has approved sweeping budget cuts, including $2.8 for school counselors, $1.4 million for librarians, $1.2 million for school psychologists, $620,000 for music programs, and $525,000 for high school sports. Contra Costa County schools have already cut 467 jobs, eliminating high school coaches, librarians, counselors, and others from the payroll, and another 377 full-time jobs are still at risk.

1-800-Radiator is one of the nation's largest independent suppliers of automotive cooling parts to both repair shops and consumers. The company ships radiators and cooling parts from 34 regional warehouses throughout the country so customers can get fast parts delivery, including same day service from three Bay Area warehouses. Consumers who need a radiator replaced or who want to take proactive steps to protect their older vehicles before the summer heat arrives can call 1-800-Radiator to order parts at warehouse prices and to arrange for service by an local repair shop at a pre-set cost. All 1-800- Radiator parts carry a lifetime warranty.

About 1-800-Radiator

Founded in 1980, 1-800-Radiator is the largest provider of automotive radiators in the United States, offering consumers radiators for all automobile makes and models at competitive prices with a lifetime warranty. Consumers can call 1-800-Radiator or log onto www.radiators.com to purchase radiators and other cooling system parts for any car make or model, and the skilled support staff at 1-800-Radiator can arrange for installation of the radiator by one of its 25,000 repair shop customers anywhere in the country. Custom and specialty radiators and parts are also available for classic car aficionados and do-it-yourself mechanics.

1-800-Radiator has its corporate headquarters in the San Francisco Bay Area with regional distribution centers at 34 locations throughout the United States. For more information, call 1-800-Radiator or visit on the web at www.radiators.com.