Automotive Shop Driven to Provide Books for Local Children

Rizzoli’s Automotive donates 700 children’s books to Altrusa of the Central Coast

July 29, 2011

SANTA MARIA, CA – Rizzoli’s Automotive has partnered with Altrusa International, Inc. of the Central Coast to provide books to local children. The partnership has already resulted in a donation of 700 books for Altrusa’s annual Festival of Books giveaway.

Altrusa of the Central Coast’s main focus is on literacy. This summer marks their fourth year of giving away books at the Santa Maria Town Center Mall. The organization will be gathering for the Festival of Books giveaway on Sundays, August 7 and August 21. Later in the summer on Thursday, September 8, Altrusa will celebrate International Literacy Day in the “Leisure Room” at the Santa Maria Town Center. They will have an afternoon of board and card games while handing out as many books as possible. There will be door prizes every 30 minutes and free snacks. All ages are welcome.

Many families that are struggling financially in the tough economy are not able to afford books to have in their homes. Altrusa helps take some of the burden off these families with the community’s ongoing donation of books. “We want to make sure every child in Santa Maria has a book to read this summer,” said President of Altrusa Melinda Aguirre. “We have lots of kids attend our event and get so excited that they can have a book to take home and read.”

Last year, Rizzoli’s Automotive partnered with the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation for the Raising a Reader Program. A total of 600 books were collected at Rizzoli’s locations in San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria. Recently, Altrusa expressed the need for books in Santa Maria and Rizzoli’s offered to continue collecting books throughout the summer to benefit the Santa Maria families in need. “The community and our customers continuously demonstrate generosity when we host the book drives,” said General Manager Kyle Rizzoli. “We plan to continue this important community outreach program along with our year-round food drive for the SLO Food Bank.”

Donations can be dropped off at 2584 Victoria in San Luis Obispo or 1149 W. Tama Lane in Santa Maria.

About Altrusa
Altrusa of the Central Coast’s mission is to administer contributions received from Altrusa Clubs to the needs of the community to support and maintain its traditional commitments to literacy projects and to ensure support to local service projects. Visit http://www.altrusaclubcentralcoast.org for more information.

Rizzoli’s Automotive