Giano Intermediate Receives Grant
By Gus Ugalde – THE WEEKLY (Oct. 17-23)
of the Exxon-Mobil school grant sponsored by local Mobil station
and Alamo Car Wash owner Dan Gerstner.
The $750 grant from Mobil Oil Corporation is earmarked to enhance
the school’s after-school program that helps students in need of
extra work outside the classroom.
“This grant will be used for an after-school intervention
program,” said Helen Benavides, Giano Principal. “We
are very thankful to
wonderful gift.”
The grant is particularly welcome this year considering
the economic state that many businesses are struggling
with.
“It is always a joy to receive grant money,” said Gina
Ward, RUSD public information officer, who attended the
presentation. “But especially in these economic times.
When you say ‘Mobil,’ you think of this giant, but this is
being presented by a local business not a faceless corporation.
It is greatly appreciated.”
Gerstner has owned and operated his station since
1990, and also owns the Alamo Car Wash and
and the Mobil Express Lube at the same location.
His car wash has been used in the past by local schools
including Giano for fundraising purposes and his method
is more environmentally friendly than normal car wash
fundraisers.
“Instead of having a car wash fundraising event at a
parking lot or other location as some organizations have,
we have ours at
tickets to the students and they go out and sell them to
individuals. We then have our event at our car wash where
the water is recycled as usual. It’s all very green.”
The event was highlighted by the presentation of the
check to a group of Giano Leadership Class students that
are involved in community projects to help the homeless
and with recycling programs.
Jocelyn Hernandez, Manuel Chincilla, Carmen Arreola,
Sergio Morgan and Dominique Mercado were all present to
receive the award along with principal Benavides.
Exxon-Mobil funds these awards through deserving stations
in a year-long process that includes surveying their stations
for the best candidates.
“They look at everything,” said Gerstner. “They send out
their mystery shoppers who visit stations to see how well kept the
facilities are and how well they are treated.
Once eligibility is established, it is then up to the station owner
to apply for the grant and to select a school to receive the
donations.
Giano has won this grant several years now, but it is not
the only
in the past.
Oswalt Elementary, Walnut and Nogales High Schools,
and Rincon Intermediate have also won this award, along with