Drivetime Receives Outstanding Partner In Education Award

DriveTime, an automobile sales and finance company headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, received the 2004-2005 Partner in Education Award on May 6, 2005 in Orlando, Florida. DriveTime was nominated for the award by McCoy Elementary School. DriveTime was the only motor vehicle dealer or finance company that received this award.

DriveTime was recognized for the efforts and commitment of the company and its employees to McCoy Elementary School in the Orange County public school district through the company?s innovative SchoolTime Program. In particular, DriveTime was recognized for volunteering for several activities including reading to the students, donating books and contributing P.E. equipment, musical instruments and art supplies. DriveTime has also equipped and staffs a new basketball league at the school. In addition, during the holidays DriveTime provides turkeys for several families.

The Outstanding Partner in Education Awards ceremony was held at Sea World on Orlando, Florida. The awards are sponsored and distributed by the ADDitions School Volunteers & Partners in Education and the Orange County Public Schools. This year?s award ceremony was themed ?Volunteers Make a World of Difference.? The ADDitions School Volunteers program began with 200 volunteers in 1971. Last year more than 27,000 volunteers contributed more than 538,000 hours. Computed at $15 an hour, this represents $8 million in contributions. Businesses can get involved in the school system through a number of volunteer programs such as Partners in Education. At the end of the 2003-04 school year, the district had 2,500 partnerships involving 1,700 businesses. In 2003-04, 135 Orange County schools had a PTA/PTSA with a total membership of more than 36,000.

SchoolTime is a philanthropic program designed by DriveTime to emphasize employee volunteerism and benefit disadvantaged elementary students in the communities in which DriveTime operates. In all there are 15 schools, nearly 12000 students and 750 teachers and staff nationwide that benefit from this program.