OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The slogan “Toyota makes the car and Deluca makes the difference,” is synonymous with Deluca Toyota.
But it’s Frank DeLuca’s spirit of generosity that drives success children throughout the community.
Since 2016, DeLuca Toyota and the Toyota corporation have donated $130,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Marion County.
On Friday, DeLuca presented another $10,000 to the organization.
“I have a saying, ‘the future belongs to the kids, and our future is the kids, and the future is there for those who prepare for it.’ We’re preparing the kids now,” said DeLuca.
In return, the Club showed its appreciation to DeLuca.
The Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership held a ribbon cutting ceremony to reveal a wall at the Club dedicated to DeLuca Toyota.
“It’s really exciting for us to have a partner like DeLuca Toyota and Mr. D. here in the community,” said April Savarese, Boys & Girls Club of Marion County CEO and executive director. “It goes without saying how much that impacts what we do every day, our programming.”
Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano had the opportunity to get to know DeLuca when he was at the YMCA.
“A lot of the giving that I do, I learned from him,” said Marciano. “He’s been a mentor and an inspiration.”
Marciano says the Boys & Girls Club is making a difference in the lives of children by teaching them to serve. He recounted a memory from a Christmas past.
“We were giving kids gifts. We let them come in and pick out their gifts, based on the money that they earned,” said Marciano. “Every kid I walked around to get gifts, they used the money to buy gifts for their sibling. I thought what an amazing gift. They taught these young kids to serve, and they’re making an unbelievable difference.”