Organizations that we support here at Bill Pearce BMW Reno

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Perfect attendance leads to new car for Rouse

June 14, 2009

Last Sunday was a roller coaster of a day for McQueen High School graduate Jonathan Rouse, and that's pretty appropriate as you will soon see.

Rouse was one of the 88 high school seniors with perfect attendance who turned out at Bill Pearce Courtesy Honda in Reno for the opportunity to win a new car.

The dealership worked in cooperation with the Washoe County School District and several media partners this year to encourage kids to not miss school and have the opportunity to win a 2009 Honda Fit in the process.

The program was a huge success.

"It's a great program that definitely made a difference," said school district spokesman Steve Mulvenon. "We looked at the attendance records, and there were only a handful of kids at the end of the last school year that would have qualified. This year, we had more than 80 that had perfect attendance."

Encouraging kids to stay in the school was at the heart of the program in the first place, said Sandy Raffealli of Bill Pearce Motors. Her husband, John, a longtime teacher, had come up with the car giveaway idea, which they successfully pitched to the school district.

"He used to teach junior high school before he got into cars," she said. "He always taught in tough schools, and he really appreciates how important it is to be in school to learn."

It's a fact that the school district has documented.

"We know there's an absolute correlation between attendance and academic achievement," Mulvenon said. "We're not a correspondence institution. If kids aren't there, we can't teach them."

Rouse said the opportunity to win the car was in the back of his mind all school year.

"Especially on senior ditch day," he said with a laugh.

Which brings us to the roller coaster.

When the name of the car winner was drawn and announced, Rouse was not it. Disappointed, he and his father, John Sr., got in their car and headed for home. However, moments later, his cell phone rang.

"We were almost home, and a friend called me and said, 'You just won the car,'" Rouse said. "I didn't believe him at first, but I called the dealership, and sure enough, I did."

Other Organizations that we support:

BMW Club

Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows – www.bgctm.org/

Nevada Women’s Fund – www.nevadawomensfund.org/

University of Nevada Athletic Program

UNR, Salute to Champions

KNPB, Channel Five – www.knpb.org/

Reno Rodeo Foundation Denim Drive – www.renorodeofoundation.org/

Reno Philharmonic, Spirit of the Seasons – www.renophilharmonic.com/

Nevada Opera – www.nevadaopera.org/

Reno Chamber Orchestra – www.renochamberorchestra.org/

Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Race for the Cure – northnvkomen@yahoo.com