Children were full of excitement Thursday at the Boys & Girls Club. They sat as still and quiet as 40 children possibly could waiting to greet their guest of honor with two simple words, “Thank you.”
Brian Pecheles, president of Pecheles Toyota, visited the club to present them with a $15,000 donation.
“We are grateful. We are so grateful,” said area director Malveata Collins. “It came at a much-needed time.”
Before the presentation, the club’s reigning basketball shootout champion, Jo’el Gardner, challenged Pecheles to a shootout. It was a close match, with Gardner pulling out ahead by two shots to remain the champ.
“We’re excited to be able to help,” Pecheles told the children after his shootout. “Maybe next time I come, I’ll be a little better at basketball.”
He encouraged the children to continue coming to the Boys & Girls Club.
“Work hard each and every day and stay around positive people,” he added.
The donation was the result of a local summer promotion where a portion of every sale during the months of June, July and August would be given to the local club. The promotion raised just under $15,000 and the automotive group decided to round up the total.
The car dealership ran a similar promotion in Greenville last summer.
“Pecheles Automotive Group has always had a longstanding tradition of giving back to the local community,” “Pecheles said.
Collins said the money was not earmarked for any particular program, but would be used wherever it was needed.