More than a hundred cars left the Tutu Park Mall parking lot Saturday looking a lot spiffier than when they arrived, as associates of the Renaissance Grand Beach Resort held their first car wash, for a good cause.
The day-long event was part of the resort's Associates Appreciation Week activities, which traditionally include a community service project, according to Nancy Schneider, events management director.
Schneider excitedly reported the outcome, an unofficial figure of about $1,300 that will go to purchase supplies for the Nana-Baby Children's Home and the Roy L. Schneider Hospital children's ward. "We really don't have it totaled yet," Schneider said. But at with $7 a wash or $10 for a wash and a vacuum, she figured that's about $8.50 per car on average, although some folks just donated dollars without a wash.
The associates — or employees — were out early Saturday wearing blue and white Renaissance T-shirts, directing cars from the main road into the washing station they had set up, supplied with cleaning materials from Western Auto, water from Dadlie's Trucking & Water Delivery, and drinks from Bellows International.
The cleaning crew included everyone from a Renaissance associate's schoolchild up to and including the resort's brand-new general manager, David Yamada, who appeared to be having a fine time and confirmed that this was a "hands-on" approach to his new position.
Joyce Smith, Renaissance executive secretary, was hard at work in jeans, T-shirt and a perky straw hat. Helping her wipe down cars and encourage customers was Monique Walters, the hotel's wedding director. With the colorful T-shirts, sparkling shines and a bright sunny day despite predictions the day before of heavy rains, the whole operation had the air of a well-run business. Schneider said it could well become an annual event.