I am proud to announce San Francisco Scion’s successful involvement in the San Francisco Gay Pride 2005 Festivities. We were happy to represent the Scion brand to a vast crowd of over 500,000 Bay Area residents. Our expanded participation in this year’s event benefited many Bay Area charities and highlighted the importance placed on diversity within the Toyota Motor Corporation.

Through our donation of a Special Edition 2005 Scion XB, we were able to raise funds for four San Francisco organizations; the AIDS Emergency Fund, The Breast Cancer Emergency Fund, The San Francisco L.G.B.T Center and The Castro Lions.

In addition, the generous donation of promotional materials from the Scion team in Torrance and Sheila Swanson, the Auto Show and Special Events Manager, allowed us the unique opportunity to collect over $2000 in donations for the AIDS Emergency Fund and the San Francisco Pride Committee.

By combining the promotional materials into a Scion gift bag containing a t-shirt, brochure, backpack, keychain and music CD, we were able to offer a generous incentive for patrons willing to make a $3 donation. Scion flip-flops were sold for $1 a pair. In fact, the gift bag idea was so successful we ran out of backpacks and sandals by 2P.M.!!  Thousands of free brochures and musical discs were handed out as well.

We were also fortunate enough to participate in the Pride Parade on the Morning of the 26^th. The Scion XB limo was on hand along with two TCs’ an XA and three Toyota Solaras ferrying the Celebrity Grand Marshals to Civic Center. Also, our shop foreman Tony Shiu and his family performed a crowd-pleasing dragon dance complete with full costume. Other highlights include our DJ’s spinning music at our Civic Center booth. The music was certainly a crowd favorite.                               

All in all I feel the event was excellent for both Scion and our dealership in terms of exposure. In fact, we had our single highest one-day internet “hit” rating the day after the festival.  I would like to take the time to thank Edwin Tan, Stephen Kwan, Michael La, Frank Celaya, Sarah Mobley, Olivette Dyson, Tony Shiu and family, Marina Cruz, Russ Mobley and Graham Lathrop for their hours of help and dedication. We look forward to our involvement in Pride 2006!                                                                    

Sincerely,

Doug Donnellan

Vice-President and

General Manager

San Francisco Scion