Collaborative car wash gives big boost to Special Olympics of Rhode Island

GOOD WORK: Pristine Car Wash owner Ben LeMaire was in this position time and again last Saturday and Sunday during a special car wash that resulted in a tidy sum of $1,134 for Special Olympics Rhode Island.

Sun Rise photos by Pete Fontaine

GREAT SUCCESS: TD Bank staffer Robert Prezioso was one of many people who helped make last weekend’s car wash a huge success at Pristine Car Wash.

RIDING IN STYLE: Last weekend’s car wash was so popular that even limousine drivers took advantage of the offer. Above, Pristine Car Wash store manager Joseph Duarte puts the finishing touches on a stretch vehicle.

Posted Thursday, April 10, 2014 2:42 pm

Pete Fontaine

The traffic going in and out of 1145 Atwood Ave. on Saturday was a welcome sight for people like Jason Mainelli, Ben LeMaire and Alex Paolo, just to name a few.

Although a swift breeze created a chill underneath the gray skies, young TD Bank professionals like Kristen Drape, Jessica Sanbourin and Robert Prezioso waved handmade signs that read “Free Car Wash” for six hours, hoping to generate as much business as possible at Pristine Car Wash.

TD Bank’s Johnston store manager Jason Mainelli and senior customer service representative Kyle H. Mardo directed each vehicle to what later resulted in a double line of vehicles waiting to take advantage of the offer.

Sunday’s sunny skies and warmer temperatures created the same scene, and by nightfall, the two-day, 12-hour car wash had raised $567 for Special Olympics Rhode Island.

But as promised, Big Hearts Outlet – a daily deal site that provides consumers with the same great deals as Groupon and Living Social – matched every penny. As a result, the three businesses will soon present the Special Olympics with a check for $1,134.

“This combined effort was a wonderful experience,” said Mainelli of the event, through which TD Bank and Pristine Car Wash offered a free car wash to customers. “And we thank Alex and Big Hearts Outlet for stepping up to the plate.”

Big Hearts Outlet will launch its website, www.bigheartsoutlet.com, on May 30. Paolo said the site is “unique because upon checkout, the consumer has the opportunity to choose a non-profit organization or charity that we will then donate 50 percent of our profits on that deal to. Should the consumer not have a charity or non-profit, each moth we have a ‘Charity of the Month’ that those proceeds will automatically go to.”

Paolo paused, before adding, “The merchants have a great opportunity as well because this will give them a chance to highlight their business in another way, and also rather than being charged 50 percent for every deal that they sell, the merchants have the opportunity to keep up to 85 percent of their deal.”