A mutual arrangement between a local car dealership and high school basketball program continues to flourish.

Further proof of that was evident when Rentschler Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram of Slatington recently presented a check for $3,460 to the Palmerton High School Basketball Parents' Club.The money was raised during a Free Test Drive held in June in the Palmerton Area High School parking lot.As part of the fundraiser, parents, faculty and guests were able to take a five-minute test drive in a Dodge Caravan, Journey, Durango or Dart.Dodge donated $20 to Palmerton basketball for every person who took a brief free test drive and completed a short survey.Team members also conducted a bake sale at the event as well.Jim Nemeth, president of the PHS Basketball Parents' Club, said the donation has already gone a long way to assist the programs."I'd like to thank John Kleintop and Rentschler for being our sponsor for this and helping us out," Nemeth said. "I'd also like to thank the parents who came out and gave their time to help the kids."Nemeth also thanked the Subway shop in Palmerton, which donated coupons.The funds were used to assist the PHS girls' team, which participated at the Lehigh Valley SportsFest in Allentown, while the PHS boys' team competed in the Stellar Catch A Rising Star Basketball Tournament in Allentown, Nemeth said."The rest of it (the money) will be for the start of the season," he said. "Both the coaches get so much (for the programs), it's the coaches' discussion for what they want to do."John Kleintop, general manager, Rentschler Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram of Slatington, noted that since Dodge began the program in 1993, Dodge has donated $5 million nationwide to local schools for the booster club program."We (Rentschler) feel very proud to be a part of it, and hope that we cancontinue giving back toour local communities," Kleintop said. "We're proud to support organizations like the PalmertonBasketball Club, and we encourage the development of the students and their growth."