AURORA, Colo. -- Local Aurora businessman, Ed Bozarth, and his family, son Kent, wife Paula, partners, Mark Miller and Chris Spargo, announced today a fund to help assist the many victims in the recent Aurora, Colorado theater massacre. Mr. Bozarth, owner of Ed Bozarth Chevrolet, is one of the largest locally owned businesses in Aurora operating in the area for the past twenty-five years announced the kick-off of the fund by donating $50,000.00.

Mr. Bozarth, his family and partners will present the $50,000.00 donation on behalf of Ed Bozarth Chevrolet at a press conference Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. (MDT) at Ed Bozarth Chevrolet, 2001 South Havana Street, Aurora, Colorado. "Aurora has suffered as a result of this horrific crime which has caused immeasurable suffering and damage to many victims and to our community. I am asking other businesses and citizens in our community and across the nation to open their hearts and checkbooks and contribute generously by donating to help these families attempting to build back their lives."

The press conference is open to the public beginning at 1:15 p.m. Lunch and refreshments will be available.

Contribution details to follow at the press conference. For information call toll free at 877-819-0266, or go to www.edbozarth.com .

The Bozarths will be presenting three separate checks totaling $50,000.00 at the press conference, one for $30,000.00 which will be administered to the victims' families, $10,000.00 to the Aurora Police Department and $10,000.00 to the Aurora Fire Department for their superb assistance to Aurora and the Aurora victims. He added that all additional contributions made by the public will be administered for the benefit of and payable directly to the victims' families' fund.

Mr. Bozarth added, "Words cannot describe the gratitude of all of us in our community for the outstanding work of both the Aurora Police Department and the Aurora Fire Department all of whom acted heroically arriving on the scene within 90 seconds after emergency calls from Century 16."

The Bozarth family owns five Chevrolet dealerships of which three are in Colorado -- Aurora, Park Meadows and Grand Junction. Additionally, they operate dealerships in Topeka, Kansas and Las Vegas, Nevada. For information, contact Tom Letizia, 702-545-8777 or email him tom@letmm.com.

07/23/12