Growing up with five siblings, Bob Bridge’s family wasn’t poor, but they weren’t rich either. His dad had a job, but the family didn’t own a house or a car.

Bridge, 60, often wonders how a kid from this background became the owner of a successful car dealership: Bob Bridge Toyota/Scion of Renton.

But he doesn’t wonder long. In addition to his parents, Bridge of Bellevue credits his success to his teachers.

“The No. 1 reason is I had great teachers through college and grad school that allowed me to go out and get the kind of jobs that led to owning this dealership,” Bridge says.

Bridge hopes the programs he funds in Renton School District will help spur the success of other students.

His $20,000 started a math-tutor program for 23 students at Lindbergh High School last year. Bridge’s money paid the University of Washington undergraduate students for their tutoring and also for their transportation costs.

Bridge and district officials aim to expand the math tutoring program to all three Renton high schools this school year. Bridge expects that expansion will cost him between $75,000 to $100,0000. He plans to get fundraising help from the Renton business community.

“It was very successful,” Bridge says of the tutoring program. “There were quite a few success stories that came out of that.”

Lindbergh math teacher Katelyn Hubert agrees. She coordinated the tutoring program, tracking the grades of participating students throughout the 25 weeks. Many grades increased.

“A lot of Lindbergh students benefited in different ways,” she says. “ …There was a pretty wide range of successes, even if a student was just turning in their homework on a continual basis, staying on top of that, there were a variety of ways that students were succeeding.”

“It is awesome Bob Bridge took the initiative to put up the money to make that happen,” Hubert adds.

Lindbergh’s math tutoring program is featured in a full-page advertisement in the Aug. 25 issue of “Time Magazine.”

In the ad, Bridge, Hubert and Renton School District Superintendent Dr. Mary Alice Heuschel stand in front of Renton High School.

The ad was placed by Toyota, to congratulate Bob Bridge Toyota/Scion for winning the Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.’s President’s Award for outstanding sales and service – now for the sixth time.

The President’s Award honors Toyota dealerships throughout the U.S. that achieve high standards of performance in all facets of the automotive dealer profession, including vehicle and parts sales, service and customer satisfaction.

In addition to the tutoring program, last year Bridge gave all 23 schools in Renton School District a check for $500 to $1,000.

Bridge gives to area schools to thank teachers — for providing quality education both to him, his now-grown son and to his 40 employees.

“A lot of employees here are so successful,” Bridge says. “Their teachers must have done a whale of a job, otherwise I wouldn’t have ended up with fine employees winning all these awards.”

Bridge also contributes to several area organizations, including Vision House, Communities in Schools of Renton and Swedish Hospital. He plans to continue, and even expand his school philanthropy this school year.

“It’s just a way of giving back to the community that makes our business so successful,” he says.

Emily Garland can be reached at emily.garland@rentonreporter.com or 425-255-3484, ext. 5052.