At Dependable Cleaners, we take pride in the way you look, from your hat to your shoes and everything in between. It’s one of the reasons we have been Greater Boston’s most trusted dry cleaner since 1944. Every piece we clean and mend is something special to our customers, and we cherish the confidence they put in us. Our company’s dedication to serving our community also goes beyond the spectrum of garment care.
Almost 20 years ago, I was looking for ways to give back to my community and pay it forward to future generations. I wanted to create something that would become a personal legacy to my company, my community, and, most importantly, my children. It was then I heard about events encouraging children to read. This was an “a-ha” moment for me. I wanted to design a program that would inspire adventure and imagination in children and keep their minds and bodies moving throughout the summer.
So I created Read to Ride — a free program designed to encourage kids to continue with their reading during the summer months. Students ages 6 to 15 have the chance to win a bike or an exciting prize for every book they read. I believe reading is the foundation for the future. Studies show that reading fine tunes communication and language skills, especially when continued through the summer. It also acts as a stress reliever and a way to encourage more positive thinking. I turned to reading as a child and continue to find a comfort in it. I encouraged each of my children to find a love in reading.
Getting your kids involved in Read to Ride is easy. For every book they read, they can fill out an entry form and submit it to any of our 16 Dependable Cleaners locations or with Dependable Cleaners’ delivery drivers. Entry forms are available at all Dependable Cleaners locations, delivery routes, Country Ski & Sport locations, Farina’s Bike Store in Watertown, local libraries, bookstores, and online at www.DependableCleaners.com/Read-to-Ride. Our 2017 program runs now through August 11. One grand prize winner and two runner-up winners are drawn each Monday.
Throughout the 19 years of Read to Ride, over 74,000 books have been read, and I cannot wait to see what this season holds. Year after year I’ve received positive responses from Read to Ride and am proud to have the program as a driving force behind student reading in the Greater Boston area. As a mom and business owner, it gives me great pleasure in knowing that both Dependable Cleaners and Read to Ride can help make special memories and smiling faces.
Christa Hagearty, President and CEO of Dependable Cleaners
Christa Hagearty is the third-generation owner of Dependable Cleaners, the family-owned dry cleaning company with over 70 years of dedication to trust, quality, and care. Hagearty is an innovative and community-oriented business leader who has successfully managed the 16-store Massachusetts-based company for nearly two decades. Since becoming president, Hagearty has placed a strong emphasis on sustained growth and expansion by adding new locations, delivery service, and an antique garment restoration and preservation division.
Hagearty’s business practices have earned her and the company numerous honors, including The Women’s Leadership Forum and The Ad Club’s 100 Women to Admire, the Boston Business Journal’s Top 100 Women-Led Businesses, and Best of Boston by Boston Magazine.
