About Frank J. DeLuca
DeLuca Toyota
Mr. Frank J. DeLuca entered the automobile industry starting as a weekend detailer at the age of 16 for a dealership owned by his friend’s father. For 11 years, Mr. DeLuca continued to work through and after his college years in the business, excelling as a sales representative, sales manager, finance manager, and general manager.
At age 32, seeing an opportunity to become an owner himself, he purchased a small three-acre Toyota Dealership with 18 employees, the only dealership on State Road 200 in Ocala, Florida at the time. During these humble days, Frank worked 7 days a week, handling everything from dealer to general manager and everything in between to grow the business. Over the years, as Toyota grew, so did DeLuca Toyota.
Today the dealership has grown into one of the most modern Toyota dealerships in the state of Florida, which spans over 24 acres, and employs over 186 team members. The dealership features a 52-bay air-conditioned service center, luxurious customer lounge, parts & boutique gift shop, cafe, hair and nail salon, and even a rooftop putting green.
Mr. DeLuca is a self-made man, an entrepreneur who invested his life in the automobile business and has represented the Toyota brand, his dealership, and the community for 45 years.
As a 2013 Time Dealer Of The Year Nominee, he was one of 57 dealers out of 16,700 dealers nationwide to be nominated. He also previously served on the Southeast Toyota dealer council for three terms.
Frank is a long-time member of Blessed Trinity Church in Ocala. Frank has two children, Frank Paul DeLuca and Deanne DeLuca Denney. He has five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. His favorite hobbies are snow skiing, traveling, and boating.
Education
- Central Florida Community College (CFCC) link
- Member of the President’s Community Council (2007-2015)
- Established the Carole A. DeLuca Endowed Memorial Scholarship in 2006
- Supporter of Taste of Ocala fundraiser for over 20 years
- Blessed Trinity Catholic Church (link): Supporter of “Alive in Christ” campaign
- Trinity Catholic High School (link): Built a media center in his late wife Carole A. DeLuca’s name
- Initiated the DeLuca Toyota Education Challenge
- University of Florida (link): Scholarship Club Associate and Bull Gator
- Marion Technical Institute (MTI) (link): Sponsors internships
Charities
- It could be said that no single person has made a bigger impact in the Ocala community than Frank DeLuca. When Mr. Moran encouraged Mr. DeLuca to take an active role and give back to the community, Mr. DeLuca took notice, listened, and applied it. That impact has been felt greatly for decades, and the impact will be the legacy of Mr. Frank J. DeLuca for many years ahead for future generations.
Leading the list of support is the YMCA of Central Florida. Growing up in Orlando, Mr. DeLuca would go to the “Y” often as a teenager, greatly impacting his life.
In 2016, Mr. DeLuca was the Capital Campaign Chair and lead donor on the project that renovated the facility by adding over 14,000 square feet, new locker rooms, a lobby, cafe, and meeting rooms. His one million dollar donation helped transform the Marion County YMCA. The Y was renamed the Frank DeLuca YMCA Family Center.
In 2021, the Frank DeLuca YMCA completed the largest outdoor expansion to date. The Frank DeLuca Sportsplex is a first-class athletic venue for outdoor sports that include basketball, volleyball and pickleball and soccer. Mr. DeLuca donated another one million dollars to lead the expansion. Additionally, Mr. DeLuca donates over $10,000 annually to support YMCA scholarships. These scholarships provide YMCA access to local families who otherwise would not be able to afford them.
In 2017 Frank DeLuca received Y’s highest honor, the John Sterchi Award, which recognizes those who provide outstanding lifetime support.
The community impact goes further. Mr. DeLuca has sponsored 15 Habitat for Humanity Homes donating over $650,000 to families and children.
Every Christmas, DeLuca Toyota partners with Orlando NBC affiliate WESH2 and Second Harvest Food Bank, raising over 40,000 additional meals for children, families, and seniors in Marion County.
The dealership has donated several vehicles to The Boys and Girls Club of Marion County and collects toys for the local organization every Christmas.
Impacting local culture and arts is also important to Mr. DeLuca. The Reilly Arts Center hosts 190 concerts per year, featuring Grammy-winning performers, the Ocala Symphony, and more.
In 2022 the Reilly Arts Center completed a 15,000-square-foot expansion. Mr. DeLuca’s $250,000 donation supported the expansion, including space for classrooms for the Community Music Conservatory, a black box theater, and a gorgeous new lobby, which has been named the Frank DeLuca Grand Lobby.
The dealership annually supports the FAFO (Fine Arts For Ocala) student art contest.
As a longtime Rotary member, Mr. DeLuca received the prestigious Rotary Service Above Self Award and served as past president locally. He is an eight-time Paul Harris Award recipient.
He has received the United Way Award of Excellence 5 times. Mr. DeLuca supports the Ocala Royal Dames for Cancer Research. He was honored in 2006 as a Royal Knight.
Mr. DeLuca also continually supports The American Cancer Society as a former co-chair of events and participates in the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women/Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of The Villages initiatives. He is a former Honorary Chairperson for the March of Dimes, March for Babies, which helped raise over $400,000 that year.
In 2009, Mr. DeLuca was named Marion County Volunteer of the Year. He was named “Philanthropist of the Year” in 2011 by Ocala Magazine. Mr. DeLuca is also a longtime supporter of Gator Boosters at the University of Florida.
The Legacies of Love event honors local leaders for their contributions to the community. Mr. DeLuca was recognized as a Legacy of Love honoree in 2019. He continues to support InterFaith Emergency Services, a local outreach that serves basic needs, emergency food, clothing, hygiene items, and more.
In March 2022, the local organization Ignite Ocala presented Mr. DeLuca with the Community Champion Award.