Last updated: October 21, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains what information mariowest.org collects, why we collect it, how we use it, and the choices you have. We keep it simple: we only collect what we need to answer your messages, send the updates you ask for, and ship the books you order.
Who we are
This website, https://mariowest.org, is the official site of Mario West, former NBA guard, author and speaker, based in Metro Atlanta, Georgia, USA. In this policy, “we”, “us” and “our” mean Mario West and the team that runs this website.
If you have any question about your information, email us at mario@mariowestfoundationinc.com.
Information we collect
When you contact us or ask about a booking
The contact form asks for your name, email address and message. You can also choose to share your organization, phone number, the type of inquiry, an event date and the event location. We use this only to reply to you and to plan a visit or event. Each message is emailed to us and a copy is kept in the website dashboard so nothing is lost.
When you join the email list
The sign up form at the bottom of every page asks for your email address and, if you want, whether you are a parent, a school or an event planner. Your sign up is emailed to us and saved in the website dashboard. We use it to send occasional updates such as school visit dates, new book news and free classroom resources. We send only a few emails a year and you can ask to be removed at any time.
When you place an order
To process and deliver an order we collect your name, billing and shipping address, email address, phone number, the books you ordered and any order notes you add. We use this to fulfil your order, send order and shipping updates, handle returns and keep the records required for tax and accounting.
Payment is currently made by cash on delivery, so no card details are entered on this website. If online card payment is added later, it will be handled by a secure payment provider and your card number will go directly to that provider. We never see or store full card numbers.
If you create an account, we also store your username and password (encrypted) so you can sign in, see past orders and save your addresses.
Information collected automatically
Like most websites, our server records basic technical information such as your IP address, browser type and the pages you visit. This is used to keep the site secure and working. To block spam, the forms keep a short lived, scrambled version of your IP address for about 10 minutes.
When you place an order, our shop software records how you arrived at the site, for example the referring website or campaign link, your device type and the number of pages viewed in that visit. This helps us understand which links bring readers to the books. It is stored with the order and is not used for advertising.
Cookies
Cookies are small files saved by your browser. We use only the cookies the site needs to work:
- Shopping cart cookies remember the items in your cart and your session while you shop.
- Visit source cookies remember how you arrived at the site during your visit, so it can be recorded with an order as described above. They expire when your visit ends.
- Account cookies keep you signed in if you have an account.
We do not use advertising cookies, and we do not run third party analytics or tracking tools. The fonts on this site are hosted on our own server, so your visit is not shared with a font service.
How we share information
We do not sell, rent or trade your personal information. We share it only when needed to run the site and deliver what you asked for:
- with our website hosting provider, which stores the site and its data;
- with shipping carriers, who receive your name, shipping address and phone number to deliver your order;
- with a payment provider, only if online payment is added in the future;
- when the law requires it, or to protect our rights or the safety of others.
How long we keep information
- Contact messages are kept for as long as they are useful for your inquiry or booking, and then deleted.
- Email list sign ups are kept until you ask us to remove you.
- Orders are kept for as long as needed for tax, accounting and legal reasons.
- Accounts are kept until you ask us to close them.
Your choices and rights
You can ask us at any time to:
- send you a copy of the personal information we hold about you;
- correct information that is wrong or out of date;
- delete your information, unless we must keep it for legal or accounting reasons;
- remove you from the email list.
To make a request, email mario@mariowestfoundationinc.com. We may ask you to confirm your identity before we act on it. If you have an account, you can also update your details on the My account page.
Children
Mario visits schools and the books are written for young readers, but this website is meant for parents, teachers, schools and event planners. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has sent us information, please email us and we will delete it.
Security
The site uses a secure (HTTPS) connection, and access to the dashboard is limited to the people who run the site. No website can promise perfect security, but we take reasonable steps to protect your information.
Links to other websites
This site links to other websites, such as the Mario West Foundation and social media pages. Those sites have their own privacy policies, and we are not responsible for how they handle your information.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The latest version will always be on this page, with the date it was last updated at the top.
Contact us
Questions about this policy or your information? Email mario@mariowestfoundationinc.com.