Corvettes for Kids raises $51,000

Published: August 22, 2006 | 4607th good news item since 2003

Thousands of visitors flocked to Washington Elementary School in Barto on Sunday, August 13 to see more than 300 Corvettes at the 21st Annual Corvettes for Kids car show and charity auction.

While admiring the sports cars with models spanning six decades, many people acknowledged the real reason they trek to the event year after year is to help the children.

“This is my 16th year,” said Thomas Biltcliff III, who owns a 1971 Corvette and is the mayor of Topton. “It’s a great show for a very good cause.”

His friend, Randy Chapman, agreed.

“I only participate in two or three shows a year and this is definitely one of them,” Chapman said.

Both men are members of Skyline Drive Corvette Club of Reading. The 338-member club has been involved with the show almost since its inception, and its members had about 50 cars in this year’s event. There would have been more, Chapman said, except many members were on a trip to Ireland.

Proceeds of the event benefit children who face severe medical conditions. This year’s recipient, 10-year-old Nicholas Romig of Allentown, has Jacobsen’s Syndrome, a rare chromosomal disorder that can manifest itself as vision deficiencies, behavioral problems, mental retardation and motor skill and developmental delays.

The day’s cooler than typical August temperature not only bolstered attendance but also aided Nicholas, whose body cannot tolerate heat well. He greeted people at the door and eagerly embraced the Boyd’s teddy bear donated by Hollenbach Home Center.

Nicholas and his mother Joan accepted two sizable checks during the progam. Gary and Susan Cranmer, owners of the Blind Outlet, Douglassville, donated a $2,000 check. Mont-Berks CB Club’s Cindi Moyer, treasurer, and Richard Holzer, treasurer, presented a $1,000 check.

“We had a very good fundraiser this year, and the board voted to give this check to the Corvette’s spokeschild,” Moyer explained. The club, which sponsors the annual Shop With a Cop program during the holiday season, provides volunteers to direct traffic and park vehicles at the car show every year.

“I can’t put into words how I feel,” Joan Romig said. “There are so many cars here, so many people-it’s overwhelming.”

In addition to the Corvette display, people placed bids on more than 400 items donated by businesses, civic organizations and individuals for the silent and live auctions.

The Corvettes for Kids board members are thankful for the continuous response of businesses and individuals who contribute items and monetary donations annually, said President Chip Conrad.

The entertainment line up included Ed Marra’s tribute to Buddy Holly, ventriloquist Scott Wagstaff & Co. and Jeff Krick’s tribute to Elvis.

World X-treme Wrestlers (WXW) Nuisance, Sugaa, Supreme Lee Great and Afa, the Wild Samoan, sold autographed photos and donated the proceeds to the Romigs.

“They (the Romigs) live around the corner from the Wild Samoan Training Center,” said Afa’s wife, Lynn Anoai. “They stopped by one day looking for donations for the auction, and we became instant friends.”

The WXW wrestlers videotaped Nicholas and aired the video during their Sunday night show to increase awareness about his condition and to promote Corvettes for Kids.

Still other fund-raising activities included a used book sale, gift table, bake sale, food sales and children’s games.

While the Corvette owners did not win prizes or money, several entrants received special trophies.

The judges-former benefit recipients-selected their favorite cars and presented trophies to the owners.

After viewing many entries, 2002 spokeschild, John Hess of Red Hill, found his winner-a 1998 silver metallic Corvette owned by Gary M. Stec Sr. of Phoenixville. John, an Eagles football fan, admits the deciding factor was the toy team mascot and related decals on the car.

Stec is one of 52 members of the American Dream Corvette Club of Pottstown, also long-time show participants. The club had 22 cars on display at the elementary school.

American Dream members, Linda and Bob Olney of New Berlinville, have displayed their 1992 quasar-blue Corvette for the past decade as part of the event. They, like other members, enjoy opportunities to use their passion to help others.

“The club hosts an annual cruise night in July,” Olney explained. “This year we donated $2,500 to the Gilbertsville Volunteer Ambulance Service.”

Club members meet at the ambulance building on Jackson Road, Gilbertsville, the second Saturday of each month.

Published in Charity, Kids & Teens
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