The Intero Foundation

We are still getting some awesome comments about the Hot Wheels for Kids Car Show that took place on May 4^th…. In addition to being the Foundation’s highest grossing car show to date, raising approximately $7,000 for local children in need, Hot Wheels for Kids is gaining momentum as a ”do not miss” local event.  Sincerest thanks to ALL of our drivers, sponsors, and volunteers, without whom Hot Wheels for Kids would not be possible!

“I really enjoyed the show…..start to finish.  It was a classy event, even the flyer announcing the event.  It was a nice setting with all the shade trees, the donuts and coffee to the hamburgers and hotdogs.  The visit by Dwight Clark and his willingness to go around and shake hands and take pics with car owners and their cars was the “frosting on the cake”.  I hope next year he will sign some of the pics that we all took.  I’ll be spreading the word to attend next year’s show. “ - Dean Hammer, 1965 Chevy Impala SS

“I will be sure to be at your car show next year. It was one of the best shows I have attended in my 14yrs of attending shows. Please keep me posted on your future shows.”  – Tony Sanchez, 1969 Chevy Camaro

Hope to see you all out there at the 4th Annual Hot Wheels for Kids in May 2014!

The word on the streets is… Hot Wheels for Kids is one of the coolest car shows around.  This past Saturday May 4^th, Intero Saratoga hosted the 3^rd Annual Hot Wheels for Kids Car Show Benefitting the Intero Foundation, and for the third year in a row, we had over 70 beautiful cars from classics to customs, muscle cars to hot rods, lined up around the parking lot…perfectly polished and glistening in the sun.  In the end, we raised approximately $7,000 for the kids!

This is THE feel-good event of the year when it comes to fundraisers….everyone you look at is all smiles.  The pride of ownership that the car guys have just radiates through the crowd.  The music provided by Gabe & Connie Gabrielson, along with baby son William, and the BBQ aroma courtesy of Tim McDonnell  of the Ultimate BBQ, added to the party atmosphere.  We also had a special guest – our friend and colleague Dwight Clark, who stopped by to check out the cars, chat and take pictures, and autograph a football, complete with a drawing of “The Catch” play.  That football, one of the hottest prizes up for raffle, was won by Chevelle Club member  Michael Crusco.  The other big raffle winner of the day, taking home the iPad Mini, was a very excited Lia Alon, who along with her big sister Dana, came out to do face painting for the kids.

Trophies went to some of the most outstanding cars, including First Place Pre-1975 to John Cross with his powerful  1970 ‘Cuda, First Place Post -1975 to Bryan Rose with his pristine 2011 Challenger Hemi, “South of the Border” award to the super cool 1956 Chevy Delivery owned by Ronnie Ogas, and People’s Choice to Manny Sereno’s 1930 Ford Model A.

This car show would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors, raffle donors, and agent volunteers who helped staff the show.  Special thanks to the car show team…David Rudden, Kelli Dixon, Mark Jongsma, Sharon Hart, and Cathy Jackson, all of whom committed to months of planning and coordinating in order to pull of the biggest Hot Wheels for Kids yet!

Click Here to check out photos from the show….Enjoy!

We are just days away from one of my favorite Intero Foundation events of the year…. The Hot Wheels for Kids Car Show.  It is happening this Saturday, May 4th at the Intero Saratoga office, at the corner of Cox and Saratoga Avenues.

It makes me smile just thinking about it.  Beautiful cars from across many eras, sunshine, music, family and friends, all coming together to support an incredible cause.  It takes months of planning and promoting, but two years after it all started with a dream to host a different kind of fundraiser, we like to think we are getting the hang of this car show stuff.  We are expecting the biggest turnout yet for the upcoming Third Annual show.  We even got some local press coverage courtesy of the Saratoga News….check it out!  http://www.mercurynews.com/saratoga/ci_23134772/some-hot-wheels-will-raise-money-kids

What do you get when you mix a beautiful spring day, table and chairs and bring one amazing food truck to Intero Saratoga all in the name of raising funds for the Intero Foundation?  A Third Successful Mobile Sea Food Adventure!

Let’s take a step back and start at the beginning.  It all started a year ago in an attempt to find a creative way to raise awareness of the incredible work of the Intero Foundation and its efforts to bring the community together and help needy children.  I thought that it would be fun to have Sam’s Chowder Mobile and their scrumptious food and invite the community to come and have lunch in the name of the Foundation; then I would donate an amount to the Foundation equal to the food sales brought in that day.  It would have been easy to just write a check, but what I have found is that people love to participate in charitable causes and if they get a little something in return.  And I thought I could make it happen.

So flash forward to April 24th 2013…a brilliantly beautiful spring day…with a banner on the corner advertising the festivities…Canopies, table and chairs in place…Sam’s Chowder Mobile rolled into the parking lot of Intero Saratoga and set up shop.  Within 20 minutes there was already a line.  Intero agents, their families and friends, members of the community and the diehard Chowder Mobile followers stood in line and ordered up, sat down and ate or took it to go.  At the end of the 3 1/2 hours…150 meals and $3,500 worth of food and beverages were purchased.

It does not get any better than this, I thought…how could you consider this anything less than a success?  The Intero Foundation does such amazing things for children in our community. You never know how much it means when people come together to benefit those in need.  Children are the future…we owe them a chance.  And that, I believe, is at the heart of the Intero Foundation.

Don’t worry…if you missed out on the chance to enjoy or want to come back again, Sam’s Chowder Mobile’s yummy food will be back in the Fall of 2013!

Sincerely,

Kim Connor