Sometimes as a car enthusiast, the hobby can feel a bit selfish if not totally self-centered. Think about it, you spend all this time getting and maintaining or even restoring your car so you can be the best in show or fastest on the track. Your car is a reflection of you and your interests. It’s a representation of all your hard work, blood, sweat and tears—and checkbook.
While this hobby can be all about “you,”what often is overlooked is the amount of charity contributions the average enthusiast makes. From prestigious Concours d’Elegance to local cruise-ins, it is car owners who take home the trophies, but it is charities that often get the money from entry fees or various donations.
Recently, the Arizona Rod and Classic Car Club hosted a show at Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix. The organization itself is a non-profit dedicated to making the community a better place. For more than 20 years, the club has dedicated itself to charity and to bring together people who own or are interested in owning, restoring, showing or otherwise being associated with street rods and classic cars.
The club has fed the homeless, provided for needy families, distributed backpacks and school supplies for disadvantaged children, and contributed school uniform shirts to several elementary schools.
Despite weather that threatened rain, classic car owners of all makes, models, and years made it out to the show staged to support Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
Does your car club hold shows to support local charities? If so, why not tell us about your club and the charities it supports in the “Share your comments”section below?
OMG. Ever think about the phrase “giving back”? Does that mean after I work had to develop a skill or talent and I become successful — Then the government takes half of everything I earn — To give it to people who make billions by funding politicians who make global war a perpetual thing — And social programs for people who don’t want to work hard, just get that monthly deposited on their debit cards — What did I take that I need to “Give Back”?
We live in a culture that expects to get their ‘cut’ from everything successful people earn.
I have to spend energy and money to strategize and navigate around the rules of government theft of my productivity. When you make a million dollars and have to cut a check to the government for $500,000 it’s really hard to get it up for donations. Isn’t the government taking care of the poor and needy?
I agree. Great comments.
.You can always move to oh I don’t maybe Iran
Someone great once said, life isn’t ‘have and to hold’, it’s ‘to give and to serve’.
Wow – ever heard of ’empathy’? It’s supposedly a Christian virtue- you might look it up. If someone is in need, does it really matter how they got there? Trust me, no one’s living the good life off government subsidies. If we can enjoy our hobby and raise a few dollars for a good cause, count me in.
The best charity is mentorship. Teach. Don’t make them more dependent. This hobby is my way of getting a break from a world where even though I own my home I have to pay rent on the the land or they will take it. I have to pay ridiculous school taxes and then “donate” money for books and supplies. Why? Because government in America is a legitimized crime spree. Iran looks tempting. Know any Iranians? I do. They are fabulous people. Give you the shirt off their backs. Someone also said, “Seek Wisdom”,
HEY IF YOUR LOOKING DOWN ON SOMEONE, MAKE SURE YOUR HELPING THEM UP. HOPEFUULY YOUR NEVER DOWN ON YOUR LUCK AND SOMEONE JUST WALKS BY YOU. GOOD LUCK. WHAT COMES AROUND GOES AROUND WITHOUT A DOUBT.
The title of the article is; “The unselfish side of classic car and hot rod shows”. What’s the selfish side?