Cars for kids in East Rockaway

Classic car show raises funds for local Education Foundation

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The East Rockaway Car Show held its annual fundraiser on Monday night, choosing the East Rockaway Education Foundation as this year’s beneficiary.

Car show founder and coordinator Richard Cittadino called EREF President Richard Meagher several months ago, asking if the organization would be interested in being the beneficiary of the popular community event. “That telephone call basically blew my socks off!” said Meagher. EREF had a subsequent meeting with Cittadino, who enthusiastically agreed to the proposal.

The car show, now in its fifth year, is a summer-long event, with gatherings every Monday night in the parking lot adjacent to the East Rockaway post office. Classic, vintage and souped-up vehicles are on display, and residents can stroll and admire the cars while listening to oldies presented by D.J. Kojak.
The fundraiser’s past beneficiaries include the Kiwanis Kids Camp, in 2014; Camp Anchor, in 2013; Mended Little Hearts, in 2012, and the Nassau County Burn Unit, in 2011.
“I try to always do something for the kids,” Cittadino said. “They need the help, and people love to come out and help our children.”

Cittadino described this year’s fundraiser as “awesome,” saying that he had to make room for the overflow of classic cars that showed up. “We had to make space, but we did it,” he said of the large parking lot that usually accommodates about six dozen cars. “We had to make room for 75 … but it all worked out great.”

Cittadino added that with car entry fees, raffle prizes and a 50/50 raffle, the event raised close to $2,000 for the EREF. “Collision Depot has been our main sponsor for the last three years …,” he said. “Those guys are great.”

The EREF
The East Rockaway Education Foundation was created in 1998 as an independent, nonprofit organization with the purpose of providing financial and creative support to the village’s public schools.

“The foundation raises funds to supplement the school budget so that each of the district’s students can become all that he or she is capable of becoming,” Meagher said, adding that the nearly $12,000 given out in grants and graduation awards for the 2014-15 school year was made possible by fundraisers.

“The East Rockaway Car Show fundraiser gives us a great start for the coming school year!” he said.

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