1954 Chevy Pickup Hot Rod

Beaches Summertime Cruisin's raise cash for kids

Organizers of the Beaches Summertime Cruisin’s donated $110,000 Wednesday to groups that help children who are disadvantaged in many ways:

The Vancouver Police Department’s Police Activities League; Arthur D. Curtis Children’s Justice Center that investigates crimes and abuse; Northwest Association of Blind Athletes; a hospital nursery for premature children; the YWCA Y’s Care that helps homeless children; Rosemary Anderson POIC group; Share backpack program that feeds hungry children and their families; Camp Angelos for children who are terminally ill with cancer; Vancouver School District Foundation program that provides medical care for children whose parents can’t afford it; a group that gives scholarships for kids; and Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Washington memberships.

On stage Wednesday, organizer Mark Matthias thanked several sponsors.

“You guys are amazing,” he said. “You help us every year.”

2011 sponsors

• Les Schwab.

• The Columbian.

• Maletis Beverage.

• Widmer Brothers Brewing.

• Budweiser.

• Garage Motor Sports.

• Riverview Community Bank.

• Dick Hannah Dealerships.

• ProCaliber.

• Fast Specialties.

A friend of mine once got philosophical and asked another friend, “Jim, what’s it all about?”

Jim pondered the question for a while, and answered, “Cars.”

And it’s true.

If you want to raise money, lots of it, to help needy kids, you invite people with way-cool cars like Corvettes and 1950 chopped Ford woodies to bring them by the thousands to Portland International Raceway to show them off and win prizes.

You throw in live music, such as the One of a Kind Drumline, featuring kids from Clark County, and a play area for children and food concessions.

And you sell admission tickets, that, after expenses, help disadvantaged kids — a lot.

That’s what the sponsors, organizers, car lovers and ticket buyers have done since 1996 with the Beaches Summertime Cruisin’s, which happen from 4 p.m. to dusk Wednesdays from June to September at PIR.

Donations over the years have reached almost $1.03 million, Beaches owner Mark Matthias told the crowd from the stage Wednesday evening to hearty cheers.

With the sponsors on stage with him, Matthias, who started the popular event, thanked them and gave out giant checks, totaling $110,000, to groups that help kids.

Chevrolet : Other Pickups Hot Rod Street Rod Rat Rod Custom ...

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