View Non-Mobile Version of Winnipeg Free Press Autos.
Willy's Garage
The block was rocked
Auto fans raise big bucks for children at Barrett-Jackson Bash
Last Saturday evening, more than 200 local auto enthusiasts watched the annual Barrett-Jackson collector car auction on the big screens at the downtown Pony Corral restaurant. The event, dubbed the Barrett-Jackson Bash, is best described as a Superbowl party for gearheads.
This year was the sixth annual Barrett-Jackson Bash, and we are thrilled to report that in just one night, more than $7,000 was raised in support of the Children's Rehabilitation Foundation. Since the event's inception in 2006, more than $77,000 has been raised in support of the foundation.
We were initially reluctant to hold the event on the same night as a Jets home game, but everything went off without a hitch and it was fun to be downtown sharing in all the excitement the return of the NHL has brought to Winnipeg.
Throughout the evening, thousands of dollars worth of prizes were dished out to the crowd during commercial breaks. While I certainly had a blast giving away all those amazing prizes, the credit for obtaining all that sweet swag has to go to my wife, Melanie, and our daughter, Katelyn. The ladies toured the city countless times in their Chevrolet HHR for the past two weeks collecting merchandise from a sea of generous local companies and individuals. Everyone involved thanks you for your hard work and dedication to the cause.
In addition to $2,400 in cash donations made directly to the Children's Rehabilitation Foundation of Manitoba from Arnold Bros. Transport, Ltd., Chase Auto Body Supplies, Eastern Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Pembina Chrysler Dodge Jeep, and the Pony Corral, we also held a silent auction that topped out the night's total money raised at a few bucks over $7,000. Since our event has zero overhead, every cent was donated directly to the Children's Rehabilitation Foundation. The foundation's executive director, Christine Schollenberg, was flanked by development officer Erin Kangas and a small army of volunteers who made sure the event went off without a hitch.
A big thanks goes out to NAPA Auto Parts for allowing us to sell tickets to our event at their many Winnipeg locations, and also to Brad the Friendly Broker from Indoor Auto Sales for loaning us a cargo van to move all those amazing prizes from our living room to the event. Our friends Jason Holmes and his sister Lara also did an amazing job wrangling prizes. We were truly inspired by everyone's generosity.
If you were one of the many corporate sponsors, prize donators or auto enthusiasts in attendance who enjoyed this great night, give yourself a pat on the back. You have helped bring smiles to the faces of special-needs children in Manitoba.
willy@freepress.mb.ca