The Rotary Club of Tucson is cruising into fall with a well-oiled fundraising machine that has raised more than $2.4 million for local nonprofits over the last 16 years.
More than 200 volunteers will shift into high gear at the Tucson Classics Car Show on Saturday, Oct. 21, at the Gregory School Campus, 3231 N. Craycroft Road. Beneficiaries include the Pima Community College Foundation in partnership with the Gospel Rescue Mission Center for Opportunity, Old Pueblo Community Services and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona Mentor 2.0 Program.
“The Tucson Classics Car Show is a vehicle to raise money for charities. We have put a priority on homelessness, mental health care and education. Based on analysis by the city and the county, we know these are three big issues in the community, and we try to support charities that address the greatest needs,” said Lee Olitzky, chair of the event.
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Olitzky credits a 12-member executive team, a 50-member management team and numerous other volunteers for facilitating the day-long event that will showcase more than 430 classic, antique and specialty cars.
In addition to entertainment, food and vendor booths, an extra feature this year is Dennis Gage, the star of “My Classic Car,” (https://www.myclassiccar.com) a weekly streaming show that has aired for 25 years. Gage, who has become known as an icon in specialty vehicles and collector cars, will be on hand to film an episode of his show.
“This is really cool and a big deal in the car world. It has attracted even more cars than usual; we currently have 150 cars on the waitlist,” said Kandie Vactor, a long-time Rotarian who handles vehicle registration for the event.
Vactor said that the event is also proud to welcome a collection of 19 Porsches as “2023 Featured Cars,” including a rare 1987 Porsche 959, which is valued at more than $1.5 million.
“It is a really special supercar. You just don’t see cars like this. It was banned in the United States for a while because it is so fast,” said Vactor.
Attendees can also view a 1948 Kurtis-Omohundro Comet, the first race car built after World War II; along with Ferraris; Corvettes; a selection of vintage pre-1936 cars and a representation of cars from the Franklin Auto Museum.
“Each class is a different decade, and people can go through and see how cars developed from 1905 through the ’70s and ’80s — almost like a museum. From that standpoint, it is a nice walk through history,” Vactor said.
Ultimately, the Rotary Club of Tucson is proud of its legacy of giving, according to Olitzky.
“We do formal and informal surveys and get incredibly positive feedback from those who attend and say it is the best car show they go to. But it is equally important for us to let people know that the car show is a means to an end. It is a family-friendly event that gives back to important causes in the community,” he said.
Rotary Club of Tucson’s support of Pima Joint Technical Education District (JTED) over the past several years has segued into a three-year commitment to the Pima Community College Foundation partnership with the Gospel Rescue Mission Center of Opportunity. The partnership is dedicated to providing a pathway out of poverty for those struggling to earn a living wage, and funding from the Tucson Classics will support on-site training at the Center in areas such as building and construction; technology; culinary arts; health and safety and more.
“The Center includes housing and support services and resources with an emphasis on training, so this is part of our effort to support families as well,” said Olitzky.
Families will also benefit from the Rotary Club of Tucson’s grant to Old Pueblo Community Services, which utilizes a “housing first” model to stabilize people and reduce homelessness.
“Old Pueblo Community Services takes away barriers to housing immediately and works to get people on the right track with different services and training. Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor 2.0 Program is also very oriented toward working with kids and supporting their education,” said Olitzky.
