Car show brings in cash, food for charity
Chris Yu
Issue date: 5/5/08 Section: News
The parking lots outside the Comcast Center looked like a scene from The Fast and the Furious yesterday, as car owners from across the Mid-Atlantic region flocked to the campus to show off boldly painted, turbo-charged, high-end vehicle.
Porsches and Lamborghinis filled the spaces as part of Spring Meet 2008, a charity event hosted by College Park Tuning, an automobile club comprised of university students. The event brought in an estimated $3,500 in cash and another $3,000 in canned goods.
Yesterday's event drew about 4,500 people, said Andrew Kwon, a senior American studies major and the public relations officer for CPT.
"We just really want to give back to the community," said Paul Flood, a senior criminal justice and economics major and president of CPT. "We all love cars; we might as well do something good at the same time."
All proceeds went to Nothing But Nets, a program by the United Nations Foundation that provides mosquito nets to people in Africa, and Martha's Table, a Washington-based organization that offers food and support to people in need.
CPT has hosted the event for three years. Last year's event drew between 4,000 and 5,000 people, a significant increase from the show's first year, when 1,000 people attended, said Tarak Dave, a senior art studio major and vice president of CPT.
Last year's meet raised about $2,000 in cash and $2,500 in canned goods.
Flood, who helped organize the event, said so many people show up each year because unlike other car shows, no judges are present at the event. Therefore, automobile enthusiasts don't feel intimidated and are more willing to show their cars.
Due in part to the success of movies such as The Fast and the Furious and Gone in 60 Seconds, events like yesterday's car meet have become increasingly popular, Kwon said.
Students who attended the car show had their own explanations of why it is so popular.
Patrick Lee, a junior finance major, said members of the car-enthusiast community all know each other. So when someone finds out about a particular event, the news spreads quickly.
Flood said as attendance increase, CPT aims to expand its philanthropic outreach.
"Obviously, as this grows, we are going to try to give to more charities," Flood said, saying he hopes CPT's generosity will help shed the stereotype that car enthusiasts are street racers looking for trouble.
chrisyudbk@gmail.com
Porsches and Lamborghinis filled the spaces as part of Spring Meet 2008, a charity event hosted by College Park Tuning, an automobile club comprised of university students. The event brought in an estimated $3,500 in cash and another $3,000 in canned goods.
Yesterday's event drew about 4,500 people, said Andrew Kwon, a senior American studies major and the public relations officer for CPT.
"We just really want to give back to the community," said Paul Flood, a senior criminal justice and economics major and president of CPT. "We all love cars; we might as well do something good at the same time."
All proceeds went to Nothing But Nets, a program by the United Nations Foundation that provides mosquito nets to people in Africa, and Martha's Table, a Washington-based organization that offers food and support to people in need.
CPT has hosted the event for three years. Last year's event drew between 4,000 and 5,000 people, a significant increase from the show's first year, when 1,000 people attended, said Tarak Dave, a senior art studio major and vice president of CPT.
Last year's meet raised about $2,000 in cash and $2,500 in canned goods.
Flood, who helped organize the event, said so many people show up each year because unlike other car shows, no judges are present at the event. Therefore, automobile enthusiasts don't feel intimidated and are more willing to show their cars.
Due in part to the success of movies such as The Fast and the Furious and Gone in 60 Seconds, events like yesterday's car meet have become increasingly popular, Kwon said.
Students who attended the car show had their own explanations of why it is so popular.
Patrick Lee, a junior finance major, said members of the car-enthusiast community all know each other. So when someone finds out about a particular event, the news spreads quickly.
Flood said as attendance increase, CPT aims to expand its philanthropic outreach.
"Obviously, as this grows, we are going to try to give to more charities," Flood said, saying he hopes CPT's generosity will help shed the stereotype that car enthusiasts are street racers looking for trouble.
chrisyudbk@gmail.com
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