Litchfield – On Sunday, October 9, the Valley Collector Car Club (VCCC), and the Litchfield Hills Historical Automobile Club (LHHAC) will collaborate with the Connecticut Junior Republic (CJR) in presenting the 9th Annual Cars for Kids Automobile Show. This event will be held on the Junior Republic’s Litchfield campus on Route 63, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with gates opening at 8:00 AM for exhibitors. The rain date for the event is Sunday, October 16. The first 100 exhibitors will receive a dashboard plaque. The initial 200 show car registrants will receive exhibitor bags. Show car entries are $10 per car. A prize drawing for exhibitors will be held at 1:30 PM and more than 20 trophies will be presented at 2:30 PM. Spectator admission is $5 per car with unlimited occupancy.
Hay rides and tours of the CJR farm will be offered and a silent auction featuring nearly 40 items will be conducted from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Breakfast sandwiches and hot dogs, hamburgers, a barbecued chicken sandwich, chips, and beverages will be sold at the show. The Litchfield Aid of CJR will also host its spectacular bake sale, featuring breakfast baked goods, cakes, cookies and other delicious items. The CJR Farm Market will sell autumn squash, chrysanthemums, pies and other seasonal and student-crafted items, including Adirondack chairs.
Union Savings Bank is the event’s top level Concours Sponsor and FM 97.3 WZBG is the Media Sponsor. Proceeds from the show will benefit the Junior Republic.
“Union Savings Bank is honored to support CJR and their Cars for Kids event. Educating and enriching the lives of young people so they may thrive and reach their full potential is extremely important and we applaud CJR for their efforts in making a difference in the communities we both serve,” said Rick Judd, Executive Vice President of Union Savings Bank and Chair of the CJR Board of Directors.
“With the leadership of some very special friends, including Union Savings Bank and FM 97.3 WZBG, and the support of many other generous businesses and organizations, and our sponsoring car clubs, we hope to exceed the $33,000 raised in net proceeds last year, and to top the nearly 400 show cars and total attendance of 1,100 exhibitors, spectators and volunteers that made these results possible,” stated event Chair Joseph Greco of Litchfield. He indicated that all proceeds will benefit the young people and families served by CJR in locations across Connecticut.
Both the Litchfield Hills Historical Automobile Club and the Valley Collector Car Club are non-profit groups dedicated to the appreciation and preservation of classic automobiles and to supporting charities in the community.
“This show welcomes antiques, muscle cars, trucks, custom cars, exotics and street rods, and we anticipate a great turnout this year,” said Glenn Royals, President of the Litchfield Hills Historical Automobile Club. He noted that special sections for electric vehicles and other marques are being added this year as a result of the interest of several Connecticut car clubs.
Joe Latina, President of the Simsbury-based Valley Collector Car Club, is optimistic that the 2022 benefit will be a success. “The setting and the amenities make this show a destination event, and one that our Club is very pleased to take a leadership role in supporting,” he said.
According to CJR President & CEO Daniel Rezende, the Cars for Kids Automobile Show will include the participation of students from several of CJR’s program locations. “Students from our Cable Academic and Vocational Education Center will select the winner of the Students’ Choice Trophy with our auto shop instructor,” he said, indicating that students from the auto shop also made this year’s People’s Choice Trophy. “This show is an important fundraiser and vehicle for raising public awareness of CJR’s programs and services,” he stated.
Founded in 1904, the Connecticut Junior Republic (CJR) provides care, treatment, education and family support for young people so they may become productive and fulfilled members of their homes, schools and communities. Today, the organization’s combined programs serve approximately 1,600 boys and girls annually.
The Junior Republic conducts residential programs for young men on its Litchfield campus, and provides longer term care at its Group Home in Winchester and REGIONS Program in Waterbury. CJR’s Cable Academic and Vocational Education Center provides regular, special, vocational and alternative education programs for boys in Litchfield.
A broad spectrum of prevention, early intervention, family support, substance abuse treatment, and intensive, home-based therapy and aftercare programs are provided for boys and girls through CJR’s community locations in Danbury, East Hartford, Meriden, New Britain, New London, Torrington and Waterbury. Behavioral and mental health services are provided in many of these locations, as well as on CJR’s Litchfield campus in approximately 20 public schools and school districts by special arrangement.
A private charitable organization, the Connecticut Junior Republic is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). CJR is supported by gifts from individuals, businesses, foundations and organizations, and through service contracts funded by the
Judicial Branch Court Support Services Division (JBCSSD), the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF), the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS), and by Connecticut’s public schools.
For further information, please contact Hedy Barton, Director of Development and Public Relations (860) 567-9423, extension 252; or by email: hbarton@cjryouth.org.