Nipomo car show donates thousands of dollars back to community

There were smiles all around on a picture-perfect Thursday morning at Monarch Dunes Golf Course in Nipomo.

Happy were representatives from the Nipomo High School athletic department and Nipomo Food Basket, who each received a check totaling $2,757.

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The money came from proceeds earned at the “Fall Automotive Concours,” which was recently held at the golf course in early October.

“We’re thrilled to be able to do what we’ve done,” said event chairman Mike Madden.

The one-day event brought in $10 million worth of vintage and classic automobiles, which were positioned around the Monarch Dune Challenge Course.

“They parked on all the holes,” said Madden. “There was a winery represented, so a spectator purchased a wine glass and was able to tour hole-to-hole looking at all these beautiful cars. There were able to stop and have a tasting of fine wine from our area.”

The first-year event, was modeled after the world famous Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

“We had a full bandstand,” said Madden. “We had music all day. We had vendors. We had food sales. It was a just all-around terrific event.”

Madden noted the event was successful particularly due to the hundreds of hours put in by community volunteers.

Many of the volunteers included student-athletes from Nipomo High School. According to athletic director Russ Edwards, about 60 Titan athletes helped organizers the day of the event.

“Fundraising is a huge thing for our programs,” said Edwards. “There is never enough money. Budget-wise we never have enough money to get new uniforms or that kind of thing. Our student-athletes are always fundraising, so this was a great fundraiser for our programs, and also our a great fundraiser for them to help out in the community and get some community exposure as well.”

Edwards added he’s come up with a fair plan to spread the money throughout the department.

“That $2,700 will be divided amongst all of the teams that came and participated and helped, percentage based on how many of them came,” Edwards said.

Also earning a significant donation was the Nipomo Food Basket, a non-profit organization that distributes 5,000 pounds of food weekly to about 100 local families.

“It is a real moral boost,” said Food Basket Executive Director Bob Schumacher. “When you have an organization give us a substantial donation like this, it actually encourages the volunteers. They recognize and buy into the idea that the whole community is behind what we do.”

Schumacher said the money will be put to good use and will directly benefit the 600-700 community members that rely on the Food Basket to help stretch their budget.

“What we supply them it helps them quite a bit,” said Schumacher. “They can take the money that they’re saving there and use it for other vital life expenses, like rent and utilities and so forth.”

As Madden looked back at the success of this year’s event, he noted planning is already happening for the 2017 Fall Automotive Concours.

“I’m thrilled to know we’re going to go ahead next year for the 23rd and 24th of September and do it all again,” Schumacher said. “Come out and see us!”