Auto Show & Motorcycle Meet 9/21 Will Support Sight-Related Programs of the Middletown Lions Club and N.J. Blind Citizens Association

     The Middletown Lions Club and N.J. Blind Citizens Association (NJBCA) have kicked into high gear and will team up to host the Eighth Annual Auto Show & Motorcycle Meet, a charitable family-friendly event which will fund programs and activities for the blind and visually-impaired and other sight-related causes and initiatives. It will be held on Saturday, September 21 from 3-7 p.m. in the Middletown Shopping Center, located at the intersection of New Monmouth Road and Route 35. The rain date is Sunday, September 22.
     NJBCA, a 104-year old non-profit organization, offers supportive programs and activities including a fine arts program which allows participants to express themselves through drawing, painting, and sculpture; a computer program which teaches members about computer literacy and use of the internet and email; a peer support group to foster coping skills with issues associated with vision loss; a crochet and garden club; and a fitness program along with special events scattered throughout the year.  Programs are held at Camp Happiness, the main headquarters and day campus located at 18 Burlington Avenue in the Leonardo section of Middletown. NJBCA is the oldest organization serving and advocating for the blind in the state of New Jersey. The phone number is (732) 291-0878. Since 1946, the Middletown Lions Club, a charitable service organization chartered under Lions International, has helped individuals and families in need both locally and globally through various charitable service and fundraising initiatives. Lions consider themselves 'Knights of the Blind' and were directly challenged by Helen Keller to adopt blindness as a cause. A signature club initiative is the all-volunteer vision-screening team, the 'Knights of Sight,' who are trained to provide free vision screenings to elementary school children. The team uses specialized cameras to perform the screenings. To date, over 5,000 students in local school districts such as Middletown Township, Red Bank Borough, Hazlet Township, and Matawan-Aberdeen have been tested. The cost of each camera is approximately $11,000, not counting annual maintenance costs and other associated expenses. Proceeds from the event will help ensure continuation of the program, which has helped to preserve the eyesight of several children who had undetected problems. The club also underwrites the cost of free eye exams, eyeglasses and hearing aids for those who qualify financially.
     The event theme is appropriately titled 'Happy Together' and will celebrate the decades-long partnership between the Lions and NJBCA. To honor the work of both organizations, Kevin Mulvaney, a local singer and songwriter from Leonardo, will be performing with members of his group THAT Band. "THAT Band is extremely proud to be part of this benefit for the blind. Camp Happiness has been a fixture in my hometown of Leonardo for as long as I can remember. Music is a huge force for healing. I've often said THAT Band has the best, most giving and unselfish audience in the world. Whenever we have done a benefit, our fans have never let us down. I expect them to be there for the blind and for the Lions on this great day of music for an awesome cause," noted Kevin Mulvaney, the group's lead singer. Disc Jockey Stephen Munger of No Limit Entertainment, Middletown, will be spinning the 'oldies but goodies' during the event.
     Members of the public are invited to attend the free afternoon of activities which will feature classic cars of all types, motorcycles, vendors, entertainment for adults and children including face-painting, a magician, and a special appearance by "Leonardo the Ninja Turtle' coordinated by My Fairytale Dream, www.myfairytaledream.com. 100% of the event proceeds will support the charitable initiatives and programs of both the Middletown Lions Club Foundation and the NJBCA, 501 (c) (3) organizations.
     All classes of vehicles including stock, custom, antique, collector, hot rod, import, luxury and trucks are encouraged to enter in addition to all classes of motorcycles. The entrance fee is $12 in advance for all pre-registered vehicles and motorcycles and $15 on the day of the event. Many trophies, awards and class honors will be presented including Best Engine, Best Exterior, Best Interior, Best of Show, Mayor's Trophy, Presidential Trophy, and new this year, an award for the car or motorcycle club with the most registrants and/or vehicles. Registration forms are available on the websites of the Middletown Lions Club and the NJBCA, respectively, at www.mlions.org and www.njbca.org.  Information is also available by calling or emailing Event Chairs Lions Craig Finnegan at (732) 856-2821 and tfinn58810@aol.com or Lion Lori Anne Oliwa at (732) 337-8625 or laoliwa@yahoo.com.
     Business sponsorship is available at various levels ranging from $200-$500, and vendor spots are $100. The event attracts thousands of spectators from Middletown and the surrounding communities, providing a good opportunity for businesses to connect with potential customers and clients. Information on sponsorship is available by contacting Lion Lori Anne Oliwa at laoliwa@yahoo.com.
     The Garden State Land Surveyors Alliance Inc. (GSLSA Inc.), an organization dedicated to promoting the interests of land surveyors, is the platinum event sponsor at the $3,000 level. GSLSA Inc. Executive Director Thomas Craig Finnegan, a resident of the Belford section of Middletown who is also the Immediate Past District Governor of Lions District 16-B in New Jersey, noted that the GSLSA supports the blind and other sight-related causes since eyesight is so critical to the profession of land surveying.   
     Those who cannot attend the event but want to support it financially can send a check made payable to the Middletown Lions Club Foundation, P.O. Box 75, Middletown, N.J. 07748. All contributions to the foundation are tax-deductible.