The Rotary Club of Tucson’s Tucson Classics Car Show celebrates its Sweet 16 this year, and The Gregory School is delighted to be a part of this tradition since its inception. “We approached the school with the idea of hosting the show 17 years ago,” alumni parent, past Car Show chair, and current site liaison Mr. Chuck Sawyer said. “We had made a commitment to support Reading Seed, and the show was created to raise funds to meet that commitment.” Several Rotarians at the time were current Gregory parents, and the Rotary’s mission of community and charity melded nicely with our school philosophy and with our campus facilities. The partnership was a natural fit.
Pima JTED (Joint Technical Education District) will be the primary beneficiary of the funds raised at this year’s car show, supporting a new, tuition-free medical campus for high school students to receive certifications to work in the medical field, as well as for students seeking a head start to becoming nurses and doctors. “These kids are either getting a step up or are going to get a good paying job out of high school, which is good for the students and for Tucson,” Mr. Sawyer said. In all, the Tucson Classics Car Show has granted over $2.2 million to local charities.
The Gregory School benefits from the Car Show as well, through a $10,000 Rotary Scholarship for a TGS student, media coverage as it relates to the Car Show, and the Rotary Club’s commitment to leave the campus nicer than before the show. To this end, Rotarians and other Car Show volunteers invest their time and over $25K each year to work with our TGS maintenance staff to trim shrubs and trees, control dust, clean before and after the event, and more. In addition, Gregory School students often have the opportunity to volunteer with the show, work alongside Rotarians, and earn community service credits.
This year’s Car Show chair, Mr. Bobby Larson, encourages everyone in The Gregory School community to come see the show, which will feature a variety of vendors, entertainers, and 420 classic cars, including three that are valued at over $1 million each. Mr. Larson also encourages our families to volunteer. “It takes hundreds of volunteers to make the show a success, and obviously people who know the school are even better equipped to help,” he said. In addition to the charity aspect of the show, Mr. Larson cites the camaraderie surrounding the event as his personal favorite.
“We’re very grateful for and proud of our relationship with the Rotary Club of Tucson. Their logistical prowess and positive teamwork is something to marvel over! What a terrific model for students to see in action,” Dr. Julie Sherrill, head of The Gregory School said.
The Tucson Classics Car Show will be held Saturday, October 15, from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Tickets are $10 and children under 18 are free with a paid adult. Three TGS groups are selling tickets to the car show this year: Please purchase tickets online and include Upper School volleyball, the Farmyard Club, or the French Club as the “referral organization name” to help support both the Rotary fundraising efforts and these school programs.
