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SEMA Cares Volunteers Make a Difference—Will You?

By Steve Wolcott

pinewood
From left to right: Edie Clouse, Craig Turner, Susan Carpenter, Joan Turner, Reba Hicks, Mackenzie Hicks, Judy Brooks, Ashley Ailsworth, Molly Tomlinson, Nancy Flores, Christian Robinson, Matt Donovan, Julia Jeffs, Tom Brooks (organizer) and Eric Snyder.

Each year SEMA Cares volunteers make a difference by donating their love and time to several Pinewood Drag Races build days throughout the United States to support children in need. Working with several of the qualified SEMA Cares charities, including Childhelp and Victory Junction, these volunteers help children build hundreds of pinewood racers that can be purchased by caring SEMA members. Each pinewood will be raced at the SEMA Installation Gala, and will then be shipped to the purchasing SEMA member following the event.  

Recently, several volunteers attended the first build day at Childhelp in Lignum, Virginia. Each took the time to be a part of the pinewood build process, and showed the kids how much they care. Each child had the opportunity to decorate two cars; one they got to keep and the other to be sold to a SEMA member as a part of the Pinewood Drag Races’ “build it for me” category. The best part is always when the children race their cars on a pinewood track set up as part of the build day. 

Purchase your own kid-built pinewood car and help a child in need.

Held in conjunction with the annual SEMA Installation Gala, the SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races will take place Friday, July 29, 2016, at 12:00 p.m., at the Fairplex Conference Center in Pomona, California. The finals will be held during the cocktail reception shortly before the banquet begins. Proceeds from the races benefit SEMA Cares charities, including Childhelp and Victory Junction. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction provides the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses, who otherwise would not be able to go to camp.

Sponsoring a SEMA Cares Pinewood car is easy and rewarding. Visit SEMA’s website to purchase your own Pinewood car, participate and help a child in need.