Spirit of America grows in third year at OP Crossing
The Spirit of America Car Show has taken place at several different Orland Park locations since its inception. But the evening of Sept. 16 was the third year the show was hosted by Orland Park Crossing, which added new attractions to create a larger community event for families this year.
“There’s a lot of new attractions this year, and they’re free,” said Ramzi Hassan, whose Edwards Realty owns Orland Park Crossing. “We have pony rides, a trackless train [and] free cupcakes. ... The whole point of this is to be a family-friendly community event.
“What differentiates us is it’s all free ... and by coming out you’re showing support for these two great organizations.”
Each year, a portion of the proceeds from the event are donated to the Disabled Patriot Fund and the Orland Township Food Pantry. Last year, Spirit of America was able to provide each organization with a check for $2,500, according to Lynn Cialdella, assistant vice president of Parkway Bank & Trust in Orland Park and organizer of the Spirit of America Car Show.
Cialdella and Hassan said they hope to be able to donate more this year, as funds raised from sponsors and vehicle registration increased 20 percent.
“The goal of the event is to grow organically every year,” Hassan said.
The Orland Township Food Pantry has benefited from the Spirit of America Car Show since the car show’s beginning, according to Robin Kassis, the pantry’s coordinator. Although the food pantry benefits from several fundraisers throughout the year, the car show draws different people to learn about the pantry and also comes at a time of the year when the pantry needs help filling its shelves, she said.
“It’s at a time when we need to get donations, with back to school, where we buy school supplies for children who need them,” she said. “This money comes in and helps stock the shelves. It’s a fun event, and it does a great service for the community.”
Also benefiting from the car show, the Disabled Patriot Fund is a nonprofit organization that began in Orland Park and provides financial relief to veterans of the war on terror and their families.
“It’s events like this that help bring the community together with an organization like us,” said Phil Bell, a board member and previous beneficiary of the Disabled Patriot Fund. “It allows people to see what we’re doing for soldiers and learn what are the needs of soldiers still.”
The car show featured nearly 100 cars and also accepted motorcycle entries this year — a new feature. Among the other attractions were a balloonist, face painting, live music, a 50/50 raffle and an outdoor showing of the film “Back to the Future.”
Community members consistently offer positive feedback about the car show, Hassan said.
Orland Park residents John and Monica Donnelly, along with their son, Sean, 9, attended the Spirit of America Car Show for the first time this year and said they were impressed by the family-friendly atmosphere of the event, they said.
“The cars and the atmosphere are great, and the train is neat,” John said.
Local sponsors donated a variety of items to the event, Cialdella said.
“Everything was donated tonight by all the vendors and other cash donations,” she said. “All the sponsors are always there for us and give to us for every event.”