Rittenhouse Senior Living, The Portage Chamber of Commerce, and the fickle weather of Northwest Indiana teamed up to bring the community a classic car show. August 8th, 2015 was the perfect day for such an exhibit.
To see more photos from the event, click here!
Fellow Chamber member Jason Kosiara of Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance came to Rittenhouse Sales and Marketing Director Judy Kukelka with an idea for an auto show. Kukelka agreed readily.
“We’re always trying to find different events and activities for our residents. And they, of course love the old classic cars and motorcycles.”
They need to decide on a program to donate the proceeds to. After some deliberation, they chose the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has helped Rittenhouse a lot in the past and they were excited about the opportunity to give back.
“It was a win-win for us. It was a way for us to give back to the residents, but also give back to the community.”
“We need to get everybody else to jump on board with them,” says the Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, Lou Gagliardi, “and start helping the Chamber out. We want to grow, to be bigger and better.”
Gagliardi brought his own car to tonight’s show. His Tesla showcases the latest technology in electrical transportation. It has no oil, no engine, and no fuel. It runs on electricity. Every time it juices up it can go another 270 miles; and when it is low on energy, it sends an alert to Gagliardi’s phone.
The parking lot outside Rittenhouse filled fast with amazing cars from decades past.
Ruth Jones and her family brought three cars that have been worked on by three different generations: led by her father, Robert Johnson, who is now a resident at Rittenhouse. Their first was a 1949 Chevy Lead Sled that they started reconstructing when her granddaughter was just 13 months old.
“It’s a family affair,” she says, of attending car shows. “Three generations. There are five generations in our family and daddy has always supported us.”
Steve Massow’s 1966 Ford Mustang was reunited with a past owner. Rittenhouse resident Virginia Park and her daughter Marsha recognized Park’s husband’s car on the lot. When they bought it, they had to have it shipped from Puerto Rico. Massow bought it five years ago. The Mustang’s four on the floor is rare given its six cylinder engine: Massow is proud to show it off.
“I don’t really go to the big car shows. I like the ones that are a charity that are helping someone else.”
Today’s car show will certainly help the Chamber of Commerce. Sponsors like RCS home healthcare, NorthShore, and Edible Arrangements, were all accounted for with vendor booths and perky representatives. Kukelka, Kosiara, and Liz Culp from Moses Caregivers organized a fun filled evening for every participant, from the residents to the food vendors.