Saturday's car show in Bradenton is a "Big" deal

- by Guest Contributor Meredith Garofalo.

If there’s one thing I love about the Sun Coast aside from the weather, it’s the various types of vintage and sports cars either on display or driving around town. Every single “cool” car has its own personality, and whether you’re a child or adult, getting to check them all out in one place is really fun. Factor in a benefit for children in Manatee County---and the word “free”---and I think it doesn't get much better than that!

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast (BBBSSC) - Manatee County is showcasing some of those classics at their “BIG” Car Show, this Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will take place at downtown Bradenton’s beautiful new Riverwalk at 452 3rd Avenue W., and admission to the show is FREE. If you want to show off your hot set of wheels, you still can! The show is open to all makes and models, and the registration fee for each car is only $10 to pre-register; otherwise it's $15 at the gate. There’s a fun incentive for participants, as prizes and trophies will be awarded in the following categories: Chevy, Dodge, Ford, Kids' Pick and Custom - Street Rods. Of course it’s a great family event that will also include music, food and raffles. Speaking of family---the best part of this whole event is you will be positively impacting the lives of local families.

BBBSSC provides one-to-one mentoring relationships to children ages 6 to 18 years old throughout the Gulf Coast of Florida. In the Manatee County programs we serve more than 200 youth. We have 20 children ready to be matched with a caring adult role model. Contact us at our Manatee office to learn more about the programs we offer.

This program works, and I know because I was a Big Sister myself for two years while working in Rapid City, South Dakota at the local ABC affiliate. That brings me to my next announcement: as many of you might already know, I no longer work at ABC 7 here locally (although I’m still more than happy to give you a forecast). Because of the impact this organization has on children, and how life-changing some of their stories are, I am excited to share I am now working for BBBSSC as the Community Resource Director for Manatee County. I’ll be promoting the organization, planning fundraising events, recruiting more Big Brothers and Sisters and helping to match them with Littles.

BBBSSC serves children in Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto, Highlands, Hardee, Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Glades and Hendry counties. The organization holds itself accountable for children in its program to achieve measurable outcomes, such as educational success; avoidance of risky behaviors; and higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships. The organization provides children who face adversity---often those of single-parent families or low-income households---with strong, enduring and professionally-supported one-to-one mentoring relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.

For more information please visit bbbssun.org or contact me at [email protected]. I’d love to share my personal story with you as to why this organization will be life-changing for some of our local children in ways they might never have dreamt possible.

- Meredith Garofalo is the Community Resource Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast (BBBSSC) – Manatee County. She was formerly ABC 7 WWSB’s weekend meteorologist and reporter and has been heavily involved in numerous charity and community events in both Sarasota and Manatee counties. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Meredith received a bachelor's degree in meteorology from Valparaiso University. She started her television career at WGN-TV in Chicago and worked at stations in Zanesville and Toledo, Ohio, as well as Rapid City, South Dakota, before calling the Suncoast her home. She was a Big Sister for two years while in Rapid City and volunteered at the chapter in Zanesville. She’s excited to give back to the community she fell in love with over the past two years and positively impact the lives of local children through the many wonderful programs BBBSC has to offer, and is also excited to continue her journalism background contributing to This Week In Sarasota.