Giving Back

A PCA GOLD COAST TRADITION

by Mark Johnson, Saff Writer

On a warm Tuesday morning, August 24, 2021, members of the Gold Coast Region of Porsche Club of America drove to Miami, FL for a very special event. As a club, we were giving back.

Often it is the giving of personal time, out-of-pocket contributions, or in-kind donations. This time it was a “BIG CHECK” that was significant and substantial. The recipient was Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of South Florida. Ronald McDonald House is a 501(c) (3) corporation that creates, finds, and supports programs by providing lodging, meals, activities, and a community of care to critically ill children and their families who need to be near a hospital for treatment. They enable family-centered care while ensuring the complete family is fully supported and actively involved in their children’s care. The RMHC South Florida is a 31-bedroom facility located on the grounds of Jackson Memorial Hospital. They have helped 30,000 families since 1982. Now, our Gold Coast Region PCA has helped them!

Gold Coast PCA members presented the RMHC Executive Director, Ms. Soraya Rivera-Moya, and House Manager, Ms. Dawn Compres, with a check in the amount of $11,000 to support their efforts in our south Florida community.

$11,000

One might ask, where did PCA Gold Coast acquire such a large sum of money? Great question!

As our members may recall, two Florida PCA Regions, Gold Coast (ours), and the Suncoast Region (Tampa Bay and surrounding area) co-sponsor and manage the annual 48 Hours at Sebring Club Race. This is an annual event held at the Sebring International Raceway. The 2021 edition of the 48 Hours at Sebring was run in early February and featured over 350 Porsche racers from all over the USA. It is a Porsche Club Racing event, and the first in the country every year. The ‘21 event actually raised a total of $22,000 in proceeds from the operations and the silent auction. These proceeds were evenly split between the two Regions. The Suncoast Region makes their donation to the Tampa Bay area Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Mr. Dan Smithyman is the Gold Coast Region Co-Chair for the 48 Hour event. He, along with Josh Breckeen, Suncoast Co-Chair, and many other members of both the Gold Coast and Suncoast Regions manage the premier Porsche Club Racing event. 48 Hours offers phenomenal club racing and camaraderie at one of the world’s premier racetracks. If you haven’t attended, make plans to get to Sebring in early February 2022 for the event. But don’t just “attend”: make a point to volunteer for the event; be involved!

In Miami, GC-PCA the members who attended were Steve Kidd, Past President, Roger Fabel, Editor of Die Porsche Kassette, Christy Spangler, Director & Social Chair, and Mark Johnson, Staff Writer for the Kassette. The Gold Coast delivery team met with Ms. Soraya Rivera-Moya, Ms. Dawn Compres, and Ms. Nicole Betancourt, Development Coordinator for RMHC. Ms. Soraya introduced us to three of the families currently staying in Miami for various medical treatments.

We were honored to meet the Denmark family from Clewiston, FL, the Moran Velez family from Ecuador, and the Mina family from Egypt. We spoke with the family members about their illness and the support and treatments they receive while housed at the Ronald McDonald House. The support provided by RMHC is exceptional and the families are truly grateful for the opportunity to stay at the House while their children are undergoing various treatments at the many hospitals and facilities in the immediate area. Roger Fabel, our editor, and himself a cancer survivor had a brief but powerful discussion with De’Arial Denmark during the visit to Ronald McDonald House. Rather than ask De’Arial what he was being treated for, Roger asked how

A couple Porsche’s visit the Ronald McDonald House in Miami, FL

The “Thumbs Up” Check Presentation to RMHC, L to R: Ms. Jacinth Holness, Dawn Compres, Flor Moran, De’Arial Denmark (back), Anita Paula Moran (stroller), Luis Moran, Ana Moran Velez, Soraya Rivera-Moya, Steve Kidd, Roger Fabel, Adam Michael (in mom’s arm), Manar Milad, Noah Michael, Michael Mina, and Christy Spangler. Gold Coast would like to arrange a club drive with 30 or more Porsches to provide a ride to the children, their family members and staff to celebrate the people and our relationship. They like Porsches as much as we do! Who knew? Let’s make it happen: the Cars, and the People!

Looking Forward . . . The 2022 edition of the 48 Hours at Sebring Club Race will be held this coming February. Proceeds from this event are split between Suncoast and Gold Coast Regions, with equal amounts presented to the region RMHC Charities. A very large part of the funds raised are through the silent auction held during the 48 Hours event.

Soraya Rivera-Moya & Steve Kidd with the framed RMHC poem, presented to Gold Coast Region.

his treatment was going. The young man went into detail about the quality of the hospitals (UM Sylvester Cancer Center, Jackson Memorial and others he has visited), as well as the care and support given by RMHC in Miami.

“Is it gone?”

During the discussion, De’Arial asked Roger three times, “Is it gone?” referring to Roger’s cancer. Fortunately, our editor is doing well, but the question from the young man was not really about Roger. De’Arial was questioning his own hopes to defeat the disease and the opportunity to lead a normal life. This was not for Roger to answer, but the interaction worked to provide De’Arial Denmark and his mom, Ms. Jacinth Holness, with a bit of heart-to-heart support that is so important in dealing with such illnesses. The contribution Gold Coast provided Tuesday morning added substantially to the wellness of the children and their families staying at the Ronald McDonald House.

Following the presentation of the GC PCA check and photo taking, Ms. RiveraMoya and the RMHC folks returned a gift to our club in appreciation of our support. Steve Kidd accepted a framed poem and photos on behalf of the club from RMHC. Soraya read the poem to the group.

This is the house, where families meet To continue their lives, to eat and sleep To find their strengths and dry their tears To look forward with hope, to better years.

This is the house, that becomes their home. This is The House that Love Built!

It was a great honor to share with Ronald McDonald House Charities the love and spirit of the Gold Coast Region of PCA. It is so very important to give back to our community. Supporting the Ronald McDonald House Charities is a wonderful way to accomplish this goal.

There were a several requests of the kids, families and the RMHC staff to “get a ride” in our Porsches. At a future date,

IF YOU HAVE A VALUABLE ITEM(S), OR YOUR COMPANY CAN OFFER SOMETHING WHICH COULD BE USED FOR THIS AUCTION, PLEASE CONTACT THE 48 HOURS TEAM AND MAKE ARRANGEMENTS

TO DONATE THE ITEM. WE CAN

MAKE A DIFFERENCE!