11-25-2009 - Thank you everyone who donated or volunteered to participate in the 29th
A.B.A.T.E. of PA Toy Run. With the help of hundreds of volunteers, like yourselves, donations and toys, The Delaware Valley 29th Annual “For The Kids” Toy Run was a huge success!!
It was held on Sunday, November 1, 2009. Thousands of motorcycles carrying toys for sick children lined up along Delaware Avenue for the ride to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Although the rain did put a damper on our attendance, we still had a large turnout. So many people look forward to participating in our Toy Run event each year and came from all over.
It’s our way of giving back to the community. We even had the pleasure of having some of our state officers, Kevin and Peggy Snyder, Tom Christofes, Jr., and Lynn Wesley, in attendance. There were also quite a number of vendors, some of which were non-profit organizations, like Brothers For Flight 93, and the March of Dimes, to name a few. With the help of WMMR 93.3 FM, and Pierre Robert, advertising for our Toy Run was frequently aired prior to the event.
Our Philly’s finest, the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police helped to direct traffic, blocked city streets, and escorted our parade to Children’s Hospital. Several ambulance services were also on hand in case of an emergency, including American Patriot Ambulance Service and A Vital Response Inc.
Our group of volunteers did an excellent job putting thisToy Run together. We worked all year on this event, and we want to thank everyone for doing their part in making this run so successful! We want to send out a special THANK YOU to TONY LUKE’S OLD PHILLY STYLE SANDWICHES for kickstarting our donation drive. They were highly instrumental in helping us start the fundraising campaign by making the first donation. Thanks to Tony Luke’s, a “Cheesesteak” challenge took place among all of the local area cheesesteak shops and several of them stepped up to the plate and made large donations.
In addition, a big THANK YOU goes to Judge Seamus McCaffery, a lifetime member of the Delaware Valley Chapter of ABATE of Pennsylvania, who was our Toy Run Grand Marshal, had tirelessly campaigned for us and had raised thousands of dollars on our behalf towards our fund drive. We then reached out to our community and asked for the additional financial support in order to reach our goal. Not only do we want to thank them, but we also want to thank the many companies and individuals who contributed in so many different ways, including cash donations, time, equipment and vehicles, and services, to our “For The Kids” Toy Run.
SPECIAL THANKS GOES TO:
A VITAL RESPONSE INC. |
|
KAREN SARGENT |
| ABATE OF PA-BLUE MOUNTAIN CHAPTER |
|
KEVIN & PEGGY SNYDER |
| ABATE OF PA-CRAWFORD COUNTY CHAPTER |
|
KEYES TOWING |
| ABATE OF PA-HIGHLANDERS CHAPTER - IN MEMORY OF BRENNA MILLER |
|
KEYSTONE DIGITAL IMAGING |
| ABATE OF PA-STATE OFFICE |
|
KEYSTONE MOTORCYCLE |
| ALL AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION
AMERICAN LEGION POST 520 |
|
PRESS
LACHELLE LEVAN |
| THE WOLK LAW FIRMAURORA O’BRIEN |
|
LAW OFFICES OF PAUL BRADFORDORR |
| ABATE OF PA-KEYSTONE CHAPTER |
|
LEE GABER, PC |
| AMERICAN PATRIOT AMBULANCE SERVICE |
|
LINDENWOLD LOYAL ORDER OF THE |
| ANNE M. & BRIAN W. GRYGO
ARDMORE TOYOTA ASSOCIATES |
|
MOOSE #548 |
| ARTHUR ALAN WOLK |
|
LISA FICKINGER
LOBEL |
| BARB’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON |
|
KAUFMANN & ANASTASIA |
| BRIAN’S HARLEY DAVIDSON |
|
LYDIA FREDRICK |
| BRIDGEPORT RIB HOUSE |
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MARGARET JEKER NICOLOSI |
| CAVANAUGH’S RIVER DECK |
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MESSENGERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB |
| CENTURIONS MOTORCYCLE CLUB |
|
PAT’S KING OF STEAKS |
| CHANNEL NBC 10 - “INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS” - HARRY HAIRSTON |
|
PAUL LEISEY |
| CHARLES & CAROL UMBENHAUER |
|
PECO AN EXELON COMPANY |
| CHROME RIDERS |
|
PENNOCK FLORAL |
| CITY ELECTRIC CORP |
|
PIERRE ROBERT - WMMR 93.3 FM |
| CROSSROAD POWERSPORTS |
|
PLUMBERS UNION LOCAL #690 |
| DAVID POTTER
DEL-MIL |
|
POTTY QUEEN |
| DENNY WALDMAN
EAST COAST BIKER |
|
RIDER INSURANCE |
| ENERGY RESEARCH GROUP-NORTHEAST SERVICES |
|
ROOKIES HILLTOP INN |
| FINNIGAN’S WAKE |
|
SPRINKLER FITTERS LOCAL #692 |
| GREGORY MCFADDEN |
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SUNOCO
TEAMSTERS LOCAL NO. 107 |
| GRIFFIN WRIGHT |
|
TEAMSTERS LOCAL UNION NO. 830 |
| HARPER M. SHOAP, III |
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THE JIM BEASLEY FIRM FOUNDATION, INC |
| I.B.E.W. LOCAL 98
INTERNATIONAL |
|
TIOGA FOUNDATION FOR TIOGA PIPE |
| UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 542 |
|
SUPPLY COMPANY, INC. |
| INTERSTATE BATTERY OF CHESTER COUNTY |
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TOM CHRISTOFES, JR. |
| IRON CITY SUPPLY COMPANY, LLC |
|
TRACEY PARK |
| JEFF MILLER |
|
TRI-STATE HOG CLUB |
| JEFF PISCITELLI |
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UNITED STEELWORKERS LOCAL 10-1 |
| JERSEY GIRLS MOTORCYCLE CLUB |
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WAVERLY LOUNGE |
| JIM’S STEAKS |
|
WAWA, INC. - STORE #191 - MATTHEW |
| JUDGE SEAMUS MCCAFFERY - GRAND MARSHAL |
|
DUCA, STORE MANAGER. |
We couldn’t have done it without all of your help and your support this year!! We knew that our Toy Run had to continue on, whether we raised the much-needed funds or not. There was nothing more satisfying than to see a child laugh and smile when the thousands of bikes drove by the hospital during the parade. The end result is that there will be hundreds of thousands of children receiving our toys throughout the holiday season and throughout the coming year, and hopefully, bringing smiles to their faces. Isn’t that what it’s all about?
Urgent: Support is needed "for the kids" of the Delaware Valley ABATE of PA.
After 28 years of serving the kids of Philadelphia Children’s Hospital, the “For The Kids” Toy Run is in jeopardy.
W urgently need your help!
This year’s event is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, November 1, 2010. The Toy Run is a much-heralded event which attracts approximately 60,000 motorcyclists from around the Delaware Valley, each bringing toys for the children of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
Many of the toys collected are used by other agencies throughout the greater Philadelphia area. The estimated value of the toys collected is in excess of $1 million annually! It’s motorcyclists bringing the joys of the holidays to children who might otherwise not be unable to experience them.
For the first time in the event’s history, The Delaware Chapter of the A.B.A.T.E. of PA has been notified by the City of Philadelphia that the cost for city services associated with the event will be $30,000, for which A.B.A.T.E. of PA will be responsible for.
As a volunteer committee that already spends the better part of a year on the organization and details of the annual ride, the fundraising requirement not only caught us off-guard, but it presented an additional challenge to continuing to deliver on this all important commitment to making kids' dreams come true.
Delaware Valley A.B.A.T.E. Is asking for your help In order to continue making a difference in the lives of the Children of CHOP, and for kids all over the Philadelphia area.
We need your donation to keep this event active.
By making a tax-deductible donation to our “For the Kids” campaign, you will be directly contributing to helping bring joy to the children and families struggling to deal with illness during the holiday season. Additionally, you'll be recognized for your generosity as a “For the Kids” campaign supporter on the A.B.A.T.E. of PA Website and in the upcoming newsletter. You will also have the good feeling knowing that your contribution made the continuance of the Toy Run possible.
The A.B.A.T.E. of PA is depending on your assistance and generosity. Please contact the
A.B.A.T.E. of PA office at 717-731-8955 to pledge your support, or fill out and return the pledge card. Please be assured that your contribution will be put to good use to ensure the
A.B.A.T.E. of PA. can continue to help kids and their families right here in our community. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
A.B.A.T.E. Of PA,
Delaware Valley Chapter |
