Hundreds of Corvette Owners Raise Funds for The Village Network
WOOSTER - Everything, including the weather, ran smoothly at the recent Mid-Ohio Corvette (MOCC) Rally benefiting the boys and girls of The Village Network. Over 140 Corvette owners from around Ohio participated in the 11th annual event.
For some, it was their first time on The Village Network-Boys' Village Campus. Others have been coming for years. All of them enjoyed the camaraderie and fellowship that comes with owning one of America's favorite icons.
Groups and many individual owners not affiliated with a club attend according to Regina Muich, treasurer of MOCC. Members from Buckeye Corvette Club, Canton; Classic Glass Corvette Club, New Philadelphia; Mahoning Valley Corvette Club, Youngstown; 7-11 Corvette Club, Akron; Medina Corvette Club and the Society Vette Set attended.
"I've been coming since the very first one when we only had about 30 Corvettes," said Eileen Kliner of Ashland. "Sometimes it's been a stop on a planned route with some friends. Once it was part of a trip that took us all the way to Maine."
It's a social occasion for most of the members of the Medina Corvette Club according to Kathi Dembowski, social director for the club. Twenty-six members strong and 30 years old, the Medina group have enjoyed the TVN-Boys' Village Campus rally for five years.
The day begins at Wayne County Fair Grounds with registration and breakfast provided by MOCC. The fun and games portion starts early with music donated through a WQRT remote team and trivia questions complete with prizes for the winners.
Once on TVN-Boys' Village Campus, Corvette owners are treated to a BBQ lunch, tour the campus, participate in an auction and sponsor a youth driver in the mini-car races. All proceeds from the day benefit the recreational programs at TVN-Wooster.
"The clubs and the individual enthusiasts who participate in this event always prove to be a class act," said Muich. "They share their cars, time and dollars with the youth."
For MOCC and its 28 members, a rally this large is a huge undertaking. It takes hours gathering door prizes, auction items and donations according to Muich plus all the organizing and clean-up at the Fair Grounds.
"I can't say enough about our small group," said Muich. "Even though money was very hard to come be this year, our members solicited, donated and worked very hard."
The Village Network Mini-Speedway was built and is maintained with dollars raised by the event according to Craig Runkle, recreation therapy supervisor at TVN-Boys' Village Campus. This year bleachers were added and the infield of the track was modified to better accommodate the high-end mini race cars.
Kirk Spurgeon, owner of Spurgeon Chevrolet, is one of the founding fathers of the event which used to originate from his dealership. He was on hand to thank the Corvette owners for their continued support and credit MOCC members for planning and executing the rally.
The Village Network has a long-standing, award winning history of success working with troubled and traumatized boys and girls. The TVN Continuum of Care model provides consistency across residential, day treatment, treatment foster care, respite care and alternative school programs.
Facilities are located in 10 communities around the state including Wooster, Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Columbus, Delaware, Knox County/Mt. Vernon, Newark, Uhrichsville and Sandusky. For more information, visit http://www.thevillagenetwork.org/.