Charities were a big winner again at the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, as this year’s event raised more than $1.7 million for charity. Donations from the Concours have averaged $1.4 million annually since 2006.
“Throughout this past decade we have consistently given over $1 million to charity each year, and we are very proud of that,” said Concours Chairman Sandra Button.”We are grateful for the efforts of all those who have allowed us to sustain these levels of giving, because these dollars make a significant impact in our community.”
The Concours has generated substantial funds for charity since its earliest years, but donations in recent years have greatly accelerated. Annual donations first exceeded the $100,000 mark in the mid-1990s and the $500,000 mark in 2000 before surpassing the $1 million mark in 2006. The Concours has now surpassed the $23 million mark for total giving since its inception in 1950.
“The funds we distributed today will help address many issues we are battling in our region,” said Perocchi. “We are all in a unique position to make a noticeable difference in Monterey County, and without the generosity of our Concours donors, and the teamwork and leadership of our charitable partners, this would not be possible.”
The event generates funds from many sources, both near and far, to help the local community. Generous Concours participants, including entrants and judges, regularly send in direct donations. Event partners such as BMW, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz, Rolex and Bulgari donate valuable goods for opportunity drawings. Additionally, volunteers donate time and effort to make the event a success.
That success translates directly into donations for Concours charities. Pebble Beach Company Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Pebble Beach Company, serves as the event’s primary charitable partner, directing funds to 85 local nonprofit educational programs and overseeing the Phil Hill Scholarships. Charitable partners benefiting directly from the Concours include Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County, Kinship Center, Montage Health (formerly Community Hospital Foundation), Natividad Medical Foundation, Animal Friends Rescue Project and United Way Monterey County. Additional charities volunteer time and effort in exchange for donations, while other nonprofits benefit from the use of Concours infrastructure, such as tents, to host fundraisers.
The 67th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is scheduled for Sunday, August 20, 2017. For information, visit PebbleBeachConcours.net.
[Source: Pebble Beach Concours]
