Hands4Hope fundraiser cruises to success with safety in mind

The regional nonprofit Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference "Get Your Kicks on Route 66, California Style" event cruised to successon Oct. 10 at Serrano Village Green. The weather was perfect for this drive thru fundraiser and attendees were thrilled as they took in all of the sites, includingclassic cars from the bygone era, a spaceman with drones flying overhead, a retro gas station with a beautiful red corvette being serviced, a dynamite blasting area, road work equipment provided by Veerkamp Engineering, donkeys, a highland cow, Elvis impersonators, general store, and a pirates den with lots of loot and smoking cannons.Meeting the goals of the planning committee, the event provided a fun, family-friendly experience while also raising money to fund Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Differences Education and Community Engagement Programs. Seventy cars drove through, picking up 230 picnic meals to go, provided by El Dorado Hills Town Center's new restaurant Mom & Pop Chicken Shop. Participants had the opportunity to help bail out Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference board and community members, who were stuck in the buckets of road work equipment provided by Doug Veerkamp Engineering. The Bucket Bailout served as the major fundraising piece of this quirky event, meeting its goal of raising $50K by 5 p.m. Bucket Bailout participants included Hands4Hope Board members Steve Backers, Andrea Howard, Heather Edwards and Estee Horn, along with community members Adrian Blanco and Bill Roby, and Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference founder and executive director Jennifer Bassett. Together, they worked over a three-week period to raise funds both for "bail" and to fund Hands4Hope programs for local youth from Placerville to Folsom. Helping in this fundraising effort were Darin and Ron Mittelstaedt who volunteered to match all funds donated up to $50K through their RDM Positive Impact Foundation. Handler's General Store was decorated like a retro streetside store you might see along Route 66 and housed the auction items for this event. A QR code was included on the event program and road map to take attendees to the online virtual silent auction to bid on these items. The online auction included wonderful getaways, along with a beautiful selection of wine and gift cards to local restaurants and much more. "The generous support from our volunteers, donors, family and friends exceeded our expectations and confirmed that we are truly blessed to live in such a great community that supports our youth and each other," said Maureen Gagliardi, Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference Board Director and Route 66 California Style Committee Member.The Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference Route 66 California Style Fundraiser was sponsored by RDM Positive Impact Foundation, Serrano by Parker Development Company, Sharon & David Handler, ESI Builders and Remoders, Yoffie Real Estate, Freer Realty Group, Horn Fulton CPAs, Clark Pest Control, Reliance Home Loans, Inc. Team Scott, Western Sign Company, Doug Veerkamp Engineering, Kaiser Permanente, Girard, Edwards, Stevens, Tucker LLP, David Girard Winery, Southgate Glass, Heritage Community Credit Union, Anderson Pacific Builders, Mom & Pop Chicken Shop, Frank Vilts Cakes and Charm Photography. Without their generous support, this event would not have been possible.Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference is a nonprofit, youth driven organization with the mission to inspire and empower youth in leadership and service. Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference offers hands-on education and community engagement opportunities to youth from K-12th grades through school-based and after-school programs in Sacramento and El Dorado counties. For more information about Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference, visit www.hands4hopeyouth.orgor call 916-294-7426. .