Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, the Binghamton Paintball Federation and the Northeast Regional Dubs (NERD) are hosting Binghamton University’s First Annual Charity Car Show to raise money for the American Federation for the Blind.
The show, which will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, will take place in Lot W, the visitors parking lot between Mountainview College and the Glenn G. Bartle Library. There will be around 15 cars presented by the local car club, in addition to those presented by Binghamton residents and the brothers of the fraternity.
Participants must pay a $10 donation to show their car, but entrance is free for spectators.
Thomas “T.J.” Ciccone, vice president of Delta Sigma Phi and a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering, organized the event because he has been attending shows as a car enthusiast since he was 12.
According to Ciccone, the proceeds will be donated to the American Federation for the Blind, which offers a variety of assistance to the visually impaired from reading braille to pairing people with seeing-eye dogs.
“My father is legally blind so the charity had a personal meaning for me,” Ciccone said.
The organizers of the show hope to use it as a launching point for an annual event which could leave an impact on the community. According to Ciccone, the organizers hope to move the show to the Events Center in the future.
The event has garnered attention around the community and Ciccone has even convinced car enthusiasts around his hometown in Orange County to come up to Binghamton to support the car show.
“We called radio stations and local car clubs to get the word out about the show,” said Joe Paolini, a sophomore undeclared major in Delta Sigma Phi in charge of advertising for the event.
Ciccone had been trying to plan the show since some time in January, but it took him a month to set up a meeting with University police to reserve the lot. After he was able to make the reservation, Ciccone says he was left with only three weeks after spring break in which to set up the event.
Music will be provided by DJ Onda Skillet. Gift certificates and free oil changes will be sold and the profits will be donated to charity.