Pay it forward in real life, Scott Drake company (Mustang Parts) does a wonderful Mustang build to raise 42,000 for a battered womens shelter in Texas

http://www.drakeautomotivegroup.com/Store/NewsView.aspx?wid=141&nid=1

Speed Channel TV host called “one of the nicest 1966 Mustangs we have seen at Barrett Jackson.” When the gavel finally fell, $42,000 was raised for the East Texas Crisis Center (a shelter for battered women), and a charitable quest that began back in April of 2009 came to a fulfilling close.

It started with a desire by Scott Drake Enterprises to give back to Mustang enthusiasts, in thanks for the company’s success as the world’s largest manufacturer of classic Mustang parts. So they went directly to the grass roots heart of the pony car world — the Mustang Club of America — and offered to help their members do what they enjoy most. Giving back to their local communities.

“We called it the ‘Pay it Forward’ charity,” said company founder Scott Drake. “It was an opportunity for us to share the joy of helping others in need while doing something we all love,” he said.

The program started with a contest, and the rules were simple. Scott Drake would donate a ’66 convertible project Mustang and $10,000 in parts to the club that submitted the best proposal for a charity restoration. The finished car would be auctioned off by none other than the famed Barrett Jackson organization, who offered to donate all fees to the cause. The entries were phenomenal, and the judging excruciating. The winner was the Mustang Club of East Texas, who put 30 volunteers to work for an intensive 100-day Mustang makeover.

The club aimed high for additional sponsors, and got them. A motor from Quantum Performance. Audio components from Kicker Stereo. A transmission from Performance Automatic. Sandblasting, paint, and a variety of donations and services from local companies with big hearts. It all went to a happy new owner, and to a great cause. Just ask Lana Peacock, executive director of the East Texas Crisis Center.

“Like all non-profits, we’re really hurting right now, but the people who need our help are still coming through the door every day,” Peacock said. “This donation saved an important job position that was slated for elimination, and will be a tremendous help with our educational programs for women, which teach them how to become self-sufficient so they can support themselves and their children,” she added.

Proposing the Crisis Center as their charity for the Pay it Forward project was an easy decision for the Mustang Club of East Texas. “They’re our charity of choice,” said Project Chair Craig Chesley. “We put on a car show every year, and they’re always the main beneficiary.”

The club created a special website to document the entire project, which can be viewed at http://www.payitforwardcar.com/ This web site is a choronological history of the entire project with over 240 photographs

Coast to coast, and to every state capitol, the High Five Tour 2011 is out to raise funds and awareness

HIGH FIVE TOUR On June 22, 2011 we will gallop across America in our 2011 Shelby Mustang GT-500 to thank Americans for their support of our military families and to raise funds and awareness for the mission of Wounded Warriors Family Support: Provide support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured or killed during combat operations.

Our 50 state capitol city drive/fly road trip is real street level engagement designed to meet as many Americans as possible and thank them for their support of our military families who have given so much.

http://highfivetour.com/index.php/site/tour_dates and map to see when the High Five Tour 2011 will be in your area. It would be great to see you at one of our road trip events this summer.

http://highfivetour.com/ and http://www.woundedwarriorsfamilysupport.org

Wounded Warriors Family Support mitigates their trauma by allowing them to find peace and solace as a family once more in family-friendly resorts that we provide free of charge. The resort condominium that we own in Orlando, Florida are quiet havens where war torn families can reunite and become stronger.

CFC #81534 if you are in the military or Federal government and want to find them in the Combined Federal Campaign

http://www.opm.gov/cfc/ The mission of the CFC is to promote and support philanthropy through a program that is employee focused, cost-efficient, and effective in providing all federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all.

Best cause for donating parts and time? Making a 32 roadster to tour, raise awareness, and auction to provide scholarships to kids of fallen soldiers

The IronMen Foundation has pledged its efforts to raise funds for these scholarships. Their first effort is to build a hot rod and auction it. They call it the Metal of Honor.

The IronMen Foundation http://ironmenfoundation.org/ was founded in 2007 to Provide Scholarships to the Children of Slain and Disabled Soldiers. We are simply a group of American Patriots, from all walks of life, doing something significant to support American Heroes' Families.

"We invited businesses in the Hot Rod industry to partner with us to build an automobile in which we could:
1.Capture the Attention of the American People;
2.Dramatize the Educational Dilemma of the Children of our American Heroes;
3.Tour a Car made from the Excellent Products of our Donor Partners—the Manufacturers who make the best products in the Hot Rod industry;
4.Create a desire to own this car;
5.Raise as Much Money for Scholarships as Possible in an Auction.

Our Board of Directors all serve voluntarily. We invite our friends, fellow church members, acquaintances, hot rod lovers, business owners, civic leaders, military personnel, government officials and celebrities to join us in this cause.

http://ironmenfoundation.org/ has this 1932 Ford Roadster, honoring our Fallen Heroes, is being built by The IronMen Foundation. It will tour America throughout 2011 on its way to the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, AZ in January 2012. All proceeds from the auction will fund scholarships for the children of slain and disabled soldiers.

Built from brand new parts generously donated by American companies, it is being built in Island Lake, IL totally by the hands of IronMen Foundation volunteers. Stunning, in shades of green, the car honors the men and women who have stood in harm’s way to defend our freedoms. It will be on tour throughout 2011 at car shows, civic events and military installations. You will be able to follow the tour’s progress by visiting our Tour Schedule page. Details will be posted as the schedule dates are finalized "

Valspar paint is lobbying Ford to get the duece into the Ford exhibit area at SEMA in 2011. Damn good idea, lets hope the Ford honchos make it happen.

Thanks to Chuck Caswell for telling me about this noble cause! It's what is great about SEMA, you meet such great people!