The Heart of the Chicago Auto Show

17 February 1999

    CHICAGO, Feb. 15 -- While shiny new cars and glitzy displays
seem to grab the majority of headlines from the 91st Chicago Auto Show, the
headlines don't capture one of the most important parts of the annual
exhibition at McCormick Place: the show's heart.
    "The Chicago area dealers are always among the first to be approached for
helping out charities," said show chairman Mike Cook.  "And they're more
likely than not to be the first to respond to a genuine plea for assistance.
The image of dealers sometimes suffers from a tiny percentage of those who
make great headlines, but really don't reflect the true nature of the group."
    Prior to the expo's public opening, the elegant black-tie First Look for
Charity raised nearly $1.2 million for twelve participating organizations.
    "Our first attempt at a Thursday evening event was an unqualified
success," said Cook.  "We had anticipated a slight attendance drop due to the
date change, but it held steady.  I'm sure that next year we can grow the
crowd even a bit more.  First Look is now in its eighth year and has raised
more than $6 million since its inception."
    In addition to the First Look, public show patrons are able to donate to
area blood banks at a LifeSource station located in the Saturn display on the
show floor.  Donations far exceeded expectations, according to project manager
Amy Gardner-Nummer.  Whole blood donations were triple initial expectations
and people pledged whole blood and platelet donations for a future date at
LifeSource donor centers and blood drives.
    "Feb. 13 was National Saturn Donor Day," said Gardner-Nummer.  "As car
shoppers across the country participated in similar drives with Saturn
retailers, donors in Chicago rolled up their sleeves at the first-ever blood
drive in McCormick Place."
    While at the show, patrons are meeting actual transplant recipients and
representatives of the Regional Organ Bank of Illinois (ROBI) and signing
organ donor cards.  The Saturn-supported Hendrick Fund of the Marrow
Foundation provided testing for potential marrow donors to become a part of
the National Marrow Donor Program.
    The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), producer of the Chicago
Auto Show, has enjoyed an ongoing relationship with LifeSource for
three years.  After the first weekend of the show, donors had given 568 pints
of blood and 211 show patrons had registered for bone marrow transplant.
    Addressing yet another need in the community, the nation's largest auto
show will conduct its fifth annual food drive Feb. 17-19, offering a
$2 discount to show-goers who donate two cans of nonperishable food.  Since
its inception, donations have tipped the scales at almost 45,000 pounds of
canned goods.
    "Last year we collected more than four-and-a-half tons of food for the
Greater Chicago Food Depository," said show co-chairman Bill Stasek.  "Hunger
is a year-round problem and we're happy to lend our event to help play a part
in feeding people in need."