Special Events Committee

Thanks to the generous support of SAMCAR members, sponsors and community, our 2021 #SAMCARGivesBack fundraising campaign has raised $41,000, far exceeding our initial fundraising goal. Supported by unique fundraising events including "Thursday Night Live," this year's fundraising campaign drove community involvement and generous giving, which allowed Foundation Trustees to approve quarterly grants to numerous housing-related charities throughout the year. Read more for an overview of what the SAMCAR Foundation has been able to accomplish with your support.

On Thursday, August 5, SAMCAR members and friends gathered safely outdoors at San Mateo Central Park for the Association's first in-person event in over a year and a half—the SAMCAR Member Appreciation Picnic. No ice breakers were necessary as colleagues jubilantly conversed face-to-face after primarily seeing each other only on screens for such a long time. Guests enjoyed boxed lunches from Esposto's Catering and a hosted bar, as well as games like giant Jenga and a cornhole competition, and raffle drawing for donors to the #SAMCARGivesBack charitable fundraising campaign (for which the event helped raise an additional $1,095). In the spirit of giving back, extra boxed lunches didn't go to waste but were instead donated to the LifeMoves Maple Street Shelter in Redwood City. Photos of the picnic were captured by SAMCAR Affiliate member Craig Burleigh Photography. Many thanks to SAMCAR members and friends for joining us for the picnic and to our 2021 Corporate Sponsors for making this event possible.

In case you missed it, you can now view a recording of SAMCAR's first-ever virtual variety show "Thursday Night Live" (originally aired on Zoom on May 20, 2021) on YouTube! Hosted by Jessica Eva and featuring performances by (in order of appearance) Erik Winkler, Ann Palermo, Vivienne Kelvin, Mark Martinho, Alfredo Mendoza, Michelle Velez, Anne Rodrigues Toth, Toni Burrows, Marlin Handley, Gregory Strang & Suzanne Sims, Alan Kirth, Kathy Wall, Anna May, and Gary Pellegrini with special appearances by Jesse Gutierrez and Gina Zari, and produced by High Dive Studio, watch entertaining musical and comedic performances in support of the SAMCAR Foundation's #SAMCARGivesBack 2021 charitable fundraising campaign.

You did it! Thanks to the generous support of SAMCAR members, sponsors and community, our #SAMCARGivesBack fundraising campaign has exceeded its fundraising goal and has been able to fund quarterly grants to housing-related charities as well as a special fire relief effort and much more. Read more for an overview of what the SAMCAR Foundation has been able to accomplish with your support.