As the 2018 Cincinnati Auto Expo approaches, we are excited to once again host our Rev It Up!! Sneak Peek VIP Party, which will take take place on Wednesday, February 7. Since 1993, this party has kicked off the Auto Expo and raised money to benefit Cincinnati Children’s child passenger safety program. This year marks the 25th anniversary of this partnership, for which the Cincinnati Dealers were recently honored by Cincinnati Children’s at their Evening with Champions donor recognition dinner.

The award was accepted on behalf of the membership by GCADA executive vice president Charlie Howard, GCADA director of member services Sandy Moeller, outgoing GCADA president Tom Fiehrer and incoming president Dan Kommeth, as well as past president Larry Brueshaber and Dr. Victor Garcia, CCHMC founding director trauma services, who were instrumental in forming the partnership.

In the 25 years since this partnership began, it has since grown into the year-round SAFE TRAVEL FOR KIDS!!™ program.

“Car crashes are the leading killer of children in the United States,” said Charlie Howard. “The proper use of a car seat can reduce a child’s risk of injury by 70 percent and their risk of death by nearly 30 percent. This program’s goal is to ensure that all children in Greater Cincinnati have access to the right safety seat, and that their parents and caregivers know how to install and use it correctly on every trip.”

The program is jointly sponsored by GCADA and Evenflo. Evenflo generously donates car seats for giveaways at the Auto Expo in the Safe Travel Family Zone, at a variety of events during Child Passenger Safety Month in September, and also at Cincinnati Baby & Beyond Expo. At each event, the car seat giveaways afford an opportunity to speak to thousands of parents and caregivers on proper car seat use and installation.

In addition, Spectrum Reach generously produces a Public Service Announcement pro bono, and airs it throughout September. Each year’s PSA focuses on a specific car seat safety theme, and is seen by hundreds of thousands in the tristate area.

“Our members also deserve a great deal of credit in particular for their participation in the tether anchor installation program,” said Howard. “These anchors are necessary to secure specialized car seats for children with disabilities. Their installation is not covered by insurance, and by performing this installation for free you touch in a very special way the families who care for these children.”

Through the funds raised at each year’s charity gala, Cincinnati Children’s has been able to distribute 6,000 car seats to families in need since 2010. No child is allowed to leave Cincinnati Children’s, or any car seat safety check, without a proper car seat. When a family cannot afford the proper seat for their child, these seats are given free of charge to keep them safe.

This program is made possible with the generous participation of GCADA members in fund raising at each year’s gala, and their active participation in spreading the word during each Child Passenger Safety campaign.

The REV IT UP!! Sneak Peek VIP party will be held on February 7, 2018 to kick off 2018 Cincinnati Auto Expo, which will run through February 11 at the Duke Energy Convention Center.