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The best in ‘hogs’ and hot rods this weekend at annual Thunder on the Lot

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Cover Design by Andrew Nunez (147242)
Cover Design by Andrew Nunez

Charitable contributions to underserved children remains a strong and noble commitment across the nation. There are numerous, worthwhile charities throughout Los Angeles County which do wonderful work caring for the less fortunate. The donations they collect are directed to persons in need because of physical or mental disabilities, self-induced problems (e.g. substance abuse recovery) or the most common application of charitable giving involving poverty. People donate at work, at church, online and practically anywhere, anytime they are approached with the familiar phrase: “Can you spare a little something for the less fortunate?”

Lancaster has a number of charitable organizations which provide outstanding services to the community. One of these outlets is Kids Charities which this weekend will partner with Thunder on the Lot at Lancaster City Park to raise funds for more than 30 local organizations that provide services for children in need. Thunder on the Lot is a popular motorcycle and classic car showcase that in 20 years has raised more than $4 million to assist young people.

Vintage roadsters and hot rods

Admission is free except on Saturday ($10 per person from 2 to 11 p.m., children under 12 years admitted free), with the popular “Open Header Cruise” taking place along Lancaster Boulevard from 6 to 9 p.m. tonight. This is a rare opportunity to see some of the area’s vintage roadsters, hot rods and muscle cars all restored to mint or “cherry” condition. Sunday hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ron Emard, owner of Antelope Valley Harley Davidson, and wife, Yvette, founded Thunder on the Lot 15 years ago with a commitment to serve disadvantaged children in the Antelope Valley. The couple has worked with the city of Lancaster as part of a “life-long journey” to provide help to the kids who need it most, primarily through fund-raising efforts like this weekend’s motorcycle spectacular in which Kids Charities is a prime benefactor. The Emards also founded Kids Charities, in 1995, and this year marks their 20th anniversary of raising money for the less fortunate.

Thunder on the Lot began as a vehicle to allow the Emards to raise funds for child-abuse prevention services and has since become one of the most integral fund-raising mechanisms for children’s physical and mental health programs in Los Angeles County. Kids Charities operates under the credo: “It should never hurt to be a kid.” The organization has raised more than $5 million—$4.2 million of which has come directly from the annual Thunder on the Lot event.

“We began with Thunder on the Lot to raise money for child abuse prevention services,” said Yvette Emard, executive director of Kids Charities. The couple founded Kids Charities in the 1990s when the Antelope Valley was said to have had some of the county’s most frequent reports and prosecutions of child abuse cases. “We were so fortunate to have so many people donate funds and their time that we were able to found Kids Charities. People were so generous; we knew that these funds had to be dispersed to other children’s charities. In time, the event became so successful that it became its own entity as a service provider.” Thunder on the Lot last year collected $240,000 in gross receipts.

Resources for underserved kids

Kids Charities has provided thousands of children with outings and goods and services that they would otherwise never experience. Local kids have gone horse-back riding, swimming, camping, fishing, boating, on trips to amusement parks and ball games, concerts and theater, museums etc. Emard said these outings are designed to assist youth who have been abused and, consequently, have fostered little trust in adults to care for them. Food, clothing, back-to-school supplies and scholarships are among the many services provided year-round by Kids Charities.

Lancaster officials say they are delighted to be part of the event, even more so this year because it has moved to a more picturesque, family-friendly venue at Lancaster City Park. They have adopted a new slogan, “Shine and Show,” representing the many classic and modern Harley Davidson models—a brandname known through the world as the “Cadillac of motorcycles.”

“The city of Lancaster is happy with our new partnership with Kids Charities to advance this altruistic cause,” said Lancaster Vice Mayor Marvin Crist. “We are thrilled to host this year’s event at Lancaster City Park, and we look forward to furthering the partnership and growth of Thunder on the Lot in the years ahead.”

Thousands of volunteers from the Antelope Valley and surrounding areas have contributed their time, money and resources each year to make Thunder on the Lot one of county’s most popular charity events. The new partnership is said to assist the future growth of the motorcycle show in raising funds for children; officials hope to expand the reach of Kids Charities while offering the public a new and exciting experience. An exciting array of kick-off events will take place today.

There will be a number of musical acts to accompany the weekend festivities, beginning with Bex Stage today at Bex Stage on the Boulevard; Foghat  (“Slow Ride”) tomorrow at 9 p.m. at Bex Stage on the Boulevard, and the group Bostyx taking the stage on Sunday at 4 p.m. The Victor McLagen Motor Corps, a group of acrobatic professional cyclists which has appeared in numerous parades throughout the southland, will also be featured. The opening group will be Damage Inc. at 7 p.m. on the Car Show Stage.

‘Low rider’ show scheduled

There are lots of fun activities scheduled this weekend as well. Besides the musical acts, a motorcycle show will take place featuring up to 250 classic machines. Hundreds of the finest custom and classic cars from the Antelope Valley and throughout Southern California will also be featured. The “low rider” show returns this year and will feature some of the area’s most beautiful coupes and sedans, many of which have been restored to factory specifications and richly detailed inside and out.

The “low rider” is said to be a uniquely Southern California creation beginning in the early 1960s, when teens would take what was considered a “bomb” or older model car and apply multiple coats of decorative lacquer paint, put on fancy chrome wheels and then install a hydraulic lift to the chassis to allow it to rise and fall as they cruised down such thoroughfares at Whittier Boulevard in East Los Angeles or Central Avenue in South Los Angeles. These types of collectible vehicles—usually coupes and convertibles from the 1960s through the 1980s—have become popular among car buffs around the world.

Despite some national reports over the years that have indicated that charitable giving in Southern California ranks among the lowest nationally, the California Community Foundation this year granted $9 million to L.A. County non-profits. This money has been directed specifically to organizations that address the needs of low-income youth. Among the organizations which have received some of this funding are Building a Lifetime of Options and Opportunities for Men (assisting young African American males in job training), El Monte Community Building Initiative (helping area youth prepare for college), Los Angeles Preschool Advocacy Initiative (increasing access to early childhood education in low-income communities), and the Los Angeles Scholars Investment Fund which combines scholarships with college preparation and completion services.

The 2014 State of Nonprofit Report for Los Angeles County revealed that charitable giving is one of the most vital resources available to assist the poor, particularly underprivileged children.

“As wealth is increasingly concentrated (in L.A. County) at the top of the economic pyramid, nonprofit organizations are increasingly dependent on a very small portion of the population for support,” the report stated. “Across the region, widening disparities in income, employment, educational attainment, and geographical isolation do not bode well for a robust, broadly supported nonprofit sector that is able to provide the vital charitable and cultural support needed across the region.”

Serving local organizations

“We could not be happier about our new partnership with Thunder on the Lot,” said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris. “This is a great community event which raises funds to benefit disadvantaged children in the area. The funding makes a tremendous impact on hundreds of children’s lives—thus we invite everyone to come out and enjoy the festivities as it is all for an important cause.”

Thunder on the Lot over the years has made contributions to numerous local organizations, among them: Antelope Valley Christian School Scholarships, Antelope Valley Family YMCA, Antelope Valley Saddle-Up Therapeutic Riding, Boys & Girls Club of Antelope Valley, Grace Resource Center, Kaleidoscope Kids, Salvation Army-Kid’s Music Program, United Community Action Network and Valley Oasis Shelter.

“The funds from Kid’s Charities have been used to purchase playground equipment, medical and therapeutic services, dental care and so many resources that many kids (might) go without,” said Carol Crabson, executive director of Valley Oasis Shelter. “These gifts help make the transition from an abusive home to a safe shelter less traumatic by providing what we call ‘rays of sunshine’ into their lives.”

Sponsors this weekend include Benz Inc., Budweiser, Kinetic Brewing Co., Coach’s Sports Bar and Grill, Coors Light, KTPI-97.7, Allstate (Cullen Insurance Agencies), Rally Auto Group and Antelope Valley Transit Authority. Kids Charities committee members and volunteers also play a significant role each year in presenting Thunder on the Lot.

Ron Emard may say it best about the hundreds of persons involved in providing resources for the less fortunate: “If it weren’t for them, Thunder simply would not exist.”

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