EuroSunday's Rally4Kids Helps Make Christmas a Reality for Hospitalized Children

EuroSunday held their 14th annual Rally4Kids event Sunday, Dec. 6 outside Shriners Hospital for Children — Northern California. Car clubs from communities around the greater Sacramento region were represented by hundreds of vintage, exotic and rare cars whose owners donated roughly 4,500 toys to patients for the holidays this year.

Patients, who will open the wrapped toys on Christmas morning, watched in amazement from hospital windows on the second floor as show cars rolled by. The event is a prime example of the power of local community support making a positive difference during the pandemic.

“It is our annual kick-off to the holiday season and something we look forward to every year,” said Director of Development Alan Anderson. “The toys they deliver bring Christmas day smiles and make birthday wishes come true all year long.”

Over the past 14 years, Rally4Kids has evolved into a destination event for car clubs and show car owners throughout the region. The event regularly brings in upwards of 4,000 toys that are not only used to help make Christmas a reality for children at the hospital, but also help replenish the inventory for a hospital that sees over 30,000 outpatient visits each year. Toys, games and other items are a big part of the “Northern California Shriners Hospital Patient Experience” year-round, and EuroSunday plays an instrumental role in making it possible. In addition to this generous benevolence of fun, the non-traditional fundraising event has raised nearly $100,000 for Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California since 2007.

“We created the Rally4Kids as an opportunity to share our love of cars with children and do something good for them at the same time,” said EuroSunday representative Mike Ritenour. “Volunteering and doing things for others, especially those in need, feels good, and experiencing those feelings with your friends and family is exciting and rewarding.”

Since their humble beginnings in the Sacramento area in 2006, EuroSunday has been hosting informal monthly Cars & Coffee events across the country. In addition to monthly events, they have various events featuring fun and exciting car culture activities. Rally4Kids is their premiere annual event and benefits Shriners Hospitals for Children — Northern California.

This year’s event called for modification – less interaction and some added safety protocols – but there was no shortage of revving and donating toys to bring children holiday cheer.