Collector car enthusiast Bob Canney of Berwick, Maine, also known as Hot Rod Bob, wanted to help children in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire.  So, he organized a cruise-in at the Texas Roadhouse in Newington, N.H., this past summer, to benefit a local organization called The Birchtree Center.

The Birchtree Center is a not-for-profit organization that was founded in 2001-- its mission is to improve the quality of life for children and youth with autism and their families, through nurturing relationships, therapeutic programming and specialized education.  

Bob promoted his event that was held on August 12, 2009, and in spite of the gloomy weather, volunteers drove in from all over northern New England to display their prized vehicles.  Guests were able to get a close look at cars and trucks ranging from Fords of the 1930s, to Mustangs of the 1960s, to custom cars of today.

The Preston Wayne 4, a surf rock band, traveled all the way from Northampton, Mass., to provide live entertainment.  A fundraising raffle offered prizes donated by Advance Auto Parts, Bayside Distributing Company, Best Buy, Car-Tooner.com, Charlie Decker, Deuces Wild Web, Glass Etching by the Colonel, Grundy Worldwide, Pep Boys, Texas Roadhouse, and Water Country.

Several other businesses provided major donations in support of the event: Texas Roadhouse donated its facilities; Best Buy of Newington provided sound amplification; and, Atlantic Parking Services of Portsmouth offered valet service.  Artist Scott Fisk, of Car-Tooner.com, illustrated the event's poster, which was printed with help from Staples of Newington.

A raffle at the event raised more than $300.00 to benefit the Portsmouth-based nonprofit’s programs for children and youth with autism.

Hot Rod Bob says that as he spread the word about the fundraiser, he was surprised to learn how many people have family members affected by autism.  A study published in October 2009, by the American Academy of Pediatrics, suggests that one in 91 children in the U.S. has autism. 

“Everyone I contacted was eager to help these kids,” says Bob. 

One of the folks who Bob reached was Charlie Decker, “The One Arm Bandit.”

Charlie is an artist, based in Windsor, Conn., who does custom pin-striping on cars, motorcycles and musical instruments for customers across the U.S. and abroad; Charlie was born without his right hand and wears a prosthetic arm while he paints. He agreed to donate his services to benefit The Birchtree Center.

Chris Mahon and his colleagues in the music department at Best Buy in Newington, N.H. stepped up to donate a Les Paul electric guitar for “The One Arm Bandit” to pinstripe for a charity raffle to benefit Birchtree. 

Shane O’Neil, General Manager at the Texas Roadhouse restaurant in Newington, offered to sell the raffle tickets at his restaurant.  Raffle tickets are being sold now for $5 each; the drawing will occur at that Texas Roadhouse on Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 8:30 p.m.

“We are deeply grateful to the generous people and businesses who contributed their talent, time, and resources to this fundraiser,” says Christine Guarino, executive director at The Birchtree Center.  “Funds from this raffle will help The Birchtree Center provide sorely needed services to children and youth with autism in our community.”

Raffle tickets may be purchased at the Texas Roadhouse in Newington, N.H. or by contacting The Birchtree Center at 603-433-4192 or www.birchtreecenter.org. 

For more information about future cruise-in fundraisers, see www.deuceswildweb.com.

A Note from The Birchtree Center:

Why Doesn’t The Birchtree Center Refer to its Students as “Autistic”?

Our students are children or youth who are challenged by autism—but not defined by it. “Oh, he’s autistic!” is quite different than “Oh, that’s Charlie; he has autism.”

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The Birchtree Center operates a year-round special educational day program for students with autism aged 2-21 years at 33 Jewell Court in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  Its Outreach Program provides consultation, training, direct services and support for students, families, schools and community agencies throughout New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont.  Teams of experienced autism professionals help students develop the communication, social, behavioral, academic and life skills necessary for full and productive lives in their homes, families, local schools and communities. 

Story by: Becky McLaughlin, Newsletter Editor

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