Concurs d'Elegance Returns to Boca Raton - this years Event Starts on February 23rd
The 12th annual Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance presented by Mercedes-Benz and AutoNation on February 23-25, 2018 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club announces Tim Allen as the Gala comedian headline entertainer. The Concours will feature an unforgettable performance by Allen, an actor, comedian, author and avid car collector at the Grand Gala Dinner, Auction & Show. Allen starred in the long-running hit ABC series “Home Improvement” where he garnered a Golden Globe Award, an Emmy nomination, and was honored with the People’s Choice Award for “Favorite Male Performer in a Television Series” for eight years in a row. In 2011, he returned to television in the role of Mike Baxter in the hugely popular ABC series “Last Man Standing.” Allen’s film roles include portraying Buzz Lightyear in the “Toy Story” franchise and Scott Calvin/Santa Claus in “The Santa Clause” trilogy. His other films include starring roles in the box office hits “Wild Hogs,” “Galaxy Quest,” and “The Shaggy Dog.”
Tim Allen will also join Jay Leno, from the “Jay Leno’s Garage” TV Show as a Celebrity Judge. Jay will be presenting the “Big Dog Garage Award” to his favorite Automobile and Motorcycle during the Sunday, February 25th judging on the Show Field. Auto enthusiasts can view Marques of the Year, Lincoln-Mercury and a very special presentation by the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA), “Cars throughout the Decades of the past Century”. The Boca Raton Concours d’ Elegance is the world’s largest by a charity, the Boca Raton Concours fully benefits the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County.
Founded and directed by Rita & Rick Case of The Rick Case Automotive Group as volunteers who have annually continued their leadership and hands-on involvement over the last 12 years, along with Founding Chairman James E. McDonnell, IV and Honorary Chair Mike Jackson, the Boca Raton Concours is all to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County and the more than 12,500 at-risk youth it serves. “The entire Concours team is comprised of a group of over 300 volunteers who donate their time to the planning and execution of the event,” says Brian Quail, President/CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County. “In 2017, the event attracted thousands of attendees and to date has raised more than $10 million for our organization.”
“The Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance is setting trends,” said James E. McDonnell IV, Founding Chairman of the Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance. “Each year we raise the bar higher and set a goal to bring even more exciting elements to the event and raise money to support such a deserving cause.”
Friday, February 23: Kicks off the weekend of events with the duPont Registry™ Live Hangar Party at Atlantic Aviation at the Boca Raton Airport. Guests will experience gourmet tastings from more than 20 of South Florida’s finest restaurants and indulge in an array of fine wines and spirits as well as live entertainment. Guests can also peruse an impressive selection of exotic cars, motorcycles, extravagant boats, private jets, premier vendors and more.
Saturday, February 24: Features educational automotive seminars designed for the true automotive collector enthusiast. The Grand Gala Dinner, Auction & Show will follow, featuring a cocktail hour and silent auction, gourmet dinner and live auction, including one-of-a-kind trips and experience packages, luxury jewelry, and more. Guests will also enjoy the presentation of the Automotive Lifetime Achievement Award to Norman Braman, Founder and owner of Braman Motorcars, plus a stellar performance by one of the most respected and successful comedians in the country, Tim Allen.
Sunday, February 25: Features the Boca Raton Concours d’ Elegance automobile and motorcycle exhibition with Celebrity Judges, Jay Leno and Tim Allen, who will walk through the show field meeting automobile and motorcycle owners and event attendees as they search for their favorite automobile and motorcycle to present the Jay Leno Big Dog Garage Award and the Tim Allen Award. Guests from around the world will experience an automotive showcase like no other, featuring vehicles and motorcycles from an array of time periods. Celebrity Judges, Jay Leno and Tim Allen, will join an expert panel of judges including Chief Judge Dr. Paul Sable and Chief Honorary Judge Steve Moskowitz, Executive Director of AACA. Additionally, Grand Marshal, Wayne Carini, host of Chasing Classic Cars joins the group for another stellar year along with Master of Ceremonies Bill Rothermel and Tom duPont, who will select the finest vintage, antique, classic and exotic vehicles based on period, presentation and overall style. Also judging, David Schultz, Chairman of the 2017 Lincoln Motor Car Foundation. Once the show kicks off, guests are invited to walk through a series of vendor tents and enjoy a selection of gourmet food, wine and cocktails from more than 30 of South Florida’s finest restaurants at the Concours d’ Gourmet Pavilion.
There is an exclusive Brunch with Jay Leno and Tim Allen Sunday from 10:00 – 11:00AM, where guests can join Jay Leno and Tim Allen for an intimate brunch with a Q&A session. Donations for brunch of $1,000 go to The Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County.
For additional information on the 12th annual Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance and to view a full schedule of events, please visit www.bocaCDE.com. As the event evolves, the website will provide up-to-date guest information. All events are open to the public with tickets sold separately: Friday duPont Registry™ Live Hangar Party ($125/person); Saturday Grand Gala Dinner, Auction & Show ($500/person select seat and $1,000/per person premier seat; table options also available); and Sunday Automobile & Motorcycle Exhibition ($75/person general admission or $125/person early admission with Concours d’Gourmet access). To purchase tickets, please call (954) 537-1010 or visit www.bocaCDE.com.
“We’re so glad that an event that brings great cars together can also bring help to people in need,” said Concours Chairman Sandra Button. “Our thanks go out to all of the many people and the many partners who have helped us reach this level of giving.”
Concours proceeds have been directed to charity since the event began in 1950. At the start, program sales and an auction of the original poster art would raise $5,000 to $10,000. As the event grew, so has the charitable component. Annual Concours donations to charity surpassed the $100,000 mark in 1994, and the $500,000 mark in 2000—and for the past decade, they have often far exceeded $1 million.
“The Concours is a true testament to the teamwork between our generous donors, charitable leaders and members of our community,” said Perocchi. “Thanks to everyone’s efforts, we are able to distribute these critical funds today to local organizations that will help us reach our neighbors in need, which is an important step to battling many of the issues in our region.”
The event generates funds from many sources, both near and far, to help the local community. Generous Concours participants, including entrants and judges, regularly send in direct donations. Event partners such as BMW, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz, Rolex and Bulgari donate valuable goods for opportunity drawings, auctions and awards. Additionally, volunteers donate much time and effort to make the event a success.
That success translates directly into donations for Concours charities. Pebble Beach Company Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Pebble Beach Company, serves as the event’s primary charitable partner, directing funds to more than 80 local nonprofit educational programs and overseeing the Phil Hill Scholarships. Charitable partners benefiting directly from the Concours include Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County, Kinship Center, Montage Health Foundation, Natividad Medical Foundation, Animal Friends Rescue Project and United Way Monterey County. Additional charities volunteer time and effort in exchange for donations, while other nonprofits benefit from the use of Concours infrastructure, such as tents, to host fundraisers.
The 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance will take place on August 26, the fourth Sunday of the month rather than its usual third Sunday. For more information on the Concours and for tickets to the 2018 event, go to www.pebblebeachconcours.net.