Cruizin’ for a Cause isn’t staying idle

It’s a non-profit that’s dear to Johnston Street Machine Treasurer Gina Sabitoni-Arakelian’s heart.

It’s a non-profit that her father – veteran Johnston Police Sergeant Emilio “Emo” Sabitoni – with the help of many family friends – has raised thousands of dollars for through the years.

It’s a non-profit that will again benefit from the efforts of George Arakelian of A Custom Car Stereo fame and Gina’s husband and DJ The Car Guy Richard George – during a Sunday, July 30 event entitled Hot Wheels that will be held inside Johnston War Memorial Park.

However, the important and heart-warming non-profit known as Meeting Street School was the beneficiary of yet another Johnston based event, Cruizin’ for a Cause, that’s held Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. through September, which last Thursday night made another special presentation in form of a $1,385 check.

With JSM President Gary Maddocks looking on, Sabitoni-Arakelian – the former Mrs. Rhode Island Italia – presented the much-appreciated gift to Meeting Street School staffers Sharon Allsworth and Jessica Brodeur who enjoyed the special evening as much as they did selecting winners for 19 trophies donated by Steve Nelson, who owns and operates Nelson Oil of Johnston, and who will give the JSM all their awards during the 2017 season.

“Thanks to all our cruise members for their donations,” said Maddocks. “Because of their generosity we are able to raise this money for our children at Meeting Street School and keep our little gems education and support in our community. The Johnston Street Machines is proud to help Meeting Street School, one of this state’s most treasured assets.”

However, as Allsworth and Brodeur would later say, “Every donation is special – and important – to Meeting Street School,” where children of all abilities thrive through individualized attention … from infancy to young adults at a top-notch state of the art school that’s located at 1000 Eddy St. in Providence.

Last Thursday evening’s presentation was the second in as many months that is on the JSM’s list of non-profits for its 5-month 2017 season.

After a month filled with rain, the JSM came up with what Maddocks called “a miraculous donation” for its May charity, FARA (Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance) in honor of Matt DiIorio, 37, a recent electee to the Johnston High School Hall of Fame who has been battle debilitating, life-shortening degenerative neuromuscular disorder Friedreich’s Ataxia since he was 19.

It was near the 8 p.m. closing time and Maddocks kept thinking to himself “there’s no way we’re going to hit $1,000 this month.”

Three rainouts were responsible for the small total collected until that night. Suddenly, JSM co-founding father Anthony Ferrante, who owns and operates Anthony’s Auto Body in Johnston, told Maddocks he was donating over $400 to make up the difference so the non-profit could have $1,000 for DiIorio’s favorite charity.

“Everyone was in tears of joy,” Maddocks said. “Anthony is just incredible; last year he did the same thing to help boost our donation to the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Foundation.”

Cruizin for a Cause continues tonight – weather permitting – and the JSM hopes to raise another tidy sum of money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The event is held at the Denny’s parking lot on Hartford Avenue from 5 to 8 p.m. and admission is free for spectators.

There’s only a $5 charge for classic car owners and people who show their motorcycles, and some lucky person always takes home some extra cash by way of the night’s always-lucrative 50-50 raffle.