There was a certain sense of sadness in Gary Maddocks’ voice last Thursday night as he presided over the Johnston Street Machines Cruisin’ for a Cause season finale.
There was nothing wrong, except that Maddocks and his all-volunteer non-profit organization have so much fun during the three-hour classic car cruises every Thursday evening.
“We don’t like darkness coming early and closing out the season,” he said.
Perhaps the biggest reason why Maddocks and company didn’t want the season to end was, as he related, “We hope to see you all again next year on Thursdays in May 2019 as we continue our mission of helping various charities as well as the countless number of needy people those groups help.”
The 2018 Cruisin’ for a Cause nights began in May and continued through last Thursday night in the parking lot of Denny’s All-American Restaurant located in the Johnston Towne Centre off Hartford Avenue. The organization raised amounts of $800, $1200 and $1500 for important non-profits such as Meeting Street School, Make a Wish and Friends of Homeless Animals of RI, despite having a number of eight cruises cancelled because of inclement weather.
Even though it was rather chilly last Thursday night, the JSM presented 15 trophies donated by Steve Nelson of Johnston-based Nelson’s Oil Company.
Maddocks thanked each and every person who helped make the JSM’s 2018 season a success.
“Special thanks to Steve [Nelson] for his ongoing generosity,” Maddocks said. “Also, here’s another huge thank you to Richard George, a.k.a. DJ the Car Guy, who has been our music man since the start four years ago. He’s simply the best.”
Maddocks also thanked Tina Marie Brodeur, who volunteered throughout the season to sell the popular 50/50 raffle tickets that the JSM President said “really helped hike the total of each night’s cruise that meant additional funds for the month’s benefitting charity.”
“Moreover, we have to thank local residents and businesses like Kyle Polce, Advanced Auto Parts, Tomato city, Atwood car “Wash and so many more for their donations this season,” said Maddocks.
Two large groups – the Goodfellas Motorcycle Club and Screaming Eagles group headed by the “Rhode Captain” Emilio “Emo” Sabitoni – were also cited for bringing large groups of their members to a majority of the weekly cruises that also helped hike each month’s donation to the respective charities.
A former Deputy Chief with the Johnston Police Department who is Chief of Security at the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Center, Maddocks wasn’t about to close out the season before thanking Denny’s for serving as the official host or Peter Lombardi who checked in the cars and motorcycles each week.
Maddocks said, “Our Johnston Street Machines TEAM, Gina Sabitoni-Arakelian and Anthony Ferrante, as well as myself, love hosting the weekly cruises and spreading our goodwill to the supportive spectators and of course, out benefiting charities.” Cutlines for submitted photos
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