Great Neck Plaza B.I.D. to donate Autofest fees to the Wounded Warrior Project

Joe Nikic

For the third year in a row the Great Neck Plaza Business Improvement District will be donating vehicle registration fees from the 31st annual Autofest and Street Festival to the Wounded Warrior Project.

“It is gratifying to be able to support such a worthy organization as Wounded Warriors for a third year,” said Jay Corn, Great Neck Plaza BID Vice President and Autofest Committee chairperson. “We look forward to welcoming back the thousands of visitors who attended last year and doing our part to contribute to the Wounded Warriors cause.”

The festival, which is produced by the BID, will take place on Sunday, Oct. 4 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Village of Great Neck Plaza business district.

In an effort to increase the funds raised for the Wounded Warriors, festival attendees who wish to participate in the Plaza Bucks raffle will be asked to make a contribution the Wounded Warriors.

The winner of the raffle will receive a $300 gift certificate for any Plaza store or restaurant, according to a release from the BID. Individuals who donate $15 or more to the Wounded Warriors will also receive a free special edition Wounded Warrior/AutoFest event hat, according to the release.

The festival, which is sponsored by the United Capital Corporation, will display more than 100 classic and special edition automobiles, including the feature showcase 1934 Rolls Royce Parkward Saloon and the one-of-a-kind 1926 Stutz “Speedster,” which was built for Cornelius and Grace Vanderbilt, according to the release.

Cars will line up on Middle Neck Road from Cutter Mill Road to Maple Drive. Carnival style rides will be on Grace Avenue and Bond Street and the petting zoo and pony rides will be North Station Plaza.

“Every year, we support the BID’s AutoFest because it is a unique way for us to give back to our community,” said Michael Lamoretti, president of United Capital Corporation and a BID board member said. “It is great to see members of the Great Neck community and people from the entire metropolitan area come together to enjoy the day.”

Live entertainment will be provided by folk band Gathering Time, hit music cover band the Meade Brothers, the Banjo Rascals, and Great Neck Plaza’s Katya School of Dance, according to the Village of Great Neck Plaza website.

The day-long event is expected to draw a crowd of tens of thousands and will feature rock climbing walls, a petting zoo, carnival games, and inflatable bouncers, according to the release.

“We continue to host this festival because of the opportunities it presents for our local businesses and the community spirit it engenders,” Corn said.

The Great Neck Plaza BID’s mission is to foster and promote a positive and vital business community through various initiatives including consumer awareness programs, media/advertising campaigns and sponsorship of events including the annual Great Neck Plaza AutoFest and Street Festival.

Formed in 2003, the Wounded Warrior Project is a national organization that serves veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness or wound during the course of their military service on or after Sept. 11, 2001, according to its website.

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