The Hospital for Sick Children

Toronto, ON – (June 2011) An extinct Lamborghini Diablo VT 6.0 is parked behind a canary yellow ’76 Pontiac Trans Am. A pristine 2005 Superamerica Ferrari rolls through an abundance of exotic cars that line the walkways of Eagles Nest Golf Course. Even the original getup from the 1982 television series Knight Rider is parked amidst a sea of cars, their perfectly tuned bodies glistening in the Sunday sun.

Yet despite all the eye candy, these drivers aren’t showing off their hot wheels for nothing. They’ve gathered in support of Prestige Gears – the first (of what will be many) charity car show initiated by the Giuseppe Ruscica Endowment Fund.

Hosted by the Ruscica family, Prestige Gears benefits the SickKids Foundation and commemorates their late grandfather Joe – a man they described as having more drive than anyone they’d ever met.

After Joe’s passing, the Ruscica family turned to their memories of a selfless man and decided funeral donations should be made in his honour to a charity he’d supported for years. The amount that was raised heralded such an overwhelming response that it exceeded the first installment in the endowment fund.

Joe’s love of luxury cars – he had “a few” Ferraris parked in the garage – combined with the feel-good vibe he’s remembered for, seemed like a flawless fit for Prestige Gears. The event brought together unique and classic muscle cars to raise money for the Patient Amenities Fund, a program funded entirely by donor support. Once more, the Ruscica family and the SickKids Foundation were overcome by the community response. The Patient Amenities Fund provides aid to disadvantaged families who cannot meet the costs of medical care for their sick children.


What was originally anticipated to accommodate 15 to 20 cars on a quiet Sunday afternoon accelerated to great heights with a sold-out event.



Support the SickKids Foundation by visiting www.sickkidsfoundation.com