Ferrari revs up for Ronald McDonald House

Ferraris, Maseratis and Lamborghinis lined the parking lot of the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park as a special edition 50th anniversary Ferrari stopped by for an event to raise money for the local charity.

The Ferrari’s appearance, organized by the Ferrari Club of New York’s Long Island chapter, is part of the speed-demon’s continuing journey around North America. The Ronald McDonald House is the Ferarri Club of America’s designated charity for the trip. Each regional club has held fundraisers for their nearest House.

“You have people here who have disposable incomes, so if you’re going to do something with it, do it right,” said Alfredo DiScipio of Woodsburgh, president of the Long Island Ferrari chapter. “The Ronald McDonald House is a great organization to raise money for and we can have a nice day with them.”

Roland Veit, Ferrari Club of America’s Empire State Regional Director, had the opportunity to drive the special edition Ferrari throughout New York and has helped with the House fundraiser.

“Ferrari owners are blessed and this fundraiser is the kind of thing that makes everything worth it,” said Veit.

After the free event at the Ronald McDonald House, club members, House volunteers and guests attended a fundraiser at the Ferrari Maserati of Long Island dealership in Plainview. The dealership owners donated the space, catering and casino games for the event so that all of the proceeds could go to the Ronald McDonald House.

“This has been a partnership in every sense of the word and the Ferrari Club has really gone all out,” said Matthew Campo, Executive Director of the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island. Tickets for the event were $75 for club members and $100 for non-club members. The event also raised money through a silent auction of sports and Ferrari paraphernalia.

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“You think people of a certain background don’t understand,” Ines Martin said of Ferrari club members. Martin is staying at the house as her 3-year-old daughter Jacquline is being treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma at Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York in New Hyde Park. “But they are wonderful and have taken a miraculous amount of time and money to help us.”