"Piney Woods Pilgrimage" - Silvestre Charity Rally Dec. 2nd

[HBoom]

Sorry for the last minute announcement on NAM re: Houston MINI Motoring Society (HMMS) has agreed to sponsor a Charity - Benefit driving event tomorrow (Sunday Dec 2nd) to help offset some of the funeral and medical costs for the Silvestre family whose 2 year old daughter was killed and her mother seriously injured when struck by a drunk driver while crossing the street a couple of weeks ago.

The family works with one of our newest member's father and the Silvestre family could really use a helping hand - especially heading into the holidays.

The donation per vehicle has been established @ $20 per car. Donations are welcome (if you can't make the event).

We will meet in the Kroger Center at the intersection of FM 1488 and Honea-Egypt Rd (FM 2978) tomorrow morning (Sunday Dec. 2nd) at 9:30 am and depart promptly at 10:00 am. Navigators are welcome but you don't need one to have fun...

The event is planned to take place in the "Piney Woods" north of the Woodlands. The route will be about 128 miles and should take approximately 3 hours (including a "pit-stop" along the way) and will end @ "The Pizza Shack" in Montgomery for lunch. I'll guess we should be finished with lunch around 2:00-2:30.

Thank you all for the generous donations made during our HMMS December meeting today - so far we have $150.00 collected. Way to go HMMS ~

Hoping the weather will cooperate for tomorrow (Sun. Dec. 2nd) and we will have a great turn-out. The driving event WILL be held regardless: Rain -or- Shine.

Please remember: Donations can still be made for those who are unable to make the driving event - but would still like to contribute. Please make your checks payable to "HMMS" and mail them to the following address:

Houston MINI Motoring Society
c/o Robert Swank
9219 Katy Freeway #297
Houston TX 77024

Receipts will be made available for all donations (if desired). And, of course, we are always glad to accept "cash" onsite.

At the conclusion of the event, all income received will be deposited into the HMMS bank accoount and a single check from HMMS will be presented to the beneficiaries from HMMS at a time TBD (in the near future).

Thanks for your participation, donations and doing something to help others not as fortunate. We take too many things for granted - this is a small thing we can do for these folks, I'm sure it will greatly be appreciated by everyone.

Thanks again for your support and participation.

Sincerely,

Andy Hogoboom
Houston MINI Motoring Society - President

[HBoom]

Thanks to everyone who made their way up north of Houston to enjoy the "Piney Woods Pilgrimage - Silvestre Charity Rally". We had a nice drive - enjoyed some new roads, took some fun pictures and enjoyed a great lunch. We also raised another $120 - bringing our total to $270.

I'm hoping we can still raise a little bit more via mail-in donations - Let's see if we can raise a little more money (at least break $300) and keep those donations coming via mail until next Friday, Dec. 7th when we will call the event closed.

For those who would still like to contribute. Please make your checks payable to "HMMS" and mail them to the following address:

Houston MINI Motoring Society
c/o Robert Swank
9219 Katy Freeway #297
Houston TX 77024

We are working on the coordination to present the proceeds to the beneficiaries as soon as possible to help with the holiday season.

Thanks again to everyone for your participation, donations and doing something to help others not as fortunate.

Sincerely,
Andy Hogoboom "HBoom"
Houston MINI Motoring Society

[HBoom]

Here's a sampling of some of the photos taken today during the drive - I think we may have the makings of a potential article / picture(s) for MC2 magazine and to help put HMMS "on the map".

Looking forward to seeing the pictures from all the photographers today so we can pick from them all. Thanks to Harlen for contributing these: