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Emily Bridges, Atlanta marketing director with Choate Construction Company, stopped by Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio’s Around Atlanta edition to talk about Cars & ‘Q for the Cause, an event benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Cars & ‘Q, now in its sixth year, is an annual event held by the commercial general contractor that raises funds to support the CF Foundation’s research to find a cure for cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening disease that affects an estimated 30,000 children and adults in the United States and 70,000 worldwide.
Originally, explains Bridges, the event was held as a bingo tournament until they decided to raise funds with two of everyone’s favorite things: hot BBQ and even hotter cars. Since then, the dedicated volunteers and supporters have grown the event to see more than 70 cars and 400-plus car-loving patrons.
This year, Jim ‘N Nick’s will be cooking up the ‘Q and Red Hare Brewery will provide the brew for the event, which is being held Saturday, May 30 from 4 until 7 p.m. at Choate Construction Company, which is located at 8200 Roberts Drive in Atlanta. There will be plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy, including live music and a car contest to determine the “People’s Choice” and “Sponsor’s Choice” awards. Patrons will have the opportunity to eat, drink and mingle as they walk around and view a variety of cars, from the senior classics of the 1920s and 1930s to the hot rods of the muscle car era, all the way to the new exotic cars which are the future classics. Special cars, including winners at Pebble Beach and a custom-built 1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom 1, will also be on display.
The event has been held since 2009, but the cause itself has been supported by Choate Construction since its founding in 1989, when company president Millard Choate’s family friend, Leann, was diagnosed with CF at the age of three. Coincidentally, Leann’s family is also close with Bridges, so the mission of ending CF is one that really hits close to home for the 25-year-old company. The year 1989 is also significant, as that was the year the CF Foundation actually identified the underlying gene that causes the disease. Since then, the foundation has made incredibly rapid breakthrough in its research and medical efforts.
Because CF doesn’t affect as many individuals as other deadly diseases, it doesn’t receive a great deal of government funding, so it is really up to private supporters to fund these necessary research efforts. Choate is convinced its efforts make a huge difference and that it will eventually help find a cure. And Choate is right – Leann is now 29 years old, and Choate hopes its efforts will help to continue her life and the lives of so many others affected by this disease.
For more information about Choate Construction Company visit their Facebook page and website, www.choateco.com. More information about cystic fibrosis and how you can help can be found at www.cff.org.
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