The Scarsdale Concours d’Elegance is, by any measure, one of the Northeast’s finest classic car events. But for board member Alex Forschner – entrepreneur, community leader, and lifelong Scarsdale car enthusiast – the show’s greatest achievement has nothing to do with horsepower or chrome.
It’s the more than $930,000 raised for charity since the event’s founding in 2003.
The Scarsdale Concours is a charitable fundraiser at its core. Every dollar generated through sponsorships, participant donations, and voluntary admission contributions goes directly to organizations making a real difference in people’s lives.
Past and current beneficiaries include:
“We take the charitable mission seriously,” says Alex Forschner. “It’s not an afterthought – it’s the reason we do this. The cars are what draw people in, but the cause is what gives the event its soul.”
What makes the Scarsdale Concours story especially compelling is where it began. In 2003, two high school sophomores – Evan M. Cygler and Dennis O’Leary III – founded the event out of a genuine desire to combine their love of cars with a commitment to giving back. They were 15 years old.
Over two decades later, the tradition they started continues to be carried forward by student board members, mentored by accomplished community leaders like Forschner. It’s a model of civic engagement that few events of any kind can claim.
“The fact that this started with high school students and has sustained itself for more than 20 years says everything,” Forschner reflects. “It shows what’s possible when passion and purpose align.”
There are several ways to contribute to the Scarsdale Concours and its charitable partners:
Attend the show. Admission is by voluntary donation. Even a small contribution adds up across thousands of attendees.
Sponsor the event. Corporate and individual sponsorships are available at multiple levels and provide meaningful visibility to an engaged, affluent audience of car enthusiasts and community leaders.
Register your vehicle. If you own a classic, vintage, or exotic automobile, consider entering it in the show. Participant donations are a key funding source for the event’s charitable giving.
Spread the word. Sharing the event with fellow enthusiasts helps grow attendance and, ultimately, the impact the Concours can have for the organizations it supports.
For Alex Forschner, the invitation is simple: “Come see extraordinary cars, spend a beautiful fall Sunday in Scarsdale, and know that your presence is making a difference. There aren’t many days where you can say all three of those things.”
The Scarsdale Concours d’Elegance takes place annually each fall in Scarsdale Village, New York.
Learn more and get involved at scarsdaleconcours.org
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