February 3, 2017 | BY Justin Saunders
HYANNIS –At a kickoff event for this year’s Seaside Le Mans race, five local non-profit organizations were announced as beneficiaries.
The event was held on Thursday night at Barnstable Airport and named Cape Cod Healthcare, the Lower Cape Outreach Council, Cape Cod and Islands Major Crisis Relief Fund, Special Olympics Massachusetts and Mass Audubon Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary as the beneficiaries.
The annual fundraiser hosted by the Davenport Companies will be held on September 9 at Mashpee Commons.
“We have to fund all of our programs every year, and so, having the extra income and then the match, really allows us to expand our programming,” said Angela Cenzalli, Cape and Islands Coordinator for Special Olympics Massachusetts.
Over the past 16 years, the event has raised more than $5.5 million through sponsorships and matching funds.
The event is expected to raise over $600,000 for the beneficiaries.
Judy Walden Scarafile with the Cape and Islands Major Crisis Relief Fund, said that she was honored that her organization was named a beneficiary to this year’s race.
“When you are a beneficiary, when you are named to be a recipient of getting some of the funding from this phenomenal event, it really makes the community stand up and take notice, and it makes people realize how much faith there is in your program,” said Scarafile.
The event, which is presented and underwritten by The Davenport Companies, features teams of sponsors driving Formula One karts during a four-hour endurance race on an outdoor track to determine the winner.
The race is free to spectators and also features entertainment and children’s activities.
For more information about this year’s race, go to www.seasidelemans.org.