OK, it’s not Planes, Trains and Automobiles, but it’s pretty close!  You might be thinking from the title that the Parade staff is planning something special and you would be right!

Are you ready for a “new” kind of Welcome Party at the Parade this year?  What about combining our annual get together with a fundraiser benefiting Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois; which will feature a grand prize drawing for a brand new 2011 Cayenne S! This is the first Parade fundraiser of its kind-- one benefitting a major non-profit hospital dedicated to saving children’s’ lives.

That’s right, this family themed event will award one lucky winner with a 2011 Cayenne S… do we have your attention yet?
The Pirelli Welcome Party at the 2010 Porsche Parade will come in a brand new format. PCA members will be joined by Hope Children’s Hospital donors and leadership and both Porsche AG and Porsche Cars North America will be showcasing their products alongside Pirelli.  We are making a big investment to ensure everyone will be impressed throughout the evening—and we’re certain it will pay off!

The Pirelli Welcome Party will be held in an airplane hangar at DuPage County Airport’s brand new Flight Center adjacent to the headquarters hotel.  Be sure to sign up to attend this banquet so that after you get settled in at the hotel, you can come over and join us. On display at the airport will be old warbirds, vintage Porsche cars and new Porsche products.  Live and silent auctions benefiting Hope Children’s Hospital will add to the ambiance of this unprecedented event.

The menu for the evening will feature local specialties that are rich in Chicago tradition, including deep dish “Chicago Style” pizza, hot dogs (with all the traditional “Chicago” trimmings), Italian beef sandwiches, barbecued ribs and cheesecake.  Local wineries and microbreweries will provide seasonal beverages.  If you skipped the Welcome Party on your meals list, you might want to go ahead and add this one back in. This will be one of the best Welcome Party meals ever!

Now—more about that exciting raffle! Tickets cost $150 each and all proceeds will benefit Hope Children’s Hospital.  Hope is a specialty hospital staffed by over 175 pediatricians representing 30 specialties and subspecialties.  Since opening in 1996, Hope has been committed to providing not only highly skilled medical expertise, but also quality care that is private, child-friendly, family-focused and compassionate.  The drawing will be held at approximately 9 p.m. at the Pirelli Welcome Party. 

To deepen our partnership, Hope Children’s Hospital will host a Chicago Region Show and Shine event prior to the Parade on June 13 and will participate in PCNA’s Porsche Sport Drive Event the day before the Parade begins.  For more details on these events, or Hope Children’s Hospital, please visit.

There is still time to register for the Parade, this event is just one more excuse to help you find the time to explore the Porsche Club of America’s premiere event of the year. This will be a family themed event, including your family —and the Porsche family, too!

Contributed by Cole Scrogham