BY TERESA ACKERMAN
Gazette Newspapers
MENTOR – D&S Automotive Collision and Restyling held its 13th annual cruise-in car show on Saturday, July 25, to raise funds for University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital.
Hundreds of people attended this event to take a look at over 250 cars on display in this car show.
CJ Paterniti, president and owner of D&S Automotive Collision and Restyling and Defender Auto Glass, said he started the car show for a cause 13 years ago after his wife had their twin daughters.
“My twins just turned 13 this year; my wife gave birth at Lake West (Medical Center) before it was UH,” Paterniti said. “At two in the morning, they decided to transfer one of the twins to Rainbow. She did not have any surfactant in her lungs and was in an incubator.”
He went on to say that what he saw there broke his heart.
“I went with her down to Rainbow while my wife stayed with the other twin,” he said. “She was in NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) for five to seven days. I walked around NICU and asked the nurse why there were so many babies that were alone. I will never forget it. You did see nurses and caregivers reading to the babies and taking care of them. She said that, unfortunately, there are families that can only afford to send their children, and the families could not come.”
Paterniti said he told his father they should have a car show; match all the money they raised and donate the money back to the hospital.
“That is how this all started,” an emotional Paterniti said. “Thirteen years ago. It is nice to see what my father instilled in me. When UH bought Lake Hospital Systems they updated the NICU at TriPoint and when they updated the nurse’s station, they gave us a plaque, where it is displayed.”
Paterniti said the turnout for the car show is great and thanks his staff for helping clean up and move all the cars. He also thanks his friends that have supported this at a sponsorship level.
“I want to give a big thank you to Amy Marsh, marketing manager for D&S and Defender Auto Glass, for organizing this event. Amy handles everything for me,” said Paterniti.
“I have been here for eight years. I took this over six years ago. I have a phenomenal team of volunteers,” Marsh said. “They give up their time because they know this is a good cause. Over $227,000 has been raised in the past 12 years.”
Paterniti said he appreciates all the support that this event has received from the community.
