Update: Riverhead High School’s car show postponed to Sunday due to weather forecast

Riverhead High School will host its first-ever car show fundraiser Sunday, with hopes of creating a new tradition for the school.

The car show will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 1 at the high school’s parking lot. It costs $5 to preregister and $10 to register on the day of the event; all proceeds go towards the Riverhead High School Unified Sports program. A food truck will also be at the event, with sales supporting the Riverhead Football Booster Club.

The event was organized by high school senior Daniel Carty, of Flanders, who brought the idea to administrators as an alternative to the school’s more traditional fundraisers.

“It was getting close to the end of the year, and with testing and everything going on, I wanted to do something for the school,” Carty said in an interview. 

Carty, 17, grew up attending car shows, but this is his first time organizing one. “I’ve barely set up a birthday party, let alone a car show,” he said.

“I know a lot of people who have some decently nice cars at the school are going to be there. I know a lot of teachers are also coming as well,” Carty said.

Carty posted the event on Facebook, expecting to draw a few extra people. To his surprise, roughly 190 users on the social media site have marked that they are interested in going to the event.

“All these people coming to support the school and support what I’ve been trying to do — it feels really good,” he said.

Proceeds from the car show will benefit Riverhead High School Unified Sports. Unified Sports is a program of the Special Olympics in which people with and without intellectual disabilities compete together on sports teams. The program promotes social inclusion, as young people with disabilities often don’t play on their school’s sports teams, according to the Special Olympics.

“I was extremely honored that he would think of our students in that capacity,” Unified Sports coach Jill Tapper said of Carty.

Tapper said the car show has “created interest in a whole other group of students here at our school” beyond its athletics and arts programs. 

“So I truly believe Riverhead is ensuring that all of our students are being represented across the board,” Tapper added.

Riverhead High School Principal Sean O’Hara said the administration is “incredibly proud of Daniel’s efforts in organizing the 1st Annual Riverhead High School Car Show. From logistics to promotion, he has thoughtfully considered every detail.” 

“We’re equally proud that all proceeds from the event will support our Unified Sports Team,” he added. “This event truly reflects the spirit of Riverhead High School, and we look forward to what promises to be a fantastic new tradition.”

Editor’s note: This article has been amended to reflect a schedule change. The event was originally scheduled to take place Saturday but has been rescheduled to Sunday due to Saturday’s inclement weather forecast.