A youth-led charity car rally benefiting Hasbro Children’s Hospital sets off from Newport today, the inaugural edition of an event organized by a local high school senior.
Jack Masse, a senior at Providence Country Day School in East Providence and a longtime volunteer at the Audrain Automobile Museum, created The Rhode Rally as his senior project in partnership with the Newport museum. The event takes place Saturday, May 23, with a collection of enthusiast vehicles traveling from Newport to the historic Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline, Massachusetts, and back.
Masse said his nearly three years volunteering at the Audrain inspired the idea.
“What started as a senior project became an opportunity to combine my love of cars with giving back to the community,” Masse said. “The goal is to create an incredible experience while helping children and families across Rhode Island.”
Participants begin the day with breakfast at Audrain’s Clubhouse in Newport before departing at 8:30 a.m. for Brookline. Drivers will receive a private tour of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum’s “Postcars: Icons of the Road and the Wall” exhibit before returning to Newport for lunch and a private tour of the Audrain Automobile Museum’s current “British at Its Best” exhibit.
One hundred percent of all funds raised through registrations and donations goes directly to Hasbro Children’s Hospital. As of Friday evening, nearly $6,000 had been raised, with 20 vehicles registered for the inaugural rally. Organizers say community members can still donate, sponsor the event or participate.
The event is being guided with support from Ben Chester, head of operations at the Audrain Automobile Museum, who is serving as Masse’s project sponsor and mentor.
“For the last eight years, I have been deeply involved with a wide scope of events we have hosted through the Audrain Automobile Museum,” Chester said. “As an extension of our growing internship program, I am thrilled to help guide Jack toward his goals of running a world-class event.”
Registration is $200 per vehicle and includes breakfast, lunch, event T-shirts, rally materials, museum access and participation in the full driving experience. Sponsors supporting the event include Edge Realty, AHEAD, Quality Fruitland, Resmini Injury Lawyers, Round Hill Ranch and Autohaus.
More information, registration, donation and sponsorship opportunities are available at the Rhode Rally’s official website.
