Community and Charity Come Together at EU Car Show

Anthony Giuliano stands alongside his car and others at the ATO/Union Board Car Show on April 25. (Hubert Piskorz)

On April 25, Elmhurst University’s Mill Theatre parking lot became more than just a place for students to park. It turned into a gathering spot for car enthusiasts, students, and community members as fraternity Alpha Tau Omega (ATO), alongside Union Board, hosted its annual car show, bringing together classic cars, student involvement, and a charitable cause.

The event, which has become a recurring tradition, gave students and local car owners the chance to show off their vehicles while also supporting breast cancer. Although the car show itself has been held for several years, this year’s version added a new aspect: a drive-in movie experience. Organizers planned to set up a movie screen and show the ‘70s classic “Grease,” allowing students to pull in their cars and enjoy the event in a way that connected naturally with the retro car show theme.

According to Olivia Simmons, a member of Union Board’s executive board, the car show has been around for more than five years. This time the event took six months to plan. The goal was not only to continue a campus tradition, but to make it feel fresh for students. Simmons then explained that while the event has been passed down, each year finds different ways to make it new.

That change helped separate this year’s event from past car shows. Instead of only being a display of vehicles, the drive-in movie added another reason for students to stay, socialize, and take part in the campus atmosphere.

The event also included a competitive side; cars were judged for awards. Organizers said 50% of the donations would go towards breast cancer, while the other 50% would be awarded to the winner of the car competition.

That charity component gave the event a large purpose beyond a campus event. While the car show brought people together through a shared interest in vehicles, the donation structure connected the event to a cause that affects many families and communities.

For Anthony Giuliano, president of ATO, the show is something that has grown through tradition and student involvement.

“We keep trying to change it a little bit,” Giuliano said. “It is the first year doing the drive-in, so we’ll see how that works. Maybe we keep that, or maybe we think of something else next year, but it’s going to be staying for a while.”

The turnout included both students and car owners from the surrounding area. While organizers were happy to see people attending, they also hoped the event would continue to grow in the future years.

“We’re hoping for some more,” Giuliano said. “There’s a good number of students [and] a good amount of cars. We’d like it to be a little bit bigger. We want to fill up this whole parking lot if we can.”

Part of the event’s growth came from personal connections. Anthony described himself as a “big car guy” and pointed out his own white 25th Anniversary Heritage Edition mid-‘80s Camaro at the event. With his connections to local car people, he helped spread the word and encourage more people from the area to show up.

“I have connections with a lot of car people in the area,” Giuliano said. “I just put it out there and tried to get people to show up.”

That connection between campus and the surrounding community could become an important part of the event’s future. While many campus events are mainly attended by students, a car show has the ability to attract people from outside EU. Local car owners, alumni families, and community members can all take part, making it a possible bridge between the university and the border Elmhurst area.

“Next year would be fun to reach the community and even encourage students to bring more of their cars in and show them off,” Simmons said. “I think that would help with a bigger turnout.”

As EU continues to host student-led events, the April 25 car show showed how campus traditions can evolve. With more community outreach, stronger student participation, and continued fundraising, organizers hope the car show will keep growing in future years.

For now, the event remains a student-driven tradition with room to expand. What started as a parking lot full of cars became something bigger: a night of connection, charity, and campus pride.