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HomeCar CultureToronto car community raises over $57,000 for immunocompromised children

Toronto car community raises over $57,000 for immunocompromised children

One photographers mission to turn photo shoots into fun for sick kids

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The automotive community is full of some of the most passionate and generous people in the world. Many of these ardent gearheads have a drive for doing good in their communities and are always open for opportunities to do so. One of them, Lucas Scarfone, had the idea to use his skills and his network of exotic car collectors to benefit children battling critical illnesses. 

Scarfone, a talented automotive photographer and co-publisher of Autostrada Magazine, has been shooting collector and exotic cars professionally for over 15 years. In early April, he reached out to his network of collectors, advertising charity driveway portraits with 100-percent of the proceeds going to the Starlight Children’s Foundation’s Play From Home Initiative.

A pair of Ferrari F40s photographed Lucas Scarfone
A pair of Ferrari F40s | photo by Lucas Scarfone

The Play from Home initiative sends care packages to immunocompromised children quarantined at home. Each package costs $100 and includes board games, crafts, and other interactive activities to bring joy through this difficult time.

For a minimum donation of $100 per vehicle, Scarfone would drive to your home and take professional portraits of a single car or collection.

A 1987 Porsche 959 photographed by Lucas Scarfone
A 1987 Porsche 959

“Within a week I had a spreadsheet of 100 people that signed up for me to shoot their cars” he said. “It works great because I don’t have to come in close contact with anyone when I do these shoots, and many of the car owners are looking for ways to help out with a worthy cause.”

Since April, Scarfone has shot over 203 cars from 75 owners, including dozens of Ferraris, a Porsche 959, and even a 59-foot Azimut S6 yacht. So far, the driveway portraits have successfully raised over $57,000, and there are no signs of the effort stopping.

Scarfone and his Autostrada co-publisher, Sean Patrick, are no strangers to giving back. Both dedicate time throughout the year to help organize and run charitable events for the Starlight Foundation, like their annual Christmas Toy Drive, Garage Tours for kids, and the Drive 4 Smiles event where seriously ill children are given the opportunity to ride in supercars on a racetrack in a safe and controlled environment.

1965 Shelby GT350 photographed by Lucas Scarfone
1965 Shelby GT350

“The car community in Ontario is a group of incredibly generous people.” Scarfone said. “We were fortunate enough to meet many of the same kids we are raising money for now though the Drive 4 Smiles event last year. It’s really special when you can put a kid that doesn’t have too much to smile about in a supercar like a Ferrari 488 Pista and take them around the track to give them a moment of genuine excitement and happiness.”

The Starlight Children’s foundation is a nonprofit organization founded with the mission of delivering happiness to ill children. Partnering with over 800 hospitals around the world, Starlight Children’s foundation has brought smiles to over 16 million hospitalized children through dozens of programs.

Click here to learn more about the Starlight Children’s foundation and their initiatives.

If you would like to follow Scarfone and his charity driveway portraits, you can follow him on Instagram here: @scarfonephoto .

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Matthew Ferguson
Matthew Ferguson
Matt Ferguson grew up on a small farm working on Chevy small blocks, pickups, and tractors with a strong belief in "no replacement for displacement.” Starting his career as the Marketing Communications Specialist for Barrett-Jackson, Matt grew even more passionate about all things automotive. He is now the Digital Marketing Coordinator at ClassicCars.com. Still a farm boy at heart, he continues to buy and sell classic pickups, his current project is a 1988 Toyota.

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