SEMA Named Childhelp 2010 Corporate Sponsor of the Year

Mike Spagnola (left) and Joel Ayres accept the Childhelp 2010 Corporate Award on behalf of SEMA Cares (photo courtesy of Jan Miller/Make a Difference Photography).

Childhelp, a non-profit organization headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect, presented SEMA with the Childhelp 2010 Corporate Award at a luncheon on April 14 at the annual Childhelp Day of Hope Ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Childhelp ambassador Jane Seymour—actress, artist and jewelry designer—was in attendance and gave a speech. Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and his wife Caryll, who have been active in Childhelp for many years, also spoke at the event.

A handful of other senators and congressmen were also in attendance. Joel Ayres, chairman of the SEMA Cares Committee, and Mike Spagnola, president of Street Scene Equipment Inc., accepted the award on SEMA's behalf.

“It was an honor for SEMA to be recognized on the 50th anniversary of Childhelp and in front of a distinguished audience,” Ayres said. “It is a recognition of the dedication of the SEMA Cares volunteers, SEMA staff and many SEMA member companies. They have voluntarily contributed time, talent and financial support to help end child abuse. Our industry should be proud of this recognition. SEMA Cares looks forward to continuing our efforts on behalf of this cause.”

From left: SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting; Sara O'Meara of Childhelp, Mike Spagnola of Street Scene Equipment; Joel Ayres of Truck Accessories Group; and Yvonne Fedderson of Childhelp (photo courtesy of Jan Miller/Make a Difference Photography).

“It was a great honor to be able to accept the award on behalf of SEMA for this year's Childhelp 210 Corporate Award,” Spagnola said. “I'm very proud of the SEMA members and staff for all their efforts. In a year of great turmoil and economic downturn, SEMA members not only supported the SEMA Cares/Childhelp efforts, they stood on the gas and, as a result, we were able to make the largest contribution ever to the Childhelp family.”