NEW YORK, NY — Calling all New York Yankees fans! Riemann Auto Body in White Plains has designed and donated a one-of-a-kind, customized and autographed “ride on” car to be raffled off at Mulino’s of Westchester restaurant in White Plains. The proceeds from the raffle will benefit Food Bank for Westchester, the leading hunger-relief organization that provides programs for the 200,000 county residents who are food insecure.
The electric powered kid-sized Mustang, donning white paint with blue-pinstripes to represent the legendary New York baseball team, comes with two hoods – a plain one for kids to ride in and an interchangeable one autographed by current and former Yankee great’s, which adults can also display on a wall in their office or home. The autographs include Mariano Rivera, Mark Teixeira, Carlos Beltran, Masahiro Tanaka, Didi Gregorius and Jacoby Ellsbury.
“We are so grateful to Riemann Auto Body and Mulino’s of Westchester for this wonderful partnership opportunity,” said Leslie Gordon, President and CEO of Food Bank for Westchester. “Our mission at Food Bank for Westchester is driven by the belief that access to healthy food is a basic right for all people. The proceeds from this initiative will allow us to continue to provide resources to those who are hungry in our neighborhoods.”
The proceeds from the raffle sales will help Food Bank for Westchester continue to provide assistance to the one in five people facing food insecurity in Westchester County. The nonprofit organization secures, warehouses and distributes food to more than 265 local frontline hunger relief programs throughout the county to get food directly into the hands of those who need it.
The idea of the customized car started five years ago when John Iodice, owner of Riemann Auto Body Shop, was asked by Steiner Sports to create a customized and autographed Yankees kids electric car for one of the grandchildren of legendary Yankees baseball player and manager Yogi Berra. Afterwards, through Iodice’s connections in the community, he made additional toy cars to benefit various charities in New York. This year, he chose Food Bank for Westchester.
“We are pleased to partner with Food Bank for Westchester as the beneficiary of the Yankees car this year,” Iodice said. “Food insecurity is an important issue. The money raised from this raffle will buy food for our community – that’s a basic need. I’ve always supported the Food Bank and will continue to do so.”
Raffle tickets are $50 per ticket and available at Mulino’s of Westchester, located at 99 Court Street in White Plains, or can be purchased by calling Madeline Sulla at (914) 418-5204 until February 28 at noon.