More than a car show: The community behind Corvettes on the Columbia

When McCurley Integrity Dealerships first envisioned a Corvette show 12 years ago, the philosophy was this: to create an event that showcased Corvettes … and wrap it around a community cause. 

The cause was local wish kids, and this first car show was a spark that lit an incredible partnership between McCurley Integrity Dealerships, the 3 Rivers Corvette Club, and Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington.

That first year in 2010, 64 cars showed up at the McCurley car lot on a hot summer day, and attendees were served hot dogs and snow cones in the parking lot. By the end of the day, they had raised $4,600 for local wish kids.

What started as a small-scale parking lot car show has evolved into a multi-layered partnership that has raised over $950,000 for local wish families—and has drawn Corvette drivers from five states and Canada.

“The spirit of the event has set fire in the community,” said Matt Price with the Business Elite Department of McCurley Chevrolet. “Every year we ask: How many wishes can we grant?”

Every year since 2010, on the first weekend of June, the community gathers at Columbia Park for a Corvette show … and so much more. Last year, the pandemic forced the cancellation of the event, but many generous donors chose to donate their registration fees to Make-A-Wish so some funds were able to be raised, even in the absence of the event.

From August 1– September 9, 2021, leading up to the Corvettes on the Columbia event, McCurley Integrity Dealerships made a donation to Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington for every car sold.

Craig Cavanaugh, Director of Marketing of McCurley Integrity Dealerships said this campaign – dubbed Wheels Make Wishes Come True, “…is something that we as a company get really behind.” Whether it’s McCurley employees promoting the campaign, or customers knowing that a percentage of their car purchases during those six weeks will benefit wish families, or attendees traveling long distances to be a part of the Corvettes on the Columbia car show, this community rallies for wishes.  

That’s the thing about making wishes come true—they bring the community together.

Wishes are awe-inspiring for the kids as well as the community members who get to be involved. Thanks to the creative collaboration between McCurley Integrity Dealerships and the 3 Rivers Corvettes Club, we’ve been able to grant dozens of wishes to local children … and this event has grown over the years to be something remarkable.

If you were in the Tri-Cities on September 10–12, you may have witnessed not just a parade of Corvettes at Columbia Park; perhaps you also met an incredible community that has been making wishes come true for 12 years … and counting.

We’re so grateful.

Special thanks to McCurley Integrity Dealerships, 3 Rivers Corvette Club and Matt Price.