Ashland Downtown Dream Cruise and Car Show Raises Record-Breaking $26,000 for Local “Shop with a Cop” Program
Joe Lyons •
November 13, 2024
Ashland Downtown Dream Cruise and Car Show Raises Record-Breaking $26,000 for Local “Shop with a Cop” Program
Ashland, OH — In a heartwarming show of community spirit, Ashland Main Street’s Executive Director Sandra Tunnell presented a $26,000 check to Ashland Police Division Detective Kara Pearce for the “Shop with a Cop” program. This year’s donation brings the total raised by the Ashland Downtown Dream Cruise and Car Show to a staggering $223,000 since its inception.
The annual Dream Cruise and Car Show has become a major community event, drawing car enthusiasts from around the region while raising funds for the local Shop with a Cop initiative. The program helps spread holiday cheer by allowing local children to shop for gifts alongside officers from multiple law enforcement agencies, ensuring a memorable holiday season for everyone involved.
Over the years, the event’s contributions have steadily grown:
- 2011: $4,000
- 2012: $8,000
- 2013: $9,000
- 2014: $10,000
- 2015: $10,500
- 2016: $12,500
- 2017: $14,000
- 2018: $15,000
- 2019: $20,000
- 2020: $22,000
- 2021: $23,000
- 2022: $24,000
- 2023: $25,000
- 2024: $26,000
Each year, the event has broken its own fundraising records, helping make an ever-larger impact on the lives of Ashland’s children.
As part of the fundraising efforts, the community is invited to a silent auction on November 17, 2024, from 1 PM to 4 PM at O’Bryan’s Pub, located at 1065 Claremont Avenue. Guests can participate in friendly bidding wars on items donated by local businesses and community members, with all proceeds supporting Shop with a Cop. For added enjoyment, attendees can watch the Cleveland Browns game on a big screen while bidding for a great cause.
The holiday season’s main event will take place in December 2024 at the Ashland Walmart, where officers from the Ashland Division of Police, Ashland Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Highway Patrol, Mifflin Police, Loudonville Police, and Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District Rangers will join Ashland County First Responders. Together, they’ll help local children select gifts for family members and themselves, fostering a strong bond between law enforcement and the Ashland community.
Detective Kara Pearce expressed gratitude to the community for their ongoing support, saying, “This program brings so much joy to our local children, and it wouldn’t be possible without the incredible generosity of Ashland’s residents and businesses.”
Shop With A Cop Brings Big Smiles to Ashland County Children
