Scarsdale Concours Car Show to Return On October 2 for its Thirteenth Year

Twelve years ago the town authorities did the unthinkable—they allowed half of Scarsdale village to be shutdown for Scarsdale's first car show. Back in 2003, two Scarsdale High School sophomores, Evan M. Cygler and Dennis O'Leary III, launched the Scarsdale Concours d'Elegance with the help of the Scarsdale Police Department and the enthusiastic approval of village officials and the rest is history.

Since then, the event has become one of the village's most popular annual spectator events. This year's show, on Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 will be a celebration marking thirteen consecutive years.

Expected to be on display for 2016 will be a spectacular array of Ferraris, Aston Martins, Packard's, Mercedes-Benz's, Porsches, Bentleys, Rolls-Royce's, Bugattis, Paganis and a host of other exceptional cars that span decades of automotive design.

Cygler and O'Leary developed the concept for the show when they were "car mad" third grade students at the Windward School in White Plains and launched the first Concours while students at Scarsdale High School. They said they originally created the show to be showcase both new and vintage cars while raising significant funds for local charities.

Since 2003 over $375,000 has been raised for local non-profits. Beneficiaries have included the United Way of Westchester, Habitat for Humanity of Westchester, the Kellner Family Pediatric Liver Disease Foundation, the Scarsdale Volunteer Firefighters, the Scarsdale Teen Center, the White Plains Hospital, Scarsdale/ Edgemont Family Counseling Center, the Windward School, the Scarsdale Historical Society and last year the Scarsdale Foundation, Scarsdale/Edgemont Family Counseling Center, and the Warrior & Family Assistance Fund.

Cygler and O'Leary have now graduated from the University of Arizona and Washington and Lee University respectively, and are both gainfully employed. Cygler is Director of Marketing at Miller Motor Cars in Greenwich, CT and O'Leary is with J. P. Morgan Chase. With Cygler and O'Leary unavailable in 2010 for management of the event, the Scarsdale Historical Society took control for one year. The event has now returned to its independent stature and is no longer officially affiliated with the society.

Cygler returned to the fold in 2011 and re-joined the board of the car show along with continuing board members Lucas Meyer, Ralph Della Cava, Gordan Rafajac, Shelley Krohnengold and new board members Lawrence Patrizio, Randy Cobian, Bob Pfister, and two father and son teams; Ira and Ben Hasson, and David and Sam Fried.

The biggest news for 2012 was Cygler's passing of the torch to two upcoming members of the board, both aged 14. Ben Hasson and Sam Fried, both newly appointed members of the board, received a special honor from Cygler in a dedication accompanying the awards ceremony as Cygler stepped down from his position as Founder and CEO of the Concours. This will ensure that the event will continue to thrive.

Along with Lawrence Patrizio and his son Daniel, the board has grown to include Richard Hubbell, Andrew Albert, Alex Forschner, and in keeping with tradition, father and son teams, Leif and Sidney Waller, Ken and Jonah Schneider, and another dedicated high school student, Jacob Goodman.

With these additions the Scarsdale Concours now has three father and son teams and a total of five local high school students on the Board of Directors. As the thirteenth annual event approaches, it is clear that the future of the Concours is in good hands.

The Scarsdale Concours d'Elegance Foundation Board of Directors for 2016

Andrew Albert
Alex Forschner
Jacob Goodman
Kevin Higgins
Richard Hubell
Shelley Krohnengold
Daniel Patrizio
Lawrence Patrizio
Gordan Rafajac
Ken Schneider
Jonah Schneider
Matt Spielman
Leif Waller
Sydney Waller

The Scarsdale Concours d'Elegance Foundation is a non-profit tax exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.