Over $120,000 Raised for Special Olympics of SW Missouri
JOPLIN, MO, September 26, 2023 – 4 State Trucks in Joplin, MO has tallied up the donations from their GBATS 2023 Fundraiser supporting Special Olympics of SW Missouri. During the Guilty by Association Truck Show held September 21st – 23rd, 2023, they auctioned off the first 20 spots, and facilitated a convoy at 6 p.m. Saturday to include the 20 top bidders from the fundraising auction, due to the original convoy being canceled for weather concerns by city leaders.
Unstoppable Spirit: 2023 Convoy Overcomes Weather Obstacles
Bryan Martin, President of 4 State Trucks, presented an additional Convoy to the GBATS participants that took place early Sunday morning. In total, with drivers donating $100 directly to the Special Olympics athletes and the auction proceeds for the top 20 spots, 4 State Trucks and our group of truckers were able to help raise over $120,000 for this amazing charity. The remaining convoy truckers were able to gather on Sunday morning, September 24th, and have a large convoy from Exit 4 to Exit 22, and back. Both the Joplin community and trucking communities showed up in full force to provide an impressive 125+ truck second convoy. Haley Blevins, from Special Olympics, stated “Although the weather tried its best to squash the convoy efforts, we overcame it and had not one, but two stellar convoys! Spirits were high, and the funds raised were incredible considering the weather and logistical obstacles.”
An Event To Look Forward To!
“The truck show and convoy is something that we look forward to so much… It’s our favorite event… It is so family-oriented and I love that about it… A great time for family to get together and have good clean fun. Being that the fundraiser is for the Special Olympics is very special to me as my sister-in-law was part of Special Olympics and played lots of sporting events over the years. The truck convoy is the highlight of the event for me. It is a very emotional ride because the community comes out to support it, and you have children lined up alongside the highway, pumping their arms to hear the air horns and see the waves and smiles coming from the drivers ❤️ I don’t look at 4 State Trucks and the Martin family as business associates; I consider them my family …they are honest, hard-working, down to earth people with family values, which I love!” said Beverly Ledgerwood, truck show participant.
Bryan Martin, the event promoter for the Guilty by Association Truck Show also said, “I am so proud of our industry! They rallied, raised some great donations for the charity, and rolled up I-44 with a lotta pride. Sunday’s 9 a.m. convoy was held on a beautiful ‘rain-free’ morning, I actually got to drive in it, and the positive vibe from convoy participants was like nothing I’ve ever seen. These truckers are truly committed to ‘take care’ of the Special Olympics athletes through the legendary World’s Largest Convoy initiative.”
Being a family-operated business since 1979, 4 State Trucks is always looking for more ways to give back to not only their local community in Joplin, MO but also the trucking community. Keep an eye out for more fundraising news from 4 State Trucks, home of the Chrome Shop Mafia.
