A photo of Brandon M Austin in front of a car

Brandon Michael Austin

On May 20th, a car, truck and bike show and steak fry will take place in Wakefield, RI.

Vehicle shows are not exactly a rarity in Rhode Island, as many of them take place all over the state each and every year. Some frequent them, others avoid them, and some simply go to one and think they have seen them all. No matter how you feel about them, this is an event you shouldn’t miss.

This show is unlike most, because the story behind it is as beautiful as the cars themselves.

Less than 3 years ago, on July 16th of 2014, a truly extraordinary individual was tragically taken from this world.

13  year old Brandon Michael Austin of South Kingstown was as caring and passionate as a boy could be. He was a lover of animals, a good friend to many, and a bringer of happiness to all around him. His sense of humor brought laughter, his passion for art brought inspiration, and his very existence brought  joy to the community.

Brandon was a truly beautiful soul.

After his passing, The Brandon Michael Austin Memorial Fund  was founded to honor his memory.

The fund has benefited the local community by establishing useful programs based on Brandon’s hobbies in life. His love for animals led the fund to create the “Paws for Reading” program at a local animal shelter, his interest in Legos inspired the “Legos for Learning: Brandon’s Buddies” program, and his love for art/sculpture is remembered through the supplementing of a local elementary school’s budget and children’s art show. The even offer scholarships based on community service, which was something important to Brandon.

Now, the fund aims to remember Brandons love of cars. The funds website states that “Brandon was quite the collector of classic cars, muscle cars, trucks, etc. He had shelves all around his room. And as he added to his collection, the BEST ones, his favorite ones, would take pride of place on the top shelf.”

With support of many local businesses and community members,  they have planned a vehicle  show and steak fry unlike any other. There will be raffles, face painting, a basketball shoot out with the URI men’s basketball team, and much more. Admission is FREE, and all other proceeds from the event will go towards the foundation and the many wonderful things it does for the community.

If you are interested in having a day of  fun for the whole family, and contributing to a great cause at the same time, this car show and steak fry is something you don’t want to miss.

To learn more about this event and/or about the The Brandon Michael Austin Memorial Fund, please click the links below to visit their event page on facebook and their website.

Brandon’s Top Shelf Facebook event page

thebrandonaustinmemorialfund.org/events/