Cambridge teen Daniel Klein was looking for a way to give back to the place that saved his life when his personal interest in exotic cars converged with his goal to give back to Cambridge Memorial Hospital last year.
"I called Cambridge Memorial kinda like my second home," said Klein when describing how early on in he suffered from pneumonia and was constantly in and out of the hospital.
"So when I could do something to help them out, it was an obvious choice."
Over the past year the 17-year-old has gone from holding his first-ever charity car show to bringing it back with plans to make it bigger and better when it returns to the public square at Gaslight District on Grand Avenue South Sept. 15.
Klein has been fascinated with cars for as long as he can remember.
His father was a former rally driver and after immigrating to Canada, he passed down his love for the automotive world to his son.
"Every year he would take me to the Indy 500 and we would go and look at cars. I just love them," said Klein. "I became obsessed with cars and just wanted to be around them."
After seeing a lack of car shows here in Cambridge, Klein who was 16 at the time, was encouraged by his father to start one of his own.
"I laughed when he first told me I should start my own, but then it hit me, like I could really do this."
After connecting with the team at the Gaslight District, he was able to secure the venue and work on the idea to raise money for CMH.
The first year saw millions of dollars worth of supercars, hypercars and vintage cars come out for the first-ever Gaslight Car Show.
Being Klein's first event, he admits there were struggles, but ultimately he was able to raise $7,800 for the hospital and now has an agreement to host annual shows here in Cambridge.
"The entire show was up to me. The team at Gaslight just gave the keys of the event to a 16-year-old kid and said make it happen," said Klein.
The hospital, still needing support to finish up its new addition along with trying to fund a new MRI machine, was a perfect benefactor for Klein's philanthropic endeavour since the hospital helped him so much when he was younger.
This year, the goal is to double the amount of money raised in 2023 and bring in even more exotic cars than before.
"We are going to take it to the next level this year and really set it up properly," said Klein. "Last year we learned a lot so this year can be even better."
Klein, just a year past the age of being able to get a drivers' licence, is in charge of millions of dollars of cars and is determined to build a car community here in Cambridge while helping out a place that is close to home.
The second annual Gaslight Charity Car Show will take place at the Gaslight public square on Sept. 15 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The event is free, but donations are welcome at the front entrance.
Klein is still looking for rare and exotic cars to come out to the event to fill some remaining spots in the lot.
Those interested in submitting their car to be in the show can find out more information here.
