CLARKSBURG — More than 90 vehicles — from a century-old Ford Model T to modern muscle cars — traveled from all over for a car show for the dogs.
Instead of a typical car show, the people milling around Saturday on Greg Robinson’s farm on Route H near Clarksburg, nicknamed Green Acres, were the judges. The ballots were cash and coins deposited into five-gallon buckets set up in front of each vehicle, with the vehicle earning the most money in its class taking home a trophy.
However, it wasn’t about the shiny chrome or big, loud engines — it was about the dogs. Robinson began the Tillie Mae Foundation as a memorial in honor of his wife, Shirley Robinson, after she died from cancer earlier this year. The foundation’s mission is simple, daughter Sally Martin said: Fulfill Shirley’s desire to help local dogs. Tillie Mae, the black Labrador retriever who serves as the foundation’s namesake, roamed about during the car show.
While the car show was the foundation’s first major fundraiser, it has already assisted local dog owners pay for veterinary bills, and worked with Mission Monipaw — Moniteau County’s sole dog rescue shelter — to spay, neuter and provide other assistance to their rescue dogs.
“We have helped lots of dogs get spayed, neutered and vaccinations over the last several months since mom passed in March,” Martin said.
Mission Monipaw organizer Michaela Cate said the Tillie Mae Foundation has contributed more than $2,000 to her nonprofit in the past year. In addition to being a dog rescue that connects stray dogs with loving homes, Mission Monipaw offers similar support to other dog owners needing assistance with veterinary bills.
Martin said she planned the event completely with her father, but their friends pitched in to help with the fundraiser. Even the live music was provided free.
“We had different ones that went and bought hamburgers, and different ones that bought buns, and a different one bought the condiments,” Martin said. “Everyone just pitched in, they didn’t want anybody to have an expense for it or to take away from the Tillie Mae account either.”
It was evident the word was spread far and wide, as it attracted many cars and trucks from outside Moniteau County. One was a 1993 Chevrolet Corvette owned by Kerry Wideman of Eldon.
The event had a special meaning to Wideman, as his daughter also has a dog named Tillie Mae — which happened to be a rescue.
“We met (Greg Robinson) at some other car shows and (my daughter) has a dog named Tillie Mae, so we decided we’d do it,” he said. “We came up here and thought ‘Why not?’ It’s a good cause for what his wife wanted, and I thought that was cool.”
His daughter was also in attendance.
“This has been my favorite show of the year,” she added, with her father continuing that he “enjoyed every bit” of the car show. They both look forward to next year’s show.
Robinson already hopes next year’s car show is bigger and better, even though he had a great crowd for his first event. Martin knows how her mother would feel about the fundraiser’s success, and the legacy being left behind for man’s best friend in her honor.
“Mom would just be so proud right now,” Martin said. “So it’s a great memory, and it’s special that we’re doing it for her and it just makes me a little emotional.”
Another fundraiser for the Tillie Mae Foundation, a bowling tournament, is planned for 3 p.m. Saturday at California Lanes. Prior registration is required. Donations can also be made to the Tillie Mae Foundation by contacting Martin at 573-338-0376 or Robinson at 573-694-9507.
Democrat photo/Garrett Fuller — Chuck Nicks, from left, of Tipton, chats with David Barnett, Mike Gross and Scott Williamson about his 1972 Chevrolet C-10 pickup truck Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, during the Tillie Mae Foundation car show on Route H near Clarksburg. More than 90 cars from around central Missouri participated in the car show to help the Tillie Mae Foundation fundraise for its mission to help local dogs in need.
Democrat photo/Garrett Fuller — People check out the cars on display Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, during the Tillie Mae Foundation car show on Route H near Clarksburg. The event was Tillie Mae Foundation’s first major fundraiser to help local dogs in need. Spectators voted on their favorite vehicle by dropping a donation into the five-gallon bucket set in front of each entry. At the end of the show, the vehicles in each four classes with the most donations won a trophy.
Democrat photo/Garrett Fuller — A variety of cars and trucks were on display Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at the Tillie Mae Foundation’s first major fundraiser, a car show, on Route H near Clarksburg. The event helped the nonprofit raise more than $3,200 to help local dogs in need.
Democrat photo/Garrett Fuller — A line of cars and trucks are parked on display Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, during the Tillie Mae Foundation car show on Route H near Clarksburg. The event raised approximately $3,200 to help local dogs in need.
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