Fundraising event to fight children’s cancer will feature a world-class exhibit of vintage airplanes, automobiles, and motorcycles and will take place at Centennial Airport on Saturday, August 27

The 19th Annual Morgan Adams Concours d’Elegance, a fundraising event to fight children’s cancer, will be held at Centennial Airport on Saturday, August 27 from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. and will feature a world-class exhibit of vintage and exceptionally-crafted vehicles, including airplanes, automobiles, and motorcycles.

Participants in the event will view over 125 exotic and timeless classic street and race cars, alongside more than 45 custom private jets and extraordinary period aircraft, 50 or more highly coveted classic motorcycles, while enjoying a walk-about feast with samples from some of the area’s finest restaurants and beverage providers, including Barolo Grill, City Bakery, Osaka Ramen, Stranahan’s and many others.

Joan Slaughter, who along with her late husband Steven Adams, began the event in memory of their daughter Morgan who passed away from cancer, had this to say about the staggering collection of machinery:

“We are able to showcase cars, planes and motorcycles that span the entire production history of each industry, so we are sharing with our guests not only exquisite models with truly significant historical significance, but also some of the coolest, fastest, most desirable vehicles on the current market.  The breadth of it all is pretty amazing when it all comes together.   But beyond that, to know all of our guests, exhibitors and volunteers come together to make a huge difference in how we care for the kids and teens with cancer who are the reason behind our work – that is what makes this an incredible evening like no other I know of anywhere.”

This year the event will be showing a 1936 Delahaye Type 135CS from The Mullin Museum in California.  This race car took 1st place at the 1938 Le Mans Grand Prix and is still in action today, after eight owners, dozens of races, numerous crashes and a “slight searing” after it’s transportation truck caught fire once.  Juxtaposing the 1936 Delahaye is a 2022 “Liquid Carbon” Ford GT, a newly available, limited edition Ford GT model that emphasizes the GTs lightweight, sculpted carbon fiber body that is completely free of paint and coated with a very special clear coat that highlights the carbon fiber weave – a truly beautiful car.   

Proceeds benefit The Morgan Adams Foundation, a local 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the quality of life and survival rates of children diagnosed with pediatric cancers.

Morgan Adams was 5-years old when she was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme brain tumor. She faced her many treatments – surgery, chemotherapy, blood transfusions – with bravery and fortitude, never complaining. There were glimmers of success, so many achievements exceeding doctors’ expectations, but the family was devastated to learn the tumor had recurred. Morgan battled her cancer for 11 months before she succumbed to the disease. She was home with family when she died peacefully on November 7th, 1998, at the age of 6.

Two years after Morgan died, her parents Steven Adams and Joan Slaughter joined the Oncology Advisory Board at The Children’s Hospital in Denver as a way to learn more about research and treatment options for childhood cancer, and to take a more active role in addressing the unmet needs in the field of pediatric cancer research.

As a result of their work with the Board, they asked a small group of friends to help a host a fundraiser to benefit pediatric cancer research. Artma, now a hugely-anticipated biennial art auction, was held in 2001. Based on that success and the response from the community, an additional fundraiser, the Morgan Adams Concours d’Elegance, began in 2003.

“When we started the event in 2003, we were one of a handful of “hangar parties” in the country and it has been an incredibly special thing to build this event over the past 19 years!” exclaimed Joan.  “It has grown tremendously, and we have had the privilege of sharing with our guests some truly exceptional machines, many never seen outside museums.   We have gone from 500 guests, 50 cars, 20 planes to more than 1500 guests each year, 125 cars, 50 aircraft and over 50 motorcycles and two full hangars!  It’s so exciting, and we’re incredibly grateful to have been able to build something that our guests and patrons love, and that keeps them coming back year after year. Of course we think everyone should join us, but seriously if you’re an enthusiast of any sort of “thing that goes” – this is an event you really don’t want to miss.  AND for a great cause – how can there be anything but goodness that comes from that?” 

The Morgan Adams Foundation raises money and awareness on behalf of children with cancer. They use donations to directly fund pediatric cancer research and therapies that will improve survival rates and reduce the devastating side effects of cancer treatments. The Foundation also provides financial support for families in need during their child’s treatment.

Their promise, “We promise to continue funding hope, until we fund a cure.”

Tickets and Event Details for Morgan Adams Concours d’Elegance: morganadamsconcours.org

Learn More or Donate to The Morgan Adams Foundation:  morganadamsfoundation.org