Automotive
Luxury and charity
How Fred Baker Porsche Audi brings to the area first-class events that help good causes
By Matt McClellan
Smart Business Cleveland | December 2007
Fred Baker, president of Fred Baker Porsche Audi, made a name
for himself as a race car driver, an automotive technician and a car
dealer — but also as a humanitarian.
Baker loves being associated with what he considers the greatest
cars in the world, but he also enjoys giving back to the community.
The Western Reserve Historical Society has benefited greatly from
Baker’s philanthropy.
Over the past two years, Fred Baker Porsche Audi has helped
raise more than $430,000 for the WRHS. One of the major fund-raising events is the Barrington Napa Classic, hosted by the
Barrington Golf Club in Aurora.
In 2006 and 2007, Baker presented the Barrington Napa Classic
in association with the Cleveland Auto Dealers’ Association. The
Barrington Napa Classic is a luxurious event that features a sampling of the finest wines from Napa Valley and around the world.
In addition to fine wines, delicious cuisine, live music and fireworks,
the Barrington Napa Classic features a classic luxury car collection.
More than half of the $300 ticket price for the opulent event goes
to the WRHS. In 2007, more than $130,000 was contributed to the historical society — an increase from $100,000 in 2006.
Baker also was the title sponsor for the popular and critically
acclaimed exhibit “Diana, A Celebration,” at the Western Reserve
Historical Society. The $100,000 sponsorship enabled the WRHS to
host the exhibit, which displayed 150 objects from the ancestral home
of Princess Diana’s family, including 28 of her famous gowns.
Baker was compelled to sponsor the exhibit because he was born
in England and has always had great respect for Diana’s charity, spirit and devotion to others.
Part of the ticket proceeds from the exhibit went directly to the
Cleveland-based charity Shoes and Clothes for Kids.
Fred Baker Porsche Audi also teamed up with the Cleveland
Animal Protective League for the “Cayenne for Canines” program.
Along with dog food, bedding and toys, the dealership provided the
APL with a Porsche Cayenne for six months to deliver dogs for adoption.
Since 2000, Baker has supported the Audi Quattro Cup Golf
Tournament, which has generated $7,000 annually for the WRHS
and the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland. The dealership
also helped raise more than $5,000 for the Big Brother/Big Sisters
(Portage County) Hole-in-One Golf Tournament and also provided
a car as a hole-in-one prize.
HOW TO REACH: Fred Baker Porsche Audi, (440) 232-4700 or www.fredbakerporscheaudi.com
