In 1999, Eddie Walter founded the East Coast Car Association (ECCA), an all-volunteer not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising support for St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children. Throughout the year, the ECCA holds numerous fundraising events to help St. Mary’s, including car shows, parades, street fairs and cruise nights – all culminating toward their annual holiday Toys for Tots run.
At the Toys for Tots holiday event, the ECCA visits St. Mary’s Hospital for Children to deliver the joys of the holiday season, bringing a lively parade of classic cars and motorcycles laden with toys and holiday gifts for our kids. In addition to the toy run, the ECCA has raised over $160,000 since its inception to support the life-affirming programs and services that St. Mary’s provides to 2,000 children each day throughout the New York metropolitan area. Following Eddie’s passing in 2007, the other volunteers of the East Coast Car Association continue to carry on Eddie’s legacy of supporting St. Mary’s Kids.
