Reineke event to benefit Imagine for Youth

FOSTORIA — If a Saturday morning that includes meeting a former pro football standout, test driving a car and assisting a local cause seems appealing, Reineke Ford of Fostoria and the Imagine for Youth Foundation have an event for you.Drive 4 UR Community is scheduled for 9 a.m., to noon, Sept. 13 at Reineke Ford, 1303 Perrysburg Road, with Imagine for Youth standing to receive up to $6,000 in donations from the Ford Motor Company, a newsletter from the Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce said.Imagine for Youth was founded by Micah Hyde, who went from being an All-Ohio football player at Fostoria High School to an All-Big Ten defensive back at the University of Iowa to a two-time second-team All-Pro with the National Football League's Buffalo Bills."I'm looking forward to the Reineke event because with every test drive, money is donated to the Imagine for Youth Foundation," Hyde said in a text message. "We held this event years ago and Reineke did a great job. They have become a good partner over the years."Hyde will be available to meet fans, sign autographs and talk about Imagine for Youth's work. Since retiring from football at the end of the 2024 season, Hyde has increased his direct involvement with the foundation, which has hosted events in Ohio, New York, Michigan and Iowa.Locally, the foundation's events include the annual Micah Hyde Football Camp for youngsters, and the Micah Hyde Champions Club at Fostoria Junior/Senior High School, where graduating students will receive $5,000 in scholarship funds if they collect a certain number of points by participating in two sports per year and maintaining honor-roll grades from grades 7 through 12.Hyde set an example by competing in football, basketball and baseball in high school before going on to not only shine on the football field at Iowa but to earn a bachelor's degree in recreation and sports business.Imagine for Youth, based on a class project Hyde completed in college, began in 2017, the same year Hyde left the Green Bay Packers via free agency and signed with the Bills. Imagine's mission is "to help children achieve a healthy, active and educated life," according to website www.imagineforyouth.org. During the event at Reineke, Ford will donate $30 to Imagine for Youth for each test drive of a new vehicle. Also scheduled are a cookout, a 50/50 drawing, raffle prizes. Any donation will result in a chance to win a test drive with Hyde."We're thrilled to partner with Micah and (his wife) Amanda to bring this event to Fostoria," Alex Reineke, vice president of Reineke Family Dealerships, was quoted as saying in the chamber newsletter. "It's a great way for our community to come together, enjoy a test drive and support local kids — and it's even more special with a hometown hero like Micah here."Hyde's visit to his hometown from his current home in San Diego will also include his participation in the 15th and final Jeff Shiff Memorial Run the Res 5K, slated for the day after the Reineke event. Hyde is a longtime friend of the Shiff family.