Cars leave the parking lot at Huntington City Beach in Huntington Beach for the start of the Cruisin’ 2 Freedom Car Cruise and Dinner which then made its way to the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, January 13, 2024. The event is an annual fundraiser to combat human trafficking for the non-profit, Slave 2 Nothing, of In-N-Out Burger’s owner and president Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cars arrive at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa after driving from Huntington Beach during the Cruisin’ 2 Freedom Car Cruise and Dinner on Saturday, January 13, 2024. The event is an annual fundraiser to combat human trafficking for the non-profit, Slave 2 Nothing, of In-N-Out Burger owner and President Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cars turn on to Pacific Coast Highway from Beach Boulevard in Huntington Beach during the Cruisin’ 2 Freedom Car Cruise and Dinner which then made its way to the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, January 13, 2024. The event is an annual fundraiser to combat human trafficking for the non-profit, Slave 2 Nothing, of In-N-Out Burger owner and President Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cars leave the parking lot at Huntington City Beach in Huntington Beach for the start of the Cruisin’ 2 Freedom Car Cruise and Dinner which then made its way to the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, January 13, 2024. The event is an annual fundraiser to combat human trafficking for the non-profit, Slave 2 Nothing, of In-N-Out Burger owner and President Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Rob Kramig of In-N-Out Burger, attaches a camera to the back of a car in the parking lot at Huntington City Beach in Huntington Beach prior to the start of the Cruisin’ 2 Freedom Car Cruise and Dinner which then made its way to the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, January 13, 2024. The event is an annual fundraiser to combat human trafficking for the non-profit, Slave 2 Nothing, of In-N-Out Burger owner and President Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cars arrive at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa after driving from Huntington Beach during the Cruisin’ 2 Freedom Car Cruise and Dinner on Saturday, January 13, 2024. The event is an annual fundraiser to combat human trafficking for the non-profit, Slave 2 Nothing, of In-N-Out Burger owner and President Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Drivers meet in the parking lot at Huntington City Beach in Huntington Beach for the start of the Cruisin’ 2 Freedom Car Cruise and Dinner which then ended at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, January 13, 2024. The event is an annual fundraiser to combat human trafficking for the non-profit, Slave 2 Nothing, of In-N-Out Burger owner and President Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cars leave the parking lot at Huntington City Beach in Huntington Beach for the start of the Cruisin’ 2 Freedom Car Cruise and Dinner which then made its way to the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, January 13, 2024. The event is an annual fundraiser to combat human trafficking for the non-profit, Slave 2 Nothing, of In-N-Out Burger owner and President Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
In-N-Out Burger owner and President Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, front center, poses for photos with attendees to the Cruisin’ 2 Freedom Car Cruise and Dinner at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, January 13, 2024. The event is an annual fundraiser to combat human trafficking for Snyder-Ellingson’s non-profit, Slave 2 Nothing. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People eat dinner at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa after driving from Huntington Beach during the Cruisin’ 2 Freedom Car Cruise and Dinner on Saturday, January 13, 2024. The event is an annual fundraiser to combat human trafficking for the non-profit, Slave 2 Nothing, of In-N-Out Burger owner and President Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
In-N-Out Burger owner and President Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, right, poses for photos with attendees to the Cruisin’ 2 Freedom Car Cruise and Dinner at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, January 13, 2024. The event is an annual fundraiser to combat human trafficking for Snyder-Ellingson’s non-profit, Slave 2 Nothing. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cars gather in the parking lot at Huntington City Beach in Huntington Beach for the start of the Cruisin’ 2 Freedom Car Cruise and Dinner which then ended at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, January 13, 2024. The event is an annual fundraiser to combat human trafficking for the non-profit, Slave 2 Nothing, of In-N-Out Burger owner and President Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cars arrive at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa after driving from Huntington Beach during the Cruisin’ 2 Freedom Car Cruise and Dinner on Saturday, January 13, 2024. The event is an annual fundraiser to combat human trafficking for the non-profit, Slave 2 Nothing, of In-N-Out Burger owner and President Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
In-N-Out Burger owner and President Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson poses for photos with attendees to the Cruisin’ 2 Freedom Car Cruise and Dinner at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa on Saturday, January 13, 2024. The event is an annual fundraiser to combat human trafficking for Snyder-Ellingson’s non-profit, Slave 2 Nothing. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People look over some of the silent auction items at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa during the Cruisin’ 2 Freedom Car Cruise and Dinner on Saturday, January 13, 2024. The event is an annual fundraiser to combat human trafficking for the non-profit, Slave 2 Nothing, of In-N-Out Burger owner and President Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A sign posted outside an n-N-Out Burger truck kitchen at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa during the Cruisin’ 2 Freedom Car Cruise and Dinner on Saturday, January 13, 2024. The event is an annual fundraiser to combat human trafficking for the non-profit, Slave 2 Nothing, of In-N-Out Burger owner and President Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
In-N-Out Burger fans got the chance to cruise Pacific Coast Highway with Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson and then have selfies taken with her on Saturday, Jan. 13.
The occasion was Cruisin’ 2 Freedom, an annual fundraiser by the In-N-Out owner to combat human trafficking.
This year’s event was a car cruise starting at 3 p.m., in Huntington Beach, followed by a burger dinner at the OC Fair & Events Center in Costa Mesa.
It benefits the Slave 2 Nothing Foundation founded by Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson and her husband Sean Ellingson to fight substance abuse and human trafficking. The foundation provides funds to grassroots organizations working in communities where In-N-Out does business. The chain currently has 401 restaurants in eight states: California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Texas, Oregon, Colorado and, as of December, Idaho.
The cruise ended at the Hangar in the fairgrounds, where about 60 cars were greeted by In-N-Out food truck staffs waving pompoms.
Several of the cars from Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson’s collection were on display on the patio and in the Hangar, where she posed for photos with sponsors before a two-hour program. Speakers were Victor Marx of Murrieta-based All Things Possible Ministries and Annie Lobert of Pink Chair, who both discussed how childhood abuse leads to sexual exploitation.
“It’s a bit of a mixed message, the reality of what we’re here for, and yet we’re able to enjoy the day,” said Sean Ellingson.
A live auction yielded another opportunity to interact with Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, tours of In-N-Out’s base in Baldwin Park or its plant in Chino. They raised $22,000 from two bids of $11,000 each.
In-N-Out trucks were on hand to feed attendees as well as other vendors such as Tacos 1986, Two Doughs Pizza Co. and Mike’s Mini Donuts.
In addition to the car cruise, In-N-Out is raising funds for Slave 2 Nothing at its restaurant counters, where there are canisters for collections and QR codes posted on how to customers can donate with their orders. In-N-Out will match their gifts three-to-one in January, according to signage and social media posts.
