NHRA drag racer Doug Herbert here. In September the NHRA makes a stop in the Queen city for the O’Reilly NHRA Nationals at zMAX Dragway, the “Bellagio of Dragstrips” as my buddy Bruton is fond of saying.
When Bruton built the track and we had the Inaugural race here in 2008 I had recently started a charity in memory of my two sons, Jon and James, who were killed in a car accident earlier that year. We decided to partner with the Charlotte Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities to hold a special fundraiser, The B.R.A.K.E.S. Benefit Dinner.
This year will be the third annual and I’m really looking forward to it. We’ve got NHRA announcer Bob Frey coming as MC for the night and he’ll also be showing off his auctioneer skills during the IRWIN Tools Live Auction. A special guest from Barnardsville, N.C., Steve Hamilton, who lost his daughter in a car crash several years ago, will be speaking and comedian Killer Beaz, of John Boy and Billy Big Show fame, will close out the evening as our entertainment.
The Benefit Dinner is a very exciting night for me because we do it the Thursday of the drag race so all of my friends and fellow racers from the NHRA are in town and they come out to show their support for the foundation. All of the money raised by B.R.A.K.E.S. at the dinner goes toward our Teen Pro-Active Driving School, which provides free, hands-on driver training for teenagers. Since we started B.R.A.K.E.S. in 2008 we have provided training to over 1,600 teenagers from 13 different states!
The dinner is always a huge success because of all of the support we get from not just my friends in the NHRA but SCC supporters too. We’re glad to partner with SCC for this event; it is a great way for us to work together to raise money for two very important causes and to kick-off the NHRA weekend! We still have sponsorships and seats open for the dinner – although they are going fast! If you’d like more information, HYPERLINK "http://putonthebrakes.org/main-news/154-3rd-annual-benefit-dinner.html" click here, and we’ll see you at the races!
The summer months have gone by very fast this year. I have already noticed in several stores they have started displaying Back-To-School items. Before you know it school will be starting!
During the month of July we have had the privilege of having a few of our grant recipients visit Charlotte Motor Speedway. We really enjoy having them visit here because for most of the children who visit, it is their first time seeing the race track. During the visit the CMS Gift Shop arranges a great tour with a van ride around the track. It gives the children a full experience of what happens here daily and during race time. This also gives them an understanding of how Speedway Children’s Charities is part of the Speedway and how we are able to help provide grants to non-profits through fundraising when big events take place here.
Stay tuned for exciting updates on upcoming events.
Amanda
Summer, the favorite time of year for most children. Sadly, not every child in our region is able to enjoy all the fun experiences & joy Summertime can bring. However, through generous volunteers and donations, the SCC Grant Program help's grant recipients ensure that children are well taken care of.
The deadline to apply for a 2010 grant from SCC this year is July 14th.
It has been busy around the office! SCC raised funds through numerous events and partnerships during the All-Star & Coca-Cola 600 races. One of the organizations SCC partnered with for the first time was Cookies for Kids' Cancer. Cookies for Kids' Cancer supports research for new and improved therapies for pediatric cancer through the concept of bake sales. Be on the look out for upcoming SCC events, including a partnership with Tommy Pike Customs to raffle off a really cool car and more Cookies for Kid's Cancer updates! More information will be posted on the website soon.
As a Summer Intern for SCC, I have seen firsthand how hard SCC works to achieve its mission, "to care for children in educational, financial, social and medical need in order to help them lead productive lives." I am amazed everyday at the selflessness of the staff and volunteers of this organization. Each event SCC puts on requires countless hours of preparation and planning and could not be successful without teamwork and volunteers. SCC staff and volunteers truly care about helping children in need. It is because of this I am confident in encouraging others to support Speedway Children's Charities.
Enjoy Summertime,
Grace Herrin
Intern, Charlotte Chapter
Speedway Children's Charities
All the final preparations are being made for the upcoming race week events Speedway Children’s Charities – Charlotte Chapter has planned at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It’s not too late to participate.
Check out our Calendar of Events and register or place a bid to win a Charlotte Motor Speedway Experience Package and/or Ride of a Lifetime.
Carl Edwards will donate his winnings from the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race to Speedway Children's Charities if he gets in and wins the race! Please vote for Carl Edwards at http://www.nascar.com/promos/allstar/2010/vote/. We need your help with spreading this great news! Please help spread the word to all your friends, family members, and co-workers.
See you at Charlotte Motor Speedway!
Amanda L. Hollingsworth
Speedway Children’s Charities
This past weekend was full of excitement here at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Great weather and enthusiastic car lovers created an amazing atmosphere for the Food Lion Auto Fair at the speedway.
From car parts to classic convertibles and one hydro car, the Auto Fair was a one of a kind experience that produced a record breaking attendance this year. Speedway Children's Charities had a great set of volunteers raising money throughout the weekend for children in and around the Charlotte area in need. Between promoting NASCAR Day Pins, tickets for our gorgeous custom Harley Davidson, and a cute yellow 1977 MBG Convertible car, we raised an incredible (Dollar Amount) for kids. We knew early on this weekend was going to be something special when the President of Dealer Auction, Inc, Vincent Maffucci, won a yellow 1977 MGB Convertible car in a live auction that he had just donated to us for the auction. He then donated the car back to Speedway Children's Charities again so that it could be auctioned off one more time to raise money for SCC in the same auction.
We cannot thank our dedicated and passionate volunteers enough for their hours of service here at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the Food Lion Auto Fair. The Kohl's A-Team from the Huntersville store, also deserves praises for their volunteer efforts in making this past weekend a success. They are all truly the unsung heroes to the non-profit children based programs that benefit from the grant money that our organization is able to give out every year due to our fundraising efforts.
Our next event is only weeks away. This time we are crossing the street back to Charlotte's own zMax Dragway, home of the only four wide dragway surface. PINKS All OUT is back in town on April 23rd and April 24th. The heart-bounding SPEED TV show, PINKS ALL OUT, is sure to be another success for the zMax Dragway. Speedway Children's Charities is also hoping for a successful weekend with their fundraising efforts during the event. We will have our beautiful custom Harley Davidson on display for individuals to donate five dollars for a chance to take her home as well as promoting NASCAR Day. If you are interested in helping out with the PINKS ALL OUT weekend please submit a volunteer form. It's going to be a lot of fun and we would love to have you there.
Megan Compton
Intern, Charlotte Chapter
Speedway Children's Charities
This week is full of racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway! NASCAR Sprint Cup & Nationwide Series testing took place this past Tuesday & Wednesday. SCC interns were able to get some cool items autographed by several of the NASCAR Drivers that will be featured in upcoming auctions.
Since the Speedway is considered home to a lot of the drivers and teams when they are here in town, they have a chance to get involved in the local community. On Tuesday night, Carl Edwards (SCC Spokesperson) and David Ragan were guest speakers at the Boys & Girls Club of Cabarrus County It Takes One Dinner. It was great to see Carl & David giving back to an organization SCC has supported.
NHRA haulers began to roll in to town on Wednesday afternoon. Races will be going on now till late Sunday afternoon. If you have a chance to come out to the races, please be sure to check out two new SCC fundraisers. SCC has partnered with B.R.A.K.E.S. on Hot Rods & Hot Cakes this Saturday morning from 8am till 10 am and a Racing Memorabilia Auction in the Fan Fest area on Saturday as well.
See you at the NHRA races this weekend-
Amanda
Though glamour and publicity engulf many aspects of business at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a small force of volunteers carries out a single mission: enriching the lives of children.
Speedway Children's Charities has been blessed with a strong support system for many years. Some volunteers come from high-profile jobs. Others are simply parents. Despite their diverse backgrounds, they all understand the importance of giving back to the community. These unsung heroes are the reason SCC is able to give so much grant money to deserving children.
SCC volunteers do not see nor are thanked by most of the grant recipients they work so hard to support and benefit. However, they know their dedication and efforts are making a difference in the life of a child. Likely their handiwork goes farther than they could ever imagine. The funds they raise help children who are hungry and homeless. They assist families with sick children in Levine Children's Hospital. They also benefit after-school programs and family enrichment programs that build character and self-esteem.
When I think of what the SCC accomplishes it reminds me of the poem "A Prayer for the Children." SCC is a guardian of children. It works to protect kids that "sneak popsicles before supper...who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions...who are born in the places where we wouldn't be caught dead... who can't find bread to steal... who don't have rooms to clean...whose monsters are real...who have no safe blanket to drag behind them." SCC touches the lives of all children. Not only those whose needs are life-threatening, but also those that need an opportunity to grow and discover the world around them.
Volunteering with Speedway Children's Charities is an experience everyone should have. Though there are no material awards or compensation, the experience is rewarding in ways that are far more gratifying and fulfilling. If you are interested, I strongly recommend you fill out the Volunteer Interest form on this website. Your efforts might save a child in need.
Megan Compton
Intern, Charlotte Chapter
Speedway Children's Charities
The calendar for 2010 is packed with events that benefit SCC.
In January, AutoTrader.com sponsored the Charlotte Checkers "Race Night" that benefited SCC for the 3rd straight year. They had a packed house with several NASCAR drivers in attendance to help with the event. Part of the evening involved some special guests from an SCC grant recipient, A Better World. A Better World has been a grant recipient for over four years from the SCC Grant Program. The grant money they receive has been used to fund the after-school program in Ashley Park and the surrounding areas in Charlotte. The program helps the youth transform by building their mental, emotional, and spiritual character. The program focuses on the needs of each child, with a goal of the youth to graduate from high school and have a positive impact on their families and communities they reside in. The program also offers a computer lab, tutoring services in reading and math, and family fun nights. The family nights give families the opportunity to learn about topics that directly affect the communities they live in. Some of those topics include budgeting, homeownership, building credit, substance abuse, education, and employment.
A Big "Thank You" to AutoTrader.com for letting the SCC - Charlotte Chapter be part of the fun event!
The Charlotte Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities moved offices just before the holiday break. Please update your contact information with our new address located at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Speedway Children's Charities - Charlotte Chapter
Attention: Amanda Hollingsworth
5555 Concord Parkway S - 7th Floor
Concord, NC 28027
Amanda L. Hollingsworth
Speedway Children's Charities
Florida: Home to sunshine and sea shells, Lilly Pulitzer, my family, and the Gators. That's what Florida means to me.
However, as a new resident of North Carolina I am coming to enjoy so much about this new place that I call home. I have come to know the thrill of living at the home of NASCAR, the tastes of Charlotte's many local eateries, outdoor festivals, and a tremendously giving city. As a student of Non-Profit Management at the University of Florida, I hoped to find myself in a career that allowed me to give back to others. Working with Speedway Children's Charities through the Lowe's Motor Speedway Internship Program has allowed me to do just that!
In these tough economic times we are forced to look at what is truly important in our lives. My time spent with SCC has allowed me the opportunity to be an advocate for children that are simply looking for the help they are in need of, whether it's a home, family or a good mentor this holiday season. It has also manifested the motto that hard work goes a long way. After watching countless hours put in by SCC staff to ensure that special events are very successful in order to help raise over $854,000 for local charities in need around the Charlotte region I have come to truly believe that I have chosen the right career path. I have also seen how many local & national businesses, race fans from all over the US, and local residents were willing to give of their own time and money to help others in need over the past few months.
So, hoping that the new year brings prosperous times for us all, another safe racing season, and even greater goals met for helping children in need, I say bring on the snow, the pecan pie and the 8 hour drive home through holiday traffic because, next year promises to be bigger and better for us all! I challenge everyone to be thankful for the gifts in this life, because unlike our favorite sport, there is only one race in the chase!
Just think - we are only 7 weeks away from Christmas! It's a very busy time for Speedway Children's Charities as we prepare for year end.
The SCC Christmas Tree Lot will open this month and run through the month of December. I always love picking out a NC fresh cut Frazier Christmas Tree & Wreath to go along with my other holiday decorations. If you are a fan of them, please stop by our tree lot and help support child in need while you get ready for the holidays!
Plans are under way for the SCC Tree Lighting & Grant Distribution on Monday, Nov. 30th. It's going to be a fun event so if you are in the area I hope you and your family will come out to join in for some early holiday celebration.
Amanda L. Hollingsworth
Speedway Children's Charities
