In a ceremony Tuesday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the Atlanta chapter of Speedway Children's Charities distributed a grand total of $149,505, raised by individual donors and at various events throughout the year, to more than three dozen metro Atlanta-area charitable organizations.
In all, 39 charities received grants from Speedway Children's Charities Atlanta in its 23rd year of operation after its initial founding in 1994. Since that time, the local chapter has granted more than $4 million to local children's causes throughout metro Atlanta.
"Speedway Children's Charities is a critical component in our relationship with our home community," said Ed Clark, Atlanta Motor Speedway president. "We are more than humbled by the opportunity to contribute these funds to local organizations who dedicate their efforts to making a positive lasting impact on children in our area, and we thank our dedicated fans and corporate partners who have supported our efforts throughout the year."
With local chapters at each of Speedway Motorsports, Inc.'s eight premier NASCAR facilities, Speedway Children's Charities raises grant money through local fundraisers including golf tournaments, track events, barbeque cook-offs, auctions for unique race experiences like driver ride-alongs, nightly event promotions and much more.
Each chapter provides grants to programs which specifically help children in their respective region. Chapter support comes from providing winter coats and backpack meals to low-income families as well as facilitating clubs that provide healthy after-school activities and aiding hospital cancer research.
In total and between each of its eight chapters, Speedway Children's Charities distributed more than $3.2 million in grants to 435 charitable organizations across the country in 2017, bringing the total allocation amount to more than $52 million since the O. Bruton Smith family founded the nonprofit in 1982.
"On behalf of everyone at Speedway Children's Charities, I extend my sincere gratitude to our numerous sponsors, donors, volunteers, drivers and race teams for their generosity and support throughout this year," said Maj. Gen. Chuck Swannack, executive director of Speedway Children's Charities.
"With their assistance and the hard work of so many people, Speedway Children's Charities will leave a lasting, positive impact on children in need throughout the country.”
For more information on Speedway Children's Charities or to learn how to volunteer or make a donation to your local chapter, visit www.speedwaycharities.org.
ABOUT SPEEDWAY CHILDREN'S CHARITIES
The mission of Speedway Children's Charities remains true to the ideals it was founded upon in 1982: To care for children in educational, financial, social and medical need in order to help them lead productive lives. SCC provides funding for hundreds of nonprofit organizations throughout the nation that meet the direct needs of children. Our vision is that every child has the same opportunities no matter what obstacle they are facing.
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Fans can connect with Speedway Children's Charities' Atlanta Chapter by following on Twitter and Facebook.
