Nearly one million children benefited from the fundraising efforts of the eight chapters of Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC) this year, with more than $2.5 million donated to 370 non-profit organizations nationwide for the purpose of helping children in need.
“It is truly a blessing that we were able to help so many children this year with the money raised,” said O. Bruton Smith, founder and chairman of Speedway Children’s Charities. “It is our goal to help as many children as possible live healthy, happy lives and I am proud of what everyone at Speedway Children’s Charities has accomplished this year.”
A chapter of SCC is located at each of the Speedway Motorsports Inc., (SMI) tracks including Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Infineon Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway.
With the help of volunteers and the support of sponsors, SCC raised the money through various fundraising activities such as track walks, auctions, raffles, holiday light displays, annual galas and more. Individual and corporate donations were also made throughout the year. In 2011, SCC also partnered with Feed the Children to provide boxes of food to deserving families in communities surrounding the individual SCC chapters.
Since its inception in 1982, SCC has awarded in excess of $35.9 million to non-profit organizations across the country, helping more than 11.3 million children. The children who have been helped over the last 29 years would fill the stands of the eight SMI tracks more than nine times.
“We have been able to help an amazing number of children this year and over the past 29 years,” said Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Thomas Sadler, executive director of Speedway Children’s Charities. “It is wonderful to see how much Speedway Children’s Charities has grown since its beginning and as we continue to provide assistance, in many ways, to children in need across the country, I can never thank those enough who have helped us throughout the years.”
SCC was founded by Smith, chairman and CEO of Speedway Motorsports Inc. and Sonic Automotive, as a memoriam and legacy to his son, Bruton Cameron Smith, who passed away at a very young age. The first chapter was opened at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the same location where the national offices are today.
For more information on SCC or to see how to volunteer or make a donation, visitwww.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 non-profit 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. For more information visit www.speedwaycharities.org.
