Race Fans, Richmond Area Residents Help Give Back to the Community
12/19/2008
(December 19, 2008)—With the holiday season in full swing, Richmond International Raceway is proud to announce the results of its successful campaign to benefit two area charities and ultimately, citizens in Henrico County and the Greater Richmond Metropolitan Area.
Starting Monday, November 17, and ending this past Wednesday, December 17, the Richmond International Raceway ticket office served as a drop-off point to donate new, unwrapped toys for the Marine Toys for Tots program and food items to help the Central Virginia Foodbank. With track president Doug Fritz pledging to match all donations received at the track, toy-for-toy and can-for-can, area residents and race fans responded with incredible generosity.
All told, nearly 700 new, unwrapped toys will find their way into the hands of area children through the Marine Toys for Tots program and hundreds of pounds of food will help Richmond-area residents during a time of need.
“During the holiday season and throughout the entire year, Richmond International Raceway strives to give back to our great community,” said track president Doug Fritz. “We are proud to serve as a collection point for the Marine Toys for Tots and Central Virginia Foodbank and we are very pleased by the generosity of our area residents and race fans. This is the fifth year we have worked with these programs and we are looking forward to many more years of helping citizens in the Greater Richmond area through these worthwhile causes.”
Through its more than 550 partner agencies, the Central Virginia Foodbank serves the hunger needs of 31 counties and six cities in the Central Virginia area. In an average day, 45,000 pounds of food goes out the warehouse doors. That food provides life-sustaining nutrition to our community's most vulnerable citizens—children living in poverty, the working poor, frail elderly, disaster victims, battered women, and those who are disabled, homeless or mentally challenged.
Since 1947, U.S. Marines have been looking after America's needy children at Christmas through their Toys for Tots program. By distributing new toys, Marines deliver a message of hope and let children know that someone cares. The objectives of the new toy include building/restoring self-esteem and eliminating the "second class citizen" syndrome that is associated with "second hand" toys. Marines bring the joy of Christmas to needy children and accomplish passive mentoring by serving as positive role models.
The 2009 season at Richmond International Raceway begins May 1-2 with a NASCAR doubleheader, featuring the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Tickets are on sale now for both days. On Saturday, May 2, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers will battle it out in the Crown Royal Presents The Your Name Here 400 race. Tickets start at $60 and are on sale now. On Friday, May 1, America’s Premier Short Track will host a full day of on-track activity, including practice and Wawa Pole Qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, practice and pole qualifying for the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the Lipton Tea 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race “under the lights.” Tickets for Friday are $45 (reserved) and $35 (general admission) in advance. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general admission sections with a ticketed adult on Friday only. For tickets and information, please call the ticket office at 866-455-RACE (7223) or visit www.rir.com.
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