Infineon Raceway Distributes $300,000 to County Youth Groups

Contact: John Cardinale
Infineon Raceway
(707) 938-8448 X107

Speedway Children's Charities Distributes 
More Than $300,000 to County Youth Groups

SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) - Sonoma County youth organizations will receive grants totaling more than $300,000 in the coming weeks from the Infineon Raceway chapter of Speedway Children's Charities. The figure marks the largest single-year donation since the Sonoma chapter was formed in 1996.

	The chapter's Board of Trustees approved the distribution of $306,991 in grant awards and event proceeds at its annual meeting on Nov. 12. Speedway Children's Charities is the primary charitable arm of Speedway Motorsports, Inc, which owns Infineon Raceway. The Sonoma County chapter has awarded $479,258 over the past two years.

	The monies awarded in 2002 were generated through a combination of Infineon Raceway events, plus a donation by Sonic Automotive Corporation.  This year, the NASCAR Winston Cup Grand Marshall's Banquet, the Save Mart NASCAR Winston Cup Golf Tournament and the Sonoma Valley Vintage Race Car Festival raised a combined $81,697. Dancin' & Draggin', a 1950s-themed sock hop and drag race party, generated another $113,604. National funds included a substantial donation from Sonic Automotive Corporation.

Among the groups receiving funds in 2002: Schell-Vista Explorers; Sonoma Children's Cancer Foundation; Redwood Empire Food Bank; Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center; La Luz Center; Valley of the Moon Children's Foundation; Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance; Kid Street Learning Center; Valley of the Moon Boys and Girls Club; Sonoma Ecology Center's Pauline Bond Community Garden; El Nido Teen Center; Willmar Center for Bereaved Children; Sonoma Valley Museum of Art; Sonoma Valley Film Society; Loving Paws Assistance Dogs; Sonoma Valley Education Foundation-Kid Scoop; Sonoma Valley Soroptimist Foundation for Boys/Girls; Sonoma Valley Education Foundation-The Dragon's Tale; Sonoma Valley Education Foundation-Success for All; and Sonoma Valley Education Foundation-Flowery School.

Funding decisions are made by the chapter's Board of Trustees comprised of Sonoma County community leaders, local government officials and Infineon Raceway employees.  
	
Speedway Children's Charities is a non-profit organization with the purpose of raising funds to be distributed to qualified children's organizations. Founded in 1984 by Bruton Smith, Chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., Speedway Children's Charities originated at Lowe's Motor Speedway in North Carolina.  When Infineon Raceway was purchased by Speedway Motorsports Inc., in November of 1996, it opened the door for the creation of a Sonoma Chapter. The chapter joins others in North Carolina, Georgia, Nevada, Texas, Tennessee and Virginia.
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