Michigan Special Olympics Athlete to
Experience Nascar Weekend 'Behind the Scenes' and Serve as
Official Starter of Winston Cup Race
At-Track Experience to Support Cingular's Overall Goal
Of Raising $40 Million for Special Olympics
ATLANTA, June 8 Starting this weekend in Michigan,
Cingular Wireless and Special Olympics have teamed up to offer several Special
Olympics athletes a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the race track. Cingular
is racing towards its four-year goal of raising $40 million for Special
Olympics and to showcase its commitment, Cingular's #01 Dodge Intrepid race
car, driven by Jason Leffler, will display a Special Olympics paint scheme and
logo for NASCAR Winston Cup races during the months of June and July.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010608/ATF007 )
To help raise awareness during these races in Detroit, Mich., (6/10);
Pocono, Pa., (6/17); Sonoma, Calif., (6/24); Daytona, Fla., (7/7); and
Chicago, Ill., (7/15), Special Olympics athletes will have the opportunity to
participate first-hand in America's fastest growing sport. In addition to
spending the weekend at the track, meeting the athletes and learning about the
sport, these Special Olympics athletes will perform such track related tasks
as honorary starter, waving of the green flag, riding in the pace car and
honorary pit crew member. They will also experience the business side of the
sport by helping out in the media centers and public relations departments.
This weekend at Michigan International Speedway, Karen Kramer, a Special
Olympics athlete from Grand Rapids, MI, will get an up close and personal
orientation to NASCAR and also serve as the official starter for this Sunday's
KMART 400 race. Kramer, an athlete for the past 13 years, also serves as a
Global Messenger for Special Olympics Michigan. As a Global Messenger, she
communicates the Special Olympics' message to business, government and civic
audiences throughout the state. Kramer's sports of choice are cross country
skiing and gymnastics. During the World Winter Games held in Minneapolis in
1991, she received a silver medal in the vault.
"We're extremely excited to share the NASCAR experience with this group of
Special Olympics athletes who are representing Special Olympics athletes
around the world," said Valerie Vargas, Director of Corporate Sponsorships,
Cingular Wireless. "It's our hope that Cingular's NASCAR initiatives will
help build awareness for Special Olympics and ensure Cingular is doing all it
can to assist Special Olympics in achieving its goals and fulfilling its
mission."
"As an Official Partner of Special Olympics USA and an Official Sponsor of
Special Olympics Team USA over the past two years, Cingular has embraced all
aspects of the Special Olympics movement and engaged our athletes by offering
unique opportunities," said Timothy P. Shriver, President and CEO, Special
Olympics. "By opening the door to NASCAR and the racing community, Cingular
is helping spread the Special Olympics message to millions of dedicated fans."
Cingular also will sell limited edition, souvenir, die-cast versions of
the #01 race car to commemorate its unique paint scheme and raise money for
Special Olympics. A percentage of the proceeds generated from the die-cast
car sales will go directly to Special Olympics. Cars will be available in
Cingular Wireless retail outlets, at http://www.chipganassiracingwithfelixsabates.com
, and at many Special Olympics State Summer Games.
In addition, Cingular Wireless is launching a 60-day promotional drive to
collect donations on behalf of Special Olympics. During the promotional
months of June and July, consumers who donate $20 to Special Olympics and sign
up for service at a Cingular Wireless retail store are eligible for:
* An exclusive $35 rate plan offer
* An Internet-ready Ericsson handset
* A co-branded Cingular/BLOCKBUSTER gift certificate for five free movie
rentals good at participating BLOCKBUSTER stores.
Donations raised by Cingular will support year-round training and
competitions for Special Olympics athletes, who participate in the activities
free of charge as well as help send Special Olympics Team USA athletes to the
2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Ireland.
Through last year's "Be a Hero" promotion, Cingular customers successfully
raised $8.9 million for Special Olympics.
"This year we are thrilled with the addition of many new Cingular markets
- bringing the total number of participating Special Olympics Programs to
thirty-five. Now, even more Special Olympics athletes, families, friends and
volunteers will benefit from the commitment of Cingular Wireless." Shriver
continued.
Cingular Wireless is the second largest wireless company in the U.S and
serves more than 20.5 million customers in 39 states, the District of Columbia
and two U.S. territories. Cingular operates in 43 of the top 50 markets in
the United States. It is the only wireless carrier dedicated to enhancing the
tools of individual self-expression.
ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Special Olympics is an international year-round program of sports training
and competition for individuals with mental retardation. More than one
million athletes in over 160 countries train and compete in 26 Olympic-type
summer and winter sports. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special
Olympics provides people with mental retardation continuing opportunities to
develop fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy as they participate
in the sharing of gifts and friendship with other athletes, their families and
the community. There is no cost to participate in Special Olympics. Visit
Special Olympics online at http://www.specialolympics.org or on AOL (Keyword: Special
Olympics).
ABOUT CINGULAR WIRELESS
Cingular Wireless is the second largest wireless carrier in the U.S., and
is dedicated to self-expression and customer-friendly service. As a leader in
mobile voice and data communications, Cingular, a joint venture between SBC
Communications and BellSouth, currently serves more than 20 million customers
nationwide. Cingular offers customers advanced technologies in simple, cost-
effective ways that permit them to tap the creative potential of wireless
through their own self-expression. Details of the company are available at
http://www.cingular.com .
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