Sears Point Distributes Nearly $175,000 to Area Youth Groups

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

Speedway Children's Charities Distributes 
More Than $172,000 to County Youth Groups

SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) - Sonoma County youth organizations will receive donations totaling more than $172,000 in the coming weeks from the Sears Point Raceway chapter of Speedway Children's Charities, raceway officials announced today.

The chapter's Board of Trustees approved the distribution of $172,267 in grant awards and event proceeds at its annual meeting on Nov. 15.   Speedway Children's Charities is the primary charitable arm of Speedway Motorsports, Inc, which owns Sears Point Raceway.

The monies awarded in 2001 were generated through a combination of Sears Point Raceway events and donations raised by the Charities' national organization.  This year the NASCAR Winston Cup Grand Marshall's Banquet, the Save Mart NASCAR Golf Tournament and the Sonoma Valley Vintage Race Car Festival raised a combined $111,317.  National funds, from which the Sears Point chapter received a percentage, included substantial donations from Sonic Automotive Corporation and late Las Vegas businessman Bob Bennett.

Among the groups receiving funds in 2001 are the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation; Redwood Empire Food Bank; Wilmar Center for Bereaved Children; Valley of the Moon Children's Foundation; Kid Street Learning Center; La Luz Center; Loving Paws Assistance Dogs; Kids Scoop; Operation Youth of Sonoma Valley; Schell-Vista Explorer Post 911; Sonoma Valley Soroptimist Foundation; Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center; Social Advocates for Youth; Sonoma Valley Boys and Girls Club; and Stand By Me Mentoring Alliance.

Funding decisions are made by the chapter's Board of Trustees comprised of County community leaders, local government officials and Sears Point 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 Sears Point 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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Sonoma Chapter Board of Trustees: Larry Arrington (Sears Point Raceway); Tim Boeve (Sonoma Valley Education Foundation); Cindy Brogan (Sears Point Raceway); Ken Brown (Sonoma Mayor); Mike Cale (Sonoma County Supervisor); Steve Cameron (Cameron Motorsports); John Cardinale (Sears Point Raceway); John Gurney (Police Chief, Sonoma); Gary Heck (Korbel); Kjell Kallmann (Jim Russell Racing Drivers School); Mike Kerns (Sonoma County Supervisor); Bill Lynch (Sonoma Index Tribune); Fran Meininger (Results Oriented Consulting); Steve Page (Sears Point Raceway); Andrea Raymond (Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau); Roger Rhoten (Sebastiani Theatre); Marcy Smothers (Community representative); David Watson (Music in the Vines); Jerry Wheeler (Community representative); Kathy Witkowicki (Stand By Me Mentoring Alliance).