K'NEX Announces $100,000 Toy Donation to The Dale Jr. Foundation and The NASCAR Foundation

DOVER, May 14, 2010: K’NEX, the most innovative and fastest growing construction toy company in America, announced today a donation of $100,000 worth of toys to The Dale Jr. Foundation and The NASCAR Foundation in conjunction with its sponsorship of the JR Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet this weekend at Dover International Speedway. The donation was announced this morning by K’NEX officials at the DIS media center.

Both The Dale Jr. Foundation and The NASCAR Foundation will distribute the K’NEX toys to 19 separate charities, beginning with a $5,000 toy donation to Dover International Speedway benefitting Boys and Girls Club of America and Toys for Tots.

“This is a tremendous donation from the good people at K’NEX,” JR Motorsports co-owner and general manager Kelley Earnhardt said. “We’ve had substantial donations to The Dale Jr. Foundation in the past, but this is unique because it’s in the form of toys. There will be a lot of other charities that will benefit from this effort on behalf of K’NEX. We’re going to make sure these toys go a long way in helping underprivileged and special-needs children.”

The Dale Jr. Foundation will donate its portion to The Jamie McMurray Foundation, Jeff Gordon Foundation, Victory Junction Gang Camp, Make-A-Wish of Central & Western North Carolina, Women’s Auxilliary of Motorsports, The Pit Board Charity, Barium Springs Home for Children, Jimmie Johnson Foundation, Hendrick Marrow Program and The Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte.

“The K’NEX $100,000 toy donation is something I’m extremely proud to be a part of,” said K'NEX President Michael Araten. “I’m not sure of the exact numbers, but this definitely has to be one of the larger toy donations this sport has seen. We know The Dale Jr. Foundation and The NASCAR Foundation will put these toys to good use.”

The NASCAR Foundation will donate to A Place for Hope, AFLAC Cancer Center, The Ronald McDonald House of Kansas City as part of its NASCAR Day projects this year. Additional donations will go to Speediatrics Halifax Hospital and Baptist Hospital, Shands –USF and Stocks for Tots.

Additionally, for the month of May, K’NEX is donating 10 percent of the online products sales at K’NEX.com to The Dale Jr. Foundation.