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NASCAR WCUP: NASCAR Sponsor Square D Lends a Helping Hand

16 March 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

NASCAR Sponsor Donates Racing Merchandise to Local Orphanages

CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Companies always talk about giving back to their communities, but Square D, the NASCAR Winston Cup Series sponsor of Kenny Wallace and the Square D/Cooper Lighting Chevrolet, actually puts its money where its mouth is.

With an inventory of Square D Racing merchandise at the ready, Square D's Director of Marketing, Ralph Harris, donated thousands of dollars of remaining 1999 Kenny Wallace souvenirs and apparel to local orphanages in the Charlotte area.

"We contacted Debbie Wilson at Speedway Children's Charities to see what we could do," said Harris. "We felt that the Square D Racing merchandise would serve the world better in the hands of underprivileged children. I would rather see it put a smile on a child's face than sit in a warehouse getting dusty."

The "it" that Harris referred to includes an assortment of hat pins, 1/43 scale car and transporter replica sets, youth racing suits, racing jackets, T-shirts, denim shirts and sweatshirts, all of which were delivered two days prior to Christmas. The value of the donated goods totals just under $25,000.

"We had a lot of support from a variety of organizations and individuals who were involved with racing in some way, shape or form," said Wilson, national marketing director, Speedway Children's Charities. "But Square D stepped up in a big way to make this humanitarian effort a success. "Toys weren't the only things that were donated. There were a lot of clothing items as well. There is always a need for clothes when it comes to the children."

Square D Company is a market-leading supplier of electrical distribution, industrial control and automation products, systems and services. It is the flagship brand of the North American Division of Schneider Electric, headquartered in Paris, France. Schneider Electric is a global electrical industry leader with 1998 sales of approximately $8.7 billion.

Text provided by Chris Hunt

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.