Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Announces Second Annual Charity Ride Dream Team Challenge

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 11, 2009) – The 15^th Anniversary Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America is challenging community members along the 2009 Ride route to take part in a grassroots awareness and fundraising effort. The funds raised through the second annual Charity Ride Dream Team Challenge will support Victory Junction, a year-round camp for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses, and other children’s charities. 

Led by NASCAR driver Kyle Petty, the Ride will depart Stevenson, Wash., on May 8, and travel east, making overnight stops in Richland, Wash.; Sun Valley, Idaho; Park City, Utah; Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Hays, Kan.; Kansas City, Mo.; Batesville, Ark.; and Nashville, Tenn., before reaching Greensboro, N.C., on May 16. Prior to the Ride’s arrival in these cities, community members are invited to form “Dream Teams” to raise funds for and awareness of the Ride and its beneficiaries. Dream Teams will be invited to present donations to Kyle Petty and Ride participants at special events along the Ride route.

“We want the communities the Ride visits to spread the word about our arrival and get excited about helping kids,” said Petty. “The Ride supports Victory Junction in North Carolina, and we’re building a second Victory Junction in Kansas City, Kan., so we need the support of communities across the country now more than ever. Every little bit helps. It’s all about making a difference in kids’ lives. The inaugural Challenge was a huge success, and we look forward to meeting new Dream Teams this year.”

In 2008, donations from The Dream Team Challenge totaled more than $40,000. 

Teams of all ages and sizes are welcome to participate in the Charity Ride Dream Team Challenge and may register at www.kylepettycharityride.com. Registration is free. Registered teams will receive “Dream Team Packs” containing background information on the Charity Ride and Victory Junction, as well as ongoing updates, fundraising tips and inspirational Victory Junction camper stories.

Fundraising efforts should begin after a team has selected a captain and team members have reviewed the information in the Dream Team Pack. Then, the sky is the limit! From bake sales and

 

lemonade stands to black-tie galas and silent auctions, teams should choose fundraising activities that align with individual members’ interests and strengths. 

Co-workers from Britten, Inc., a Michigan-based company specializing in custom banners, flags and banner display accessories, created their own Dream Team after learning that the 2008 Ride would kick off in their hometown of Traverse City.

“We approached the fundraising effort as a ‘company event’ and used it to promote camaraderie amongst our employees,” said Peter White, VP Sales, Britten, Inc. “It was inspirational to see our employees really take to this charity mission and raise more than $9,000.” 

Teams from around the country are encouraged to participate, and those along the Ride route may join riders at pre-determined stops. Collected donations should be mailed to Kyle Petty Charity Ride, Inc., 125 Floyd Smith Drive, Suite 45, Charlotte, NC 28262. Checks should be made payable to “Kyle Petty Charity Ride, Inc.”

Since Victory Junction’s inception, the Charity Ride has sent 3,500 children to the life-changing camp at no cost to their families. Petty and his wife, Pattie, founded the Victory Junction in Randleman, N.C., in 2004. The year-round camp serves children, ages six to 16, with a variety of health issues that would typically prevent them from attending camp. The camp operates solely on the donations of corporations, organizations and individuals. The Pettys are planning a ceremonial groundbreaking on a second Victory Junction in Kansas City, Kan., during the Ride’s stop there on May 13.

For more information on the Charity Ride Dream Team Challenge and the 15^th Anniversary Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, visit www.kylepettycharityride.com. 

Led by NASCAR driver Kyle Petty, The Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America raises awareness of and funds for Victory Junction and other charities supporting chronically ill children. The Ride is one of the most successful and popular charity events in NASCAR. Now in its 15^th year, the Ride has donated more than $12 million to children’s charities, with 6,100 participants logging more than 7.9 million cumulative motorcycle miles. In 2009, NASCAR celebrities, Ride sponsors and motorcycle enthusiasts will travel from Stevenson, Wash. to Greensboro, N.C. from May 8-17. www.kylepettycharityride.com   

 

Victory Junction is a year-round camping environment for children ages six to 16 with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. Founded by Kyle and Pattie Petty in honor of their son Adam, the camp is located in Randleman, N.C., with a second location opening soon in Kansas City, Kan. Victory Junction offers programs for 24 disease groups and maintains strong relationships with 26 partner hospitals. Victory Junction’s mission is to provide life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering, in a safe and medically sound environment. As a not-for-profit organization, the camp operates solely through the support of generous donors to provide this experience at no charge to children and their families. www.victoryjunction.org

 

Celebrating its 42nd year in business, Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc., is the nation’s second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain (based on sales), with more than 1,425 restaurants in 38 states and Washington, D.C. In 2008, Chick-fil-A reported system-wide sales of $2.9 billion, representing a 12.17 percent increase over the chain\'s 2007 overall sales performance and a strong same-store sales increase of 4.59 percent. Chick-fil-A\'s record sales performance marked the chain\'s 41st consecutive year of system-wide sales gains.