NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR encourages fans to volunteer

Published May. 6, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The NASCAR Foundation launched an new initiative last weekend called NASCAR Unites.

The project provides an opportunity for the NASCAR community and fans to bond through three philanthropic programs throughout the season -- NASCAR Day, Summer of Volunteer Service and the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award -- to improve the lives of children.

“We are so proud to announce the NASCAR Unites Initiative,” said France, chairwoman of the NASCAR Foundation. “This is the ‘next evolution’ of the NASCAR Foundation but also just a wonderful idea that extends the reach of the foundation.

“Within our daily lives, it’s important to remember just how fortunate we are and to lend a helping hand to those in need. That’s exactly what NASCAR Unites aims to do: Improve lives -- in two million ways.”

The “two million” France is referring to is the “Two Million Ways to Unite for Kids” campaign which hopes to enlist the entire motorsports industry and race fans through one million hours of volunteer service and one million dollars for children’s causes.

Through the “Summer of Volunteer Service” the Foundation hopes to inspire fans to donate their time locally or during stops along the NASCAR tour. Sandy Marshall, executive director of the NASCAR Foundation, would like to hit “that million volunteer mark“ by the end of summer.

“We have a brand new website that we’re launching where fans can go and put in their zip code, learn about volunteer opportunities in their community and can pledge hours,” Marshall said. “Drivers can go in and volunteer, our partners are putting up volunteer opportunites, (and) tracks (are).

“We’ve learned over the last five years at the foundation that fans have a lot more to offer than even five dollars for the (wrist) band. We’d rather have them volunteering. There’s a statistic out there that says every hour of volunteerism is worth $10. So if we had a million hours it could be worth $10 million to fan causes. That’s our goal. When you have 100,000 fans at the track for four days, it doesn’t hurt to have some things for them to do and harness that energy to make an impact.”

Marshall acknowledges that the original concept of NASCAR Day has been “a little bit confusing for fans” because the program has expanded from a one-day event into a year-long celebration.

This year’s NASCAR Day falls on May 20, but NASCAR Unites offers a chance to volunteer throughout the entire season.

“We’re going back to that one-day celebration for the fans -- of NASCAR Day,” Marshall said. “We’ll have some events and we’ll announce that at Darlington. We still have the NASCAR pin for $10 and 100 percent of the proceeds for the pin this year will go to Victory Junction (Gang Camp for chronically ill children).

“But we needed something the fans could do all year long and other tracks and drivers to get involved. So that’s where NASCAR Unites comes in. It’s a year-round platform. We hope the fans will wear the bracelet all year, volunteering all year, participating through the website, uploading projects and offering their own volunteer stories.”

The Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award was inspired by the wife of the late Bill France Jr. Mrs. France has worked tirelessly as a benefactor of children’s projects through her service in the Junior League and Halifax Health’s Betty Jane France Center for Pediatrics, which over the last 10 years evolved into Speediatrics.

France says her involvement in Speediatrics stems from “my love of children.”

“The rewards are obvious,” France said. “I have been very touched by the number of children who are truly enlightened by motorsports and the great drivers who stand as role models for these young folks. And, God bless Bill France, who was my most avid and generous supporter for this great project.

The Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award recognizes community volunteers that share France’s philanthropic vision. Fans may submit volunteer nominations for the award to www.NASCAR.com/foundation through July 18.

For more information on NASCAR Unites, go to www.NASCAR.com/Unites.