WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center has been named to the NASCAR Foundation’s Family of Charities, joining 31 other charitable organizations affiliated with drivers, race teams or tracks within the motor sports community.
“The Childress Institute is privileged to be a member of the NASCAR Foundation,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing, who co-founded the Childress Institute with his wife Judy in 2008. “During our 40 years of racing, we have always been dedicated to the fans. Now we have the opportunity to give back by saving the lives of seriously injured children across the United States.”
As part of the Institute’s participation in the NASCAR Foundation’s Family of Charities, NASCAR is hosting an online auction from May 1-18 and a NASCAR day celebration on May 15.
The online auction features racing-related items and is hosted on NASCAR.com. Items to be auctioned include a BB&T crew shirt signed by driver Clint Bowyer, a Holiday Inn crew shirt signed by driver Jeff Burton, a DIRECTV crew shirt signed by driver Casey Mears, a Prilosec crew shirt signed by Burton and Mears, a GM Goodwrench uniform jacket signed by Childress, a No. 3 10th Anniversary Daytona 500-win Car of Tomorrow signed by Childress, a BB&T TV panel signed by Childress and Bowyer, a No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil portion of rear quarter panel signed by driver Kevin Harvick, and a No. 07 door number signed by Childress. A complete list of items is available at www.nascar.com/foundation. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Childress Institute.
“The online auction is our first joint project with the foundation, and we greatly appreciate the opportunity this gives us to bring attention to the issue of life-threatening injury, which is by far the leading cause of death among our nation’s children every year,” said J. Wayne Meredith, M.D., director of the Childress Institute.
The sixth annual NASCAR Day celebration will be held Friday, May 15. Fans, corporations, schools and organizations across the country are encouraged to purchase the 2009 NASCAR Day lapel pin via RCR’s online store at www.rcrstore.com, or at www.nascar.com/superstore if the code “CIPT” is used. The Childress Institute will receive 50 percent of the proceeds of all pins purchased using these methods.
In addition, fans can visit the Web site and join the Childress Institute’s NASCAR Day Pit Crew and sign up their organization, civic club or business to take donations and give out pins in their hometowns. Each NASCAR Day company will be listed on the NASCAR Foundation Web site.
The Childress Institute’s mission is to significantly improve survival rates of children nationwide who suffer serious injuries and reduce the lifelong impact of traumatic injuries in children. The Institute will focus on key areas in treatment, education, training, research and prevention of pediatric trauma. Its goal is to help lead the national search for ways to save the lives of severely injured children and help those who survive progress toward recovery and better quality of life.
For more information or to contribute, visit www.ChildressPediatricTrauma.org, www.wfubmc.edu or www.nascar.com/foundation, or call (866) 635-8190.
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Media Contacts: Eric Whittington, ewhittin@wfubmc.edu, (336) 716-5318 or (800) 899-7128; Sarah Newman, The NASCAR Foundation, snewman@nascarfoundation.com, (704) 348-9656; or David Hart, Richard Childress Racing, hart@rcrracing.com, (336) 731-3334 x. 3222 or (336) 225-3186.
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (www.wfubmc.edu) is an academic health system comprised of North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Brenner Children’s Hospital, Wake Forest University Physicians, and Wake Forest University Health Sciences, which operates the university’s School of Medicine and Piedmont Triad Research Park. The system comprises 1,154 acute care, rehabilitation and long-term care beds and has been ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report since 1993. Wake Forest Baptist is ranked 32nd in the nation by America’s Top Doctors for the number of its doctors considered best by their peers. The institution ranks in the top third in funding by the National Institutes of Health and fourth in the Southeast in revenues from its licensed intellectual property.
The NASCAR Foundation (www.nascar.com/foundation) was launched in January 2006. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity that embodies the compassion of the NASCAR family and its commitment to serving communities. The Foundation supports a wide range of charitable initiatives that reflect the core values of the entire NASCAR family. The NASCAR Foundation will use strength of the sport and its people to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.
About Richard Childress Racing
Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com), celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2009, has earned more than 180 victories and 12 NASCAR championships, including six in the Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. Its 2009 Sprint Cup Series lineup includes Casey Mears (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s), Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil), Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar) and Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper). Its 2009 Nationwide Series lineup includes Bowyer, Burton and Stephen Leicht (No. 29 Holiday Inn).
Media Relations
Eric Whittington: ewhittin@wakehealth.edu, 336-716-5318
Main Number: news@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-4587