Infineon Raceway Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities Distributes $524,050 to Sonoma County Youth Groups SONOMA, Calif. (Nov. 26, 2007) “” The Infineon Raceway Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities will distribute $524,050 to 67 qualified youth organizations in Sonoma County for the 2007 season. This marks the third consecutive year the Infineon Raceway Chapter has topped the $500,000 mark “” it distributed a one-year record of $554,045 in 2005. Moreover, the chapter has distributed more than $2.6 million since 2002 to Sonoma County youth groups. The chapter’s Board of Trustees recently approved the distribution of funds at its annual meeting. Speedway Children’s Charities is the charitable arm of Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which owns and operates Infineon Raceway. “The entire proceeds from the Speedway Children’s Charities donation goes to providing recreational activities for children with cancer and life threatening illnesses,” said Bob Burke, founder of Bob Burke’s Kid, a SCC grant recipient. “There is a lot of love that goes on here, and we are so appreciative of the support.” The monies awarded in 2007 were generated through a combination of Infineon Raceway events, including the Raceway Builders Grand Marshal’s Banquet and the Race & Rock Charity Auction, which combined to raise more than $148,000. Both were held during the raceway’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series weekend in June. The 3rd annual Classic Sports Racing Group’s (CSRG) Charity Challenge also generated an additional $66,000. In all, the chapter hosted 13 events in 2007, primarily tied to the raceway’s motor racing events. The chapter also received a donation from Sonic Automotive Corporation, as well as other national funding. Speedway Children’s Charities is a non-profit organization with the purpose of raising funds to be distributed to qualified children’s organizations. Founded in 1984 by Bruton Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., Speedway Children’s Charities originated at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in North Carolina. Sixty-seven youth groups will receive funding from Speedway Children’s Charities in 2007: ANOVA Center for Education; Action Network; Bob Burke’s Kids; Boys & Girls Clubs of Petaluma; Canine Companions for Independence; Catholic Charities; Committee on the Shelterless; Community Action Partnership; Court Appointed Special Advocates; Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center; Grandparents Parenting Again; Hanna Boys Center; Hope Works Santa Rosa; Hospice by the Bay Foundation; Humane Society of Sonoma County; KRCB Public Radio; La Luz Center; LandPaths; Life Works of Sonoma County; Luther Burbank Memorial Foundation; Matrix Parent Network; McDowell Drug Task Force; Northern California Center for Well Being; Old Adobe School; Operation Youth of Sonoma Valley; Okizu Foundation; Petaluma Education Foundation; Petaluma People Services Center; Redwood Empire Food Bank; Redwood Empire Foster Parent Association; River Child Care Services; Roseland Charter School; Sonoma Children’s Cancer Foundation; Sonoma County Adult and Youth Development; Sonoma County Public Library Foundation; Sonoma County Repertory Theater; Sonoma Ecology Center; Sonoma Valley 4-H Club; Sonoma Valley Education Foundation (3); Sonoma Valley Film Society; Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance; Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau; Summer Search North Bay; The Living Room; The Salvation Army; The Literacy Garden; Twin Valley Aquatics; United Against Sexual Assault; Valley of the Moon Aquatics; Valley of the Moon Boys & Girls Club; Valley of the Moon Children’s Foundation; Valley of the Moon Education Foundation; Valley of the Moon Teen Center; Valley of the Moon Teen Parent; Volunteer Center of Sonoma County; WillMar Center for Bereaved Children; YWCA of Sonoma County. “It’s been so wonderful to have the ongoing support of Speedway Children’s Charities,” said Ellen LaBruce, executive director of La Luz Center. “The grant support allows us to provide healthcare, nutritional classes, family counseling and mental health services to those who may not otherwise have access to health services.” For more information on the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, email Denise Silver at [email protected] or call 707-933-3950.