Drive to End Hunger revs up for second season in NASCAR

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.— Following a successful first year in NASCAR, AARP and AARP Foundation’s Drive to End Hunger is revving up for the 2012 race season with new at-track activities for fans at select races, as well as new initiatives in communities across the country to advance the fight against older adult hunger.

“We’re thrilled to be revving up for another year in NASCAR and continuing our work to help nearly nine million older Americans in communities across the country who face the threat of hunger,” said AARP Foundation President Jo Ann Jenkins. “This year, we have exciting and fun opportunities for fans at the racetrack, as well as innovative work off the track to build sustainable solutions for preventing older adult hunger.”

The centerpiece of Drive to End Hunger in 2012 will once again be four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon driving the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports in 22 races, including the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400. Fans at these races and 12 others throughout the year will be able to visit the Drive to End Hunger Experience, an at-track mobile unit that will allow fans to play video games and compete with friends in the “Hungry for Knowledge” trivia game. Game winners and donors can receive Drive to End Hunger collectors’ items, including commemorative coins, autographed hats and beverage koozies.

“NASCAR fans love the action when the cars get moving on raceday, but the action at this interactive experience begins well before the green flag drops,,” said Gordon. “The Drive to End Hunger Experience is a great way for families and fans to have fun playing games while also helping out an important cause. Plus, if you’re as competitive as I am, you’re going to want to win those prizes.”

Even before the start of the Sprint Cup Series season, AARP Foundation has already been busy raising awareness and funds, as well as supporting sustainable solutions for the fight against older adult hunger. In January Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick donated the first Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible for auction, raising a total of $700,000 for AARP Foundation to support Drive to End Hunger. Also in January, AARP Foundation announced a series of ten Innovation Grants to community-based non-governmental organizations for programs with promising results that can be applied elsewhere to prevent hunger. Earlier this month, Hendrick Motorsports sponsor Quaker State announced a promotional campaign during which it is donating proceeds from the sale of specially marked bottles sold in Walmart stores to AARP Foundation to support Drive to End Hunger.

All contributions to Drive to End Hunger go to support the hunger solutions of AARP Foundation. Since AARP and AARP Foundation launched Drive to End Hunger in 2011, the initiative has donated more than 5.8 million meals and driven corporate and individual donor commitments with an expected value of $15.1 million.

“We were blown away by the heart and generosity of NASCAR fans in 2011, and we couldn’t be happier with an on-track champion like Jeff Gordon,” said Jenkins. “Just like Jeff, I think this year is going to be even better, so buckle up.”

For more information about Drive to End Hunger, please visit www.DrivetoEndHunger.org.