Archive for March, 2010

“Rookie of the Race” award that will benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation with a $150 donation

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

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Speedworks R&D Race report from Homestead-Miami Speedway: Lessons Learned on the High Banks at Homestead…

Chip Scarlett came home in 8th in his first-ever Mustang Challenge race in the season opener at Homestead Miami Speedway. He was awarded the Sunday Group Management “Rookie of the Race” award that will benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation with a $150 donation in his name. Graciously, Chip matched the donation with a $150 contribution of his own. In Race 2 at Homestead, Chip finished 7th, and was edged out of a second Rookie of the Race honor by Richard Golinello who finished 6th. The weekend garnered Chip 64 championship points.

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Teams and drivers of the American Le Mans Series share the racing experience with children and their families dealing with pediatric cancer in support of the Austin Hatcher Foundation.

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bob Dickinson, American Le Mans Series, Vice President, PR/Media Services, (678) 425-5869, radickinson@americanlemans.com
Allison Barry, American Le Mans Series, Manager, PR/Media Services, (678) 227-9395, abarry@americanlemans.com

Outreach in Orlando

Teams and drivers of the American Le Mans Series share the racing experience with children and their families dealing with pediatric cancer in support of the Austin Hatcher Foundation.

For the fifth consecutive season, the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón will visit local children’s hospitals within its race cities in support of its official charity, the Austin Hatcher Foundation.

Throughout 2010 and in support of its long standing relationship with the Foundation, Series’ teams and drivers will visit – for its second year – the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, March 13, between 11am-12:30pm prior to competing at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida.
The visit will feature appearances by such drivers as Johnny O’Connell from Corvette Racing who boasts the record for the most career starts in the Series, Patrón Spirits Company CEO and Extreme Speed Motorsports’ Ferrari pilot, Ed Brown, 27-year old JaguarRSR driver and recent 24 Hours of Daytona winner Ryan Dalziel and Cooper Tires Prototype Lites contender and Inspire Motorsports’ driver Gary Gibson.
During the visit, drivers will be handing out gifts such as autographed hero cards, Series-made activity books and bubbles, the universal symbol for the Austin Hatcher Foundation, as well as playing a Forza race car video game with the children dealing with pediatric cancer.
Since 2006, the Austin Hatcher Foundation has touched the lives of over 750 children and families in 10 cities and seven states around the United States.Throughout the upcoming season, that tradition continues as the Series actively participates through hospital visits, as well as by raising money and awareness for the Austin Hatcher Foundation through direct donations, Web and trackside merchandise sales, online race memorabilia, auctions, sales of limited-production American Le Mans Series/Austin Hatcher Foundation co-branded gear and through trackside diversionary therapy events centered around selected races.

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Learning Express Donates Toys to Hatch’s house of hope

Monday, March 8th, 2010

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ooltewah, TN

Contact: Jenny Stickley  jenny@hatcherfoundation.org

Learning Express Donates Toys to Hatch’s house of hope

March 8, 2010:  Learning Express Toys has donated $1800.00 worth of toys to the Child Life Center at Hatch’s house of hope.  Learning Express’s North Shore location celebrated its first anniversary last September, and pledged 10% of their earnings during the celebration to The Austin Hatcher Foundation and its Hatch’s house of hope.  The toys Learning Express has delivered, selected by the Hatch’s staff, are the product of that donation.

“We are so grateful for these incredible toys that will not only serve as entertainment for Hatch’s guests, but also function to help our child life experts diagnose cognitive deficits in these children,” said Amy Jo Osborn, President of the Austin Hatcher Foundation.  “The generosity of Mary Beth Conklin and her staff at Learning Express has made a huge impact at Hatch’s.”

“Giving back to the community is central to our business philosophy,” said Mary Beth Conklin, owner, Learning Express Toys.  “Hatch’s House of Hope is an outstanding organization that provides critical support to children facing life-threatening illnesses.  We’re honored to help them further their goal of serving these children and families in need.”

The Austin Hatcher Foundation for a carefree childhood was formed in 2006 after Amy Jo and Jim Osborn lost their infant son Hatch to a rare form of pediatric cancer.  The foundation’s mission is to support research towards the diagnosis, treatment and development of a cure for pediatric cancer, and to provide support and hope to children and families undergoing treatment as well as those who have lost children due to cancer.  The foundation has developed a landmark group of programs and services essential to help cancer stricken children and their families function within their community.  All services provided by the Foundation are free of charge, funded solely by the generous donations of its supporters.

Hatch’s house of hope is a unique concept designed to keep the family unit whole when dealing with pediatric cancer.  Specifically, these services include IIP neurocognitive testing, educational programming to help effected children overcome their cognitive and learning deficits, emotional counseling for the cancer affected child, their siblings and parents, and marital and financial counseling to ensure a safe environment to maximize the family growth as a whole.  All services at Hatch’s are free to its guests, funded entirely by donations.  Erlanger Medical Mall in Chattanooga, TN is the site of the first Hatch’s house of hope, which opened September 18, 2009.  For more information, visit www.hatcherfoundation.org.

Learning Express Toys is the nations largest franchisor of specialty toy stores with over 140 stores nationwide.  The stores stock unique toys that often cannot be found at larger retailers that encourage creativity and learning as well as foster developmental growth.  Chattanooga is home to two locations, both owned by Mary Beth and Cam Conklin.

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Ford Racing Mustang Challenge Launches Sunday Group Management “Rookie of the Race” Award to Benefit Austin Hatcher Foundation

Monday, March 8th, 2010



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Matt Cleary, Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com
317/908-2975 M

Ford Racing Mustang Challenge Launches Sunday Group Management “Rookie of the Race” Award to Benefit Austin Hatcher Foundation

Homestead FL– (5 March  2010) – As if there wasn’t enough for the new drivers in the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge to be racing for already, the newest members of the paddock will have a new honor to chase in 2010. And with the new award directly benefiting a worthy charity, the winners will have two reasons to feel good about it.


Mustang Challenge officials announced on Friday the establishment of the Sunday Group Management “Rookie of the Race” Award. The Award, sponsored by Mustang Challenge media partner Sunday Group Management, will see Sunday Group Management donate $150 to the Austin Hatcher Foundation in the name of the best-finishing rookie driver in each of the 11 rounds of Mustang Challenge competition.

The 2009 season saw the combined efforts of the series, its drivers, BFGoodrich Tires and Hurst Performance raise over $40,000 for the Austin Hatcher Foundation through the year. Drivers participated throughout the season in the Foundation’s diversionary therapy events designed to give families dealing with the effects of pediatric cancer a chance to escape the world of hospitals and doctors and create lasting memories together.  The drivers also visited local children’s hospitals in cities during the race season.

“Our relationship with the Mustang Challenge has been a really gratifying one, and this new rookie award is just another new chapter in this partnership, so we are very pleased,” said Austin Hatcher Foundation co-founder Amy Jo Osborn. “I want to thank the drivers for their efforts, and we are looking forward to another successful year. Best of luck to all the rookies of course!”

Three drivers will be eligible for the award this weekend as Roberto Bengoa, John “Chip” Scarlett, and Richard Golinello vie to be the first winner of the Sunday Group Management Rookie of the Race, and all three will get two chances as the series opens with a double-header.

“We are very proud of our relationship with the Austin Hatcher Foundation, and we’ve been amazed by how our drivers and partners have stepped up to help such an amazing cause,” said  Mustang Challenge Series Director Lynda Randall. “To combine a new rookie award with something so dear to our hearts is really a win-win, and I am excited that Sunday Group Management has signed on to help make this happen.”

The Austin Hatcher Foundation for a carefree childhood was formed in 2006 after Amy Jo and Jim Osborn lost their infant son Hatch to a rare form of pediatric cancer.  The foundation’s mission is to support research towards the diagnosis, treatment and development of a cure for pediatric cancer, and to provide support and hope to children and families undergoing treatment as well as those who have lost children due to cancer.  The foundation has developed a landmark group of programs and services essential to help cancer stricken children and their families function within their community.

Sunday Group Management is based in Indianapolis with clients in GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Star Mazda Championship, and NASCAR Sprint Cup competition as well as the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge.   For additional information: www.sundaymanagement.com, sundaygroupmanagement.blogspot.com, www.facebook.com/sundaygroup, or twitter.com/Sundaygroup


About Ford Racing Mustang Challenge: The Ford Racing Mustang Challenge is a professional racing series co-developed by Ford Racing and Miller Motorsports Park. Utilizing the new Ford Mustang FR500S and sanctioned by the Grand-Am Road Racing, Mustang Challenge is a support series to major professional road racing events across North America.  Mustang Challenge is an affordable, challenging platform for racers who want to compete in a V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive car on a level playing field that showcases driver ability in high-profile events. A competitive point structure and generous purses make the Mustang Challenge The Place to Race!
LHM

The Ford Racing Mustang Challenge is an ongoing continuation of the passion, vision, and commitment that Larry H Miller had for Ford and the Ford Mustang. The Ford Racing Mustang Challenge is just one of the countless living legacies of Mr. Miller, and the drivers, team, and fans of the Mustang Challenge are proud to honor his memory and carry on his passion. Thank you, Mr. Miller.


Attached image–a small token towards a big effort…


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INKHEAD.COM DONATES PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS TO AUSTIN HATCHER FOUNDATION

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

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INKHEAD.COM DONATES PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS TO AUSTIN HATCHER FOUNDATION

Leading online promotional products distributor Inkhead.com has donated $2500.00 of its customized promotional products to the Austin Hatcher Foundation.  The Foundation plans to use the products not only for marketing, but also as gifts for children participating in the Foundation’s diversionary therapy, taking place at children’s hospitals across the country.

“We are excited for our participating race car drivers to have fun promotional products to pass out to the pediatric cancer patients they see on their hospital visits,” said Amy Jo Osborn, Co-Founder of the Austin Hatcher Foundation.  “We have selected jars of bubbles as our first product.”  The Foundation plans to have participating ALMS drivers pass out Austin Hatcher Foundation logo bubbles at pediatric hospials across the country.

“The promotional products that InkHead.com sells are designed for awareness campaigns.  We are excited that Inkhead.com can help promote the Austin Hatcher Foundation and its mission through our products and happy to be part of such a worthy cause,” said Jason Miller of Inkhead.com.

The Austin Hatcher Foundation for a carefree childhood was formed in 2006 after Amy Jo and Jim Osborn lost their infant son Hatch to a rare form of pediatric cancer.  The foundation’s mission is to support research towards the diagnosis, treatment and development of a cure for pediatric cancer, and to provide support and hope to children and families undergoing treatment as well as those who have lost children due to cancer.  The foundation has developed a landmark group of programs and services essential to help cancer stricken children and their families function within their community.  All services provided by the Foundation are free of charge, funded solely by the generous donations of its supporters.

Hatch’s house of hope is a unique concept designed to keep the family unit whole when dealing with pediatric cancer.  Specifically, these services include IIP neurocognitive testing, educational programming to help effected children overcome their cognitive and learning deficits, emotional counseling for the cancer affected child, their siblings and parents, and marital and financial counseling to ensure a safe environment to maximize the family growth as a whole.  All services at Hatch’s are free to its guests, funded entirely by donations.  Erlanger Medical Mall in Chattanooga, TN is the site of the first Hatch’s house of hope, which opened September 18, 2009.  For more information, visit www.hatcherfoundation.org.

Inkhead.com is the premier online distributor of personalized promotional products.  Started in 2003, Inkhead.com currently has one of the most diverse product selections available online.  The company earned the Promotional Products Industry Association International (PPAI) “Best of the Best” award for 2010.  With over 12,000 custom promotional items available, there is no better way to access the best promotional products.

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