Austin Hatcher Foundation Heads to Daytona to Kick Off 2023 IMSA Season with Fundraising and Awards
· Foundation begins ninth season as “proud charity” of IMSA
· IMSA to receive 2022 Impact Award, Hixon Motor Sports to receive 2022 Humanitarian Award
· Variety of auctions for the Foundation to take place throughout the weekend
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Jan. 24, 2023) – The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer brings exciting news and presentations as they head to the Daytona International Speedway in Florida for The Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, the annual sports car endurance race that kicks off the IMSA Weather-Tech SportsCar Championship this week.
This weekend’s Rolex 24 At DAYTONA marks the start of the 2023 season for the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and the continuation of their partnership with the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer.
The Foundation is continuing in its role as an official “Proud Charity” of IMSA for the ninth season. During 2022, IMSA and IMSA partners helped the Austin Hatcher Foundation raise over $116,000 through silent auctions, live paintings in hospitality corrals and donations. All of the money goes right back into the Foundation’s efforts to help erase the effects of childhood cancer.
The Austin Hatcher Foundation was the proud charity of the American Le Mans Series for five years before becoming one of two proud charities of IMSA in 2014. IMSA has impacted the Foundation by assisting in helping raise over $3,400,000 since 2009. IMSA will be presented with the 2022 Impact Award this weekend at a press conference with AHF President and CEO, Amy Jo Osborn.
“IMSA couldn’t be prouder to realize that over $3 million has been raised by our community for the Austin Hatcher Foundation since our partnership began 15 years ago,” said IMSA President John Doonan. “This is a testament to the importance of the Austin Hatcher Foundation’s mission and the quality of individuals who populate our race cars, paddocks and racetracks. It’s an honor to accept the 2022 Impact Award on behalf of my teammates at IMSA and the entire IMSA community.”
Osborn will also be presenting the 2022 Humanitarian Award to the IMSA team who made the most significant contribution toward the Foundation. The 2022 Humanitarian Award will be presented this year to Hixon Motor Sports. The multi-car, Mazda MX-5 Cup Team owned by Bryan Hixon not only upholds a strong commitment to supporting the Foundation, but also proudly displays the Foundation’s logo across their No. 87 racecar driven by top driver Selin “The Machine” Rollan.
“I’m honored to work with and support the Austin Hatcher Foundation by using our shared passion for racing while doing good for pediatric patients and their families,” said Bryan Hixon. “We are proud to have the No. 87 Hixon Motor Sports, Austin Hatcher Foundation, Mazda MX-5 Cup car driven by Selin Rollan in the field at Daytona and for the full season. I’d like to thank Amy Jo and everyone at AHF for this Humanitarian Award; let’s continue to support them so they can continue the great work in providing resources, opportunities, and assistance to these wonderful children.”
Partnering with IMSA has created relationships with various sports car teams, automobile manufacturers and racing-themed artists for the Austin Hatcher Foundation. Those relationships are responsible for at-track auctions of artwork, photography and sports car racing memorabilia that all fund the Foundation’s services provided to families facing pediatric cancer at no-cost.
Acclaimed motionsports artists Roger Warrick and Bill Patterson partner with the Foundation and will both appear this weekend, preparing paintings for auction in a variety of fan enthusiast areas. Both regularly donate their work for at-track auctions to benefit the Foundation.
Friday, Patterson will be painting in the Corvette Corral at 11 a.m., and the one-of-a-kind piece will be auctioned live at 12 p.m.
Saturday, Patterson will begin creating another signature piece in the PorschePlatz Corral at 9:30 a.m. The painting will be auctioned shortly after completion at 10:30 a.m. Also Saturday, Warrick will create one of his famous live-paintings beginning at 2 p.m. in the BMW Corral. Warrick’s piece will be auctioned a few hours later at 5:30 p.m. Patterson will then create a live piece in the Daytona International Speedway Rolex Lounge at 6:00 p.m. This piece will be auctioned beginning at 7:00 p.m.
All proceeds raised through live painting auctions and the Foundation’s IMSA partnership go directly to supporting families who have been impacted by pediatric cancer. The Foundation provides free services to every member of the family through a variety of evidence-based programs- such as Mental and Behavioral Health Therapy, Grief Counseling, Occupational Therapy, Neuro-Psych Testing, Family Programs and more.
To learn more about the Austin Hatcher Foundation, visit www.hatcherfoundation.org today.
