What happens when 50 “AWSUM” student-athletes join forces to raise money by working events at Charlotte Motor Speedway? Their extraordinary efforts result in tens of thousands of dollars being distributed in the local community.
Athletes Who Share Unselfish Moments (AWSUM) is a nonprofit organization founded at Mount Pleasant High School in 2005 by a student-athlete who wished to get all athletes more involved in giving back to the community. The school is located approximately 25 minutes from the speedway.
Charlotte Motor Speedway annually reaches out to the AWSUM Club for opportunities to raise money at large events like the Coca-Cola 600, Bank of America 500 and NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Their response is always timely and grateful.
“Every time I receive an email from Charlotte Motor Speedway with an opportunity, we answer the call, whether it is for an event managed by the speedway or a company leasing the property. When our club is referenced as a potential provider of volunteers and help, we take that seriously and follow through – always,” said AWSUM Club faculty adviser and 12th grade English teacher Michael Landers.
The athletes range from freshmen to seniors participating in a variety of sports including football, basketball, baseball, track, cross country, volleyball, swimming, golf, cheerleading and wrestling.
Their favorite events take place during May’s 10 Days of NASCAR Thunder, highlighted by the Coca-Cola 600 and the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.
“It’s entertaining, and I know our sacrificed time is going to fund causes that we collectively, as a club, are able to choose,” said junior Rachel Davis.
During this school year alone, the AWSUM Club has raised $34,100. More than $15,000 came from working events at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The money goes toward multiple causes, including The Down Syndrome Association, Autism Speaks, the family of a student with a rare disease and an alumna with cancer.
These annual events have given the AWSUM Club at least a decade of fundraising opportunities, earning the organization recognition from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association for its charitable efforts.
Ever wondered why Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Gate 5 at the front of the track usually has a short line?
Credit the hard work of these student-athletes.
Fans entering through Gate 5, or any gate the altruistic young men and women of Mount Pleasant High School are working, will aid great causes including needy families, food banks, cancer causes, scholarships and local hospitals.
Additionally, the AWSUM Club’s success has seen the program begin to expand, with nearby Hickory Ridge High School in Harrisburg, North Carolina, developing its own AWSUM Club chapter with plans of volunteering at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
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