NASCAR announced today it has accepted an invitation to join Beyond Sport, a global organization that promotes, develops and supports the use of sport to create positive social change. NASCAR joins a coalition of leagues that includes Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Football League (NFL), the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) as part of Beyond Sport’s wider global network. NASCAR becomes the first motorsports organization to align with Beyond Sport.
Through Beyond Sport, NASCAR joins a movement led by a network of sports leagues that allows the sanctioning body to exchange best practices on community involvement, and to promote the numerous efforts of drivers, race teams, track operators and others within the industry to improve communities and the lives of people. It also provides NASCAR the opportunity to highlight the initiatives of the NASCAR Foundation, NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity and NASCAR Green while networking with leagues and their partners around the world.
As a founding supporter of Beyond Sport United, NASCAR Chairman and CEO, Brian France, will join Commissioners from the other major North American leagues as part of the Commissioners’ Roundtable at the Beyond Sport United annual gathering, November 13, 2012, at Yankee Stadium in New York. NASCAR also will have a significant presence in London this July, one week prior to the start of the Summer Olympic Games, as a participant in the annual Beyond Sport Summit & Awards, a gathering of global sports, political and business leaders to share ideas and honor the contributions of sport to society.
“We are very proud of the contributions our entire industry makes on a daily basis to better the lives, living conditions and futures of people from all walks of life, and especially kids,” said France. “From our green initiatives, to the work of the NASCAR Foundation, to the innumerable good works of NASCAR drivers, teams, tracks and our marketing partners, our industry is a leading example for giving back. We’re thrilled to align our commitment with that of our peers through Beyond Sport.”
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair serves as chairman of the Beyond Sport ambassadors, who work all over the world to promote the organization’s initiatives. Other ambassadors include: Bishop Desmond Tutu; Lord Sebastian Coe; Senator Bill Bradley; New York Rangers legend Mike Richter; Olympic champions Michael Johnson, Julie Foudy and Bob Beamon; and many other leaders from the world of sport, business and politics.
Beyond Sport Founder Nick Keller officially extended the invitation to NASCAR prior to the start of today’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“We are very excited to welcome NASCAR to Beyond Sport and look forward to promoting and supporting the NASCAR community’s collective efforts to make a difference in the world,” Keller said. “Sports are one of the most powerful platforms in any culture to promote good, and the combined strength and collective commitment of these leagues is coming together to drive important change. NASCAR makes the movement even stronger.”
NASCAR Unites is an industry platform that brings the passion and power of an entire sport together to make the world we live in a better place. This industry-wide initiative creates an opportunity for NASCAR fans, drivers, teams, tracks, sponsors and more to unite to improve the lives of those in need across the nation through volunteering, raising awareness and utilizing the assets of the sport to make a difference. NASCAR’s green initiatives and Drive For Diversity, along with more than 50 foundations operated by NASCAR drivers, teams and track partners work to benefit numerous causes ranging from the conservation of natural resources to pediatric health.
Since 2006, the NASCAR Foundation has donated more than $13 million to charitable organizations and helped provide medical treatment for more than 24,000 children annually. Additionally, the foundation has fulfilled more than 600 “NASCAR Dreams,” sent more than 1,100 kids to camp, recruited 12,000 fans to become part of a Volunteer Network, and created educational opportunities for school-aged students that help to engage them in science and engineering programs.
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