Earnhardt & Olsen raffling a “Weekend with the 88s”

NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., who drives the No. 88 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, is teaming up with Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen, who wears the No. 88 in the National Football League, to raffle off the ultimate sports experience called “Weekend With The 88s.” Proceeds from the raffle will benefit Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, N.C.

For the price of only $18.88, fans can purchase a ticket and enter the drawing for “Weekend With The 88s.” One lucky winner and a guest will be treated to a three-day experience that includes racing, football, and private meet-n-greets with the No. 88s – Earnhardt Jr. and Olsen. The total package includes:

FRI., OCT. 24

  • Private tour of JR Motorsports in Mooresville, N.C. • $200 gift certificate to JR Nation retail store • Meet-n-greet with Olsen at Bank of America Stadium • Behind-the-scenes guided tour of Bank of America Stadium

SAT., OCT. 25

  • Round-trip helicopter flight from Charlotte to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (weather permitting) • Meet-n-greet with Earnhardt Jr. at Martinsville Speedway • Garage passes and grandstand tickets for the Kroger 200 Camping World Truck Series race

SUN., OCT. 26

  • Parking pass, pregame field passes, and premium tickets for Carolina Panthers vs. Seattle Seahawks

Tickets can be purchased at www.WeekendWithThe88s.com. The raffle begins at 10 a.m. ET on July 23, 2014, and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on Sept. 30, 2014. The winner will be drawn on Oct. 1. Only 8,888 tickets will be sold.

“I met Greg earlier this year, and we wanted to get our foundations working together and offer up a really cool experience for fans who share the same passions as we do,” said Earnhardt Jr. “Weekend With The 88s will be a one-of-a-kind experience, and the best part is it benefits Levine Children’s Hospital, which I know Greg has experienced firsthand the impact it makes on families.”

Olsen’s son, T.J., was born with a congenital heart defect known as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome in 2012. That led The Greg Olsen Foundation to create HEARTest Yard, a family service that provides families of babies affected by congenital heart disease with a multitude of services, including in-home nursing care, physical therapy and speech therapy.

“The opportunity to partner with Dale Jr. and The Dale Jr. Foundation is a true honor,” said Olsen. “To work with such a successful, respected, and generous family is a privilege, and we look forward to our joint efforts to support our community.”

The Dale Jr. Foundation has made a monumental impact in the local community since its beginning. Dedicated to giving underprivileged individuals, with a focus on youth, the resources to achieve extraordinary goals, TDJF has contributed to more than 300 charities nationally and locally, including The Make-A-Wish Foundation, Blessings in a Backpack, Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte, Ace and TJ’s Grin Kids, and Mooresville Christian Mission.

“We are delighted to partner with two individuals who have been so generous in supporting worthy causes throughout the region,” said Michael Tarwater, CEO of Levine Children’s Hospital. “Levine Children’s Hospital could not have been built without community philanthropy; and, since the hospital opened, outside support has made a huge difference in supporting our research on pediatric diseases, clinical trials, acquisition of new equipment and family support programs. Because families like the Earnhardts and Olsens are so civic-minded, many more children can now stay in this area for highly complex treatments, rather than having to travel long distances for care.”

JRM PR