Farmers Insurance is proud to donate $25,000 to Blessings in a Backpack in conjunction with its No. 25 Farmers Insurance 'Throwback' paint scheme that Mark Martin will drive in Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The donation spans three cities and will feed 374 students whose families qualify for the federal free and reduced meal program.
'This unique program with Farmers Insurance has lasting value for the community,' said Stan Curtis, Founder of Blessings in a Backpack. 'More than 62 percent of children in the United States public school system are on the free or reduced meal program. We've found that our program leads to better test scores, improved reading skills, positive behavior, improved health and increased attendance for the kids who benefit from it.'
The donation will aid three schools in communities with ties to Hendrick Motorsports: Community Charter School in Charlotte, N.C., a short drive from the team's facility; South Hill Elementary near car owner Rick Hendrick's hometown of Palmer Springs, Va.; and Sulphur Rock Elementary in Batesville, Ark., Martin's hometown.
'The Blessings in a Backpack organization fills a crucial void for children who might otherwise go hungry,' said Chuck Browning, Vice President of Community Branding for Farmers Insurance. 'This is a great way to enter NASCAR and our partnership with Hendrick Motorsports -- by supporting communities that are in need and important to all of us.'
Blessings in a Backpack is a non-profit organization that currently feeds more than 37,600 students in 216 schools in 32 states and three countries -- Canada, Colombia and Haiti. Students benefiting from the program receive a backpack full of food every Friday for three years.
'We're proud to be associated with organizations like Farmers that give back to the community,' said Hendrick, who attended South Hill Elementary. 'The schools that will benefit from this program have a lot of meaning to us, but it's going to mean even more to those kids and their families. What a special way to kick off our partnership with Farmers.'
On Thursday, members of the Hendrick Motorsports team will join representatives from Farmers Insurance at Hendrick Motorsports to fill 62 backpacks that will be donated to Community Charter School in Charlotte.
Farmers Insurance announced in April that it had joined Hendrick Motorsports as a five-race primary sponsor of the Chevrolets driven by Mark Martin in the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Farmers Insurance will launch its program with a special No. 25 Farmers Insurance Throwback Chevrolet in Saturday's NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The paint scheme will resemble the red No. 25 car fielded by Hendrick Motorsports for the first time in 1986 -- 25 years ago.
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This article was prepared by Leisure & Travel Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Leisure & Travel Week via VerticalNews.com.
