ATLANTA – As Manheim strives to support the community, the company has partnered with The Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America to become the presenting sponsor of its 20th Anniversary Ride. The coast-to-coast motorcycle tour being held May 3-10 will serve as a fundraiser for Victory Junction, a camp created to enrich the lives of children with chronic or life threatening illnesses.
More than 175 riders are expected to participate in the event that begins in Carlsbad, Calif. The participants, including Manheim EVP and Chief Operating Officer Janet Barnard and three other Manheim leaders, will travel more than 2,800 miles before reaching Daytona Beach, Fla., on May 10. Founded by former NASCAR driver and racing analyst Kyle Petty, the Ride raises funds and awareness for Victory Junction. Manheim sponsored last year’s event.
“Manheim is a proud sponsor of The Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America,” Barnard said. “Our company takes pride in sponsoring this event that allows us to help children who are dealing with serious illnesses and medical conditions. I was fortunate enough to be able to ride last year, and it was amazing to see all of the children and families who came to support the ride. It's truly meaningful to sponsor such a worthwhile cause that is making differences in the lives of children and their families."
“What began as just a few friends having a good time riding track to track has turned into what we have today, which is an incredible event that provides thousands of life changing experiences for children,” Petty said. “This is the first year we’ve traveled straight from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, and I’m looking forward to experiencing it with friends, while meeting our fans and generous supporters along the way.”
Here is the 2014 Kyle Petty Charity Ride Schedule:
This year, the Manheim group will be joined by NASCAR Hall of Famer and seven time champion Richard Petty (Kyle’s father), NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth, former NASCAR driver and Bo-Dyn Olympic bobsled founder Geoff Bodine, NASCAR legends Harry Gant and Donnie Allison, former NFL great Herschel Walker, Fox News contributor and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives Col. Allen West, and co-host of History Channel’s Top Gear America and NASCAR personality Rutledge Wood. Other Manheim participants include Nick Peluso, president of Global RMS; William Weston, senior director of customer management and shared services, and Butch Herdegen, general manager of Manheim Orlando and Manheim Central Florida.
Communities along the route are encouraged to show support for the riders, meet the Petty family and also contribute to the Charity Ride’s “Small Change. Big Impact.” program that benefits children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses.
Over the past 10 years, more than 7,730 children with health issues that would typically prevent them from attending Camp have attended Victory Junction at no cost to their families, thanks to the Kyle Petty Charity Ride. Since its inception by the Petty family in 2004 in honor of their late son Adam, the Camp has served as the Ride’s primary beneficiary.
To follow Kyle Petty and the riders live, visit www.facebook.com/KPCharityRide or on Twitter and Instagram, @KylePetty and @KPCharityRide.
About the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America (KPCRAA) (http://www.kylepettycharityride.com/index.php)
Led by former NASCAR driver and racing analyst Kyle Petty, the KPCRAA raises awareness and funds for Victory Junction. The KPCRAA is one of the most successful and popular charity events in the country. Now in its 20th year, more than 7,330 riders have logged more than 10.7 million cumulative motorcycle miles and donated $15 million to Victory Junction Camp and other children’s charities.
About Victory Junction (www.victoryjunction.org)
Victory Junction is a year-round camping environment for children, ages six to 16, with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. Founded by the Petty family in honor of their son Adam, the Camp is located in Randleman, N.C. Victory Junction offers programs for a range of disease groups and maintains strong relationships with more than 30 partner hospitals. Victory Junction’s mission is to provide life changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering, in a safe and medically-sound environment. As a not-for-profit organization, the Camp operates solely through the support of generous individuals, foundations, organizations and corporations to provide this experience at no charge to children and their families. Since the Camp’s inception, more than 19,000 children and families have received not only a circle of support but experiences thought to only be possible by healthy children. Victory Junction is a member of the SeriousFun Children’s Network of Camps founded by Paul Newman, and is accredited by the rigorous guidelines of the American Camping Association.
About Manheim (www.manheim.com)
Manheim is the leading global provider of vehicle remarketing services, connecting buyers and sellers of used vehicles to the largest wholesale used-vehicle marketplace. The company helps dealer and commercial customers achieve results by providing physical and digital auction channels, data analysis, financing, transportation and mobile products and solutions.
Manheim pioneered in-lane vehicle auctions and has been an innovator in both digital and mobile auction platforms. Manheim registers nearly 8 million used vehicles annually, facilitating transactions representing more than $50 billion in value. Manheim’s research and consulting arm, Manheim Consulting, provides industry-leading market intelligence and publishes the widely recognized annual Used Car Market Report. The company offers dealer financing though NextGear Capital, Inc., and transportation services through Ready Auto Transport.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Manheim has more than 20,000 employees in 107 worldwide sites and generates annual revenues of more than $2.5 billion. A subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Manheim participates in “Go Green with Manheim,” the company’s sustainability program.