sets New Record
With double the turnout from only a year ago, fun and fundraising were a big part of the Grand-Am Day at Camp Boggy Creek last Wednesday. Over 80 participants, including drivers, team owners, crew members and sponsors, received a tour of the over 200-acre facility, played in the 3rd Annual Frisselle Brothers’ Mini-Golf Tournament and participated in a live auction to help raise more than $35,000 for Camp Boggy Creek.
“Once you come here, see the kids, talk with staff and experience the sights and sounds of camp, it motivates you to be involved,” said Steve Southard, owner of Southard Motorsports, who along with his wife, Martha, received a Schwarzkopf Society Award. This award is given to individuals, companies, foundations and organizations who make a commitment to Camp Boggy Creek with a minimum annual gift of $10,000 or more in a calendar year.
“Boggy Creek is very dear to us,” said Martha Southard. “We put just as much effort in promoting and contributing to children’s causes as we do racing.”
Grand-Am was also honored with a Schwarzkopf Society Award during the event for its contributions, which was accepted by president Roger Edmondson.
Taking the top spot in the mini-golf tournament was John Hondros, First Vice President—Wealth Services Team Leader, of SunTrust Banks. “I woke up very early to catch a plane so I could make the event and support such a worthwhile cause,” said Hondros. “I will be here next year for sure!”
Following a play-off to determine position, Dan Hingley, gearbox technician for AIM Autosport, took second place in the mini-golf tournament, and event co-founder and driver of the No. 47 Miracle Sealants/CDOC Ford Dallara, Burt Frisselle, took third place.
“Boggy Creek is such a special place and it’s so great to see this event grow from five participants to this crowd in just three years,” said Frisselle.
Part of the funds raised also came from a live auction that included golf equipment, a diamond necklace, a rare Arnold Palmer autographed book and a wooden racecar painted by one of the campers and autographed by Paul Newman, Academy Award winning actor and co-founder of Camp Boggy Creek.
“It is so great to have this kind of support and we are confident that this event will continue to grow each year. We sincerely thank all who help make it a success,” said Sarah Gurtis, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Development for Boggy Creek. The teams and partners involved with this year’s event at Camp Boggy Creek include Brumos Racing, AIM Autosport, Beyer Racing, Krohn Racing, Doran Racing, Farnbacher Loles Racing, Stevenson Motorsports, Michael Shank Racing, Rousch Yates Engines, Pirelli, SunTrust Racing, Southard Motorsports, Tom Johnson Camping and SunTrust Banks.
There are many ways to join Grand-Am's efforts to support Camp Boggy Creek. One such way is with "My Cause Checking" from SunTrust (an official Grand-Am partner). For a limited time, when you open any SunTrust checking account, SunTrust will donate $100 to the charity of your choice - including Boggy Creek. To support the Official Bank of the Grand-Am as well as help a great cause see suntrust.com/mycause for complete program details.
Grand-Am operates and sanctions the Rolex Sports Car Series and the KONI Challenge Series, is the premier road racing organization in North America. The 15-race 2008 Rolex Series schedule and the 11-race KONI Challenge Series calendar delivers professional sports car racing to key markets throughout North America in addition to being televised in the United States and Canada on SPEED and distributed globally through ESPN International. With title sponsorship support from Rolex Watch USA and presenting sponsorship from Crown Royal Cask No. 16, the Rolex Series showcases emerging and legendary drivers from around the globe and thoroughbred racing machines from the industry’s leading constructors and the world’s top automobile manufacturers.
