Online Auction Featuring Race-Worn Gear Generates Over $25,000
AURORA, Ill. (March 18, 2014) – Feld Motor Sports® announced today that Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, raised more than $50,000 at its first-ever Military Appreciation Race in support of Operation Homefront, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors.
A tremendous outpouring of support from Monster Energy Supercross and its family of sponsors generated $25,000 in donations, including Monster Energy, Rocky Mountain ATV/MC, KTM, FOX Sports 1 and Toyota for the San Diego stop of the championship on February 8. Additionally, many of the one-of-a-kind sets of military-themed racing gear were donated for an online auction hosted by Operation Homefront following the race. In total, gear from 11 different riders – including San Diego winner James Stewart, defending champion Ryan Villopoto, and former champions Chad Reed and Ryan Dungey – were available for fans to bid on in hopes of owning their piece of supercross history. In the end, the auction raised over $25,000 to bring the grand total of support for Operation Homefront in excess of $50,000.
“This San Diego Military Appreciation Race provided a truly unique opportunity for Monster Energy Supercross to not only show its gratitude for the sacrifices of our military members, but also support the important cause Operation Homefront is serving for our wounded veterans,” said Dave Prater, director of supercross, Feld Motor Sports. “This industry is one big family and our fans are dedicated in their love of the sport, and I think that’s evident in the amount monetary support we were able to generate for Operation Homefront.”
Feld Motor Sports provided the donation to Operation Homefront as unrestricted funds, giving the nonprofit the flexibility to apply the funds where it can do the most good to meet the needs of the military community. Operation Homefront has, over the last 12 years, developed the strength of a national organization, while focusing on serving military families at the very local level. Nationally, 93 percent of total donations to Operation Homefront go directly to programs that provide support to military families.
“Our service members and their families really are the core of America’s strength, and they face challenges that many don’t,” said Jack Chirrick, executive director of the California field office of Operation Homefront. “Last year we saw a tremendous spike in requests for emergency assistance, resulting in a 263 percent increase in the number of grants we awarded. We really appreciate new partners like Feld Motor Sports stepping forward to join our other partners in our mission to serve the families, active-duty service members, and veterans who have served all of us so selflessly.”
