Today, The NASCAR Foundation and the Chicago Street Race announced that it will expand its race-week charitable efforts in Chicago, with the return of the “Gear Up for Good” charity dinner at Steak 48 to benefit the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, and the inaugural Lerner & Rowe Gives Back Celebrity Golf Tournament benefiting the Special Olympics Illinois and The NASCAR Foundation. Special Olympics Illinois will also return to the 2024 Chicago Street Race Weekend as the beneficiary of this year‘s 50/50 raffle.
In anticipation of the 2024 Chicago Street Race — which will return to Grant Park, July 6-7 — The NASCAR Foundation will return to Steak 48 on Wednesday, July 3 from 5-8 p.m. to host its second annual fundraising dinner, with proceeds benefiting the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago‘s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women. Last year‘s dinner at Steak 48 included a star-studded red carpet featuring local dignitaries and notable NASCAR Cup drivers like 2004 Cup Series champion Kurt Busch, 2023 DAYTONA 500 champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and young phenom Harrison Burton, as well as NBC Broadcast talent such as Steve Letarte and Jeff “The Mayor” Burton. To register for this year‘s “Gear Up for Good” dinner at Steak 48, visit nascarfoundation.org/chicago.
New for 2024, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett will host the first-ever Lerner & Rowe Gives Back Celebrity Golf Tournament two days later, on the morning of Friday, July 5 at Harborside International Golf Center in Chicago. The tournament, which is slated to feature NASCAR celebrities, will benefit the Special Olympics Illinois and The NASCAR Foundation. Harborside International is managed by Northbrook, Ill.-based KemperSports and is considered one of the best public golf courses in the Chicagoland area with 36 holes of golf and iconic views of the Chicago skyline. Sponsorships and foursome entries for the Celebrity Golf Tournament are available. To register, visit nascarfoundation.org/chicagogolf.
In addition to the Celebrity Golf Tournament, Special Olympics Illinois will also be the recipient of the 2024 NASCAR Chicago Street Race 50/50 raffle proceeds. Tickets for the 50/50 raffle will officially kick-off on Friday, June 7, in conjunction with the Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games, June 7-9 in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois.
“The NASCAR Foundation is proud to return to Chicago with an expanded presence during this year‘s Race Week,” said Nichole Krieger, Vice President & Executive Director of The NASCAR Foundation. “Giving back in the communities where we live, work and race is paramount to the Foundation and we are delighted to build upon our positive momentum in year two in order to grow our impact in the Chicago area.”
In addition to the events organized by The NASCAR Foundation, the Chicago Street Race team itself is active within the Chicago community 365-days a year. To date, NASCAR has invested nearly $2 million in community initiatives throughout Chicago, including $155k to local area hospitals and a $50k contribution to Chicago Park District Teen Centers to upgrade their esports offerings.
“Community engagement is at the forefront of everything we do here at the Chicago Street Race,” said Julie Giese, Chicago Street Race President. “To see our larger motorsports industry come together and continue to grow its charitable presence in this market is a testament to what we‘re building in Chicago, and what we can do to help uplift our community — not only during race week, but on a year-round basis.”
— NASCAR —
