Team Penske and Meijer team up to help Big Brothers Big Sisters
December 07, 2010 | By Julie Dolak
NOBLESVILLE, INDIANA- Team Penske IZOD IndyCar Series drivers Ryan Briscoe, Helio Castroneves and Will Power visited a greater-Indianapolis region Meijer Monday night to help provide a special holiday shopping experience for 40 underserved youth from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana and Noble Crossing Elementary school.
As part of the event, the children enjoyed a pizza party and were then provided with a $200 Meijer gift card to use towards items on their Christmas wish list. Each child was also provided with an additional $20 Meijer gift card to purchase a toy to donate to the “Toys for Tots” program.
The IZOD IndyCar Series drivers were paired with several youth to help them select their items, making the night even more memorable for the children. Melvin Bullitt, Pierre Garcon, and Ryan Mathis, of the Indianapolis Colts, were also part of the “celebrity” shopper group.
“This event is particularly special because the drivers have the opportunity to reach out and give something to children who would not have this otherwise had the money to spend,” said Will Power.
“I want a guitar so I can learn to play music like Willow Smith, my favorite singer,” shared Anastasia, one of the children excited to be a part of the special holiday event. When told that she might be paired upwith an IZOD IndyCar driver to shop, a large smile came across her face as Anastasia said “I wonder if they will want me to pick out race car toys!”
Jokingly, all of the drivers agreed that an Indy 500 win this season would rank high on their Christmas lists. Ryan Briscoe shared that he wouldlike “a nice, cork dartboard” and Will Power added “a pool table.”
This is the fourth year the Colts and Meijer have teamed up for this holiday shopping event, and the first year that Team Penske has been involved. “We have not had many opportunities to reach out to youth, but I am happy that this event can be the first of many events with children," said Helio Castroneves.
Penske Racing recently announced that Meijer will join Team Penske as a sponsor of its three-car IZOD IndyCar Series program, beginning with the 2011 season. This event marks an exciting start to the Penke’s partnership with Meijer.
2011 Indy 500 tickets: Tickets are on sale for the 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500, “The Most Important Race in History,” on Sunday, May 29, 2011 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Race Day ticket prices start at just $20. Fans can buy tickets online at www.imstix.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or by visiting the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.
Children 12 and under will be receive free general admission to any IMS event in 2011 when accompanied by an adult general admission ticket holder.
Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.