Year One of A Three Year Deal will showcase “Racing for Miracles” Program

Memphis, TN -- (SBWire) -- 06/25/2009 -- Children’s Miracle Network, an international nonprofit that raises funds for children’s hospitals, announced today a three year partnership with High Octane Thrills, the governing body of the up and coming Caged Heat Racing Series, scheduled to debut in April 2010. Preceding the race kickoff, beginning in July, the two are working together to activate the “Racing for Miracles” campaign, a philanthropic fundraiser seeking to raise $1 million for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.

The “Racing for Miracles” campaign, which will run from July 1, 2009-October 16, 2009, will provide consumers with a variety of easy-to-use donation options right on the “Racing for Miracles” website: www.racingformiracles.com. Donors can either donate directly to the campaign or participate in the campaign’s main attraction, the “Racing for Miracles” race. Between July 1 and July 31, interested participants will be able to register their very own virtual car for the race with a $5 donation. Throughout the qualifying month of August and the main event month of September, participants will be able to solicit $1 donation votes and track their car’s progress. Like any good competition, cars will advance to the next round based on their “performance” (number of votes/donations collected). The main event round will conclude September 31, 2009 and the top ten finishers will be invited to the October 16, 2009 awards banquet.

“We believe this is a great opportunity for our donors to engage with two of America’s greatest pastimes: charity and competition,” said LaMar Williams, Children’s Miracle Network’s Director of New Sponsor Marketing. “The ‘Racing for Miracles’ race will inspire both children and parents alike to get involved with Children’s Miracle Network as they work together to create the car design, solicit votes, and track their car’s progress. It really is a win-win situation for each participant because, regardless of their car’s finish in the race, their donation with their personal registration and votes accrued will help save lives.”

The “Racing for Miracles” campaign will also include a twelve stop media tour where a “Racing for Miracles” signature car will make appearances at Children’s Miracle Network hospitals throughout the country. Each host location will be encouraged to invite local celebrities, businesses, and citizens to the event in order to drive excitement for “Racing for Miracles” and inspire community members to create miracles by donating to the cause.

“The media tour will be a rare opportunity for people across the country to interact with celebrities and help save lives while enjoying the ‘Racing for Miracles’ signature car,” said Thomas Walls, President and CEO of High Octane Thrills. “It will give us the chance to inform racing fans across the country about our new cutting edge circuit while doing what we can to help give back. The tour will raise money for those specific community hospitals so participants will know where their donation went, something people love and need to see in this economy. With the tour and the race, everyone involved is a winner.”

About Children’s Miracle Network:
Children’s Miracle Network® is a non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children’s hospitals. Countless individuals, organizations and media partners unite with Children’s Miracle Network hospitals to help sick and injured kids in local communities. Donations to Children’s Miracle Network create miracles by funding medical care, research and education that save and improve the lives of 17 million children each year.

Every child deserves the hope and healing of children’s hospitals. With the help of a Children’s Miracle Network hospital in their community, children of all ages and backgrounds can receive treatment for every imaginable disease and injury—from asthma and broken bones to cancer and heart defects. Children’s hospitals are also on the front lines of research, education and outreach programs that keep millions of kids out of the hospital each year.

This year alone, Children’s Miracle Network hospitals will provide charity care worth billions, yet these children’s hospitals depend on community support to help fund their vital services.

To ensure children’s hospitals have the resources they need, Children’s Miracle Network’s partners conduct thousands of special events and grassroots fundraisers year-round. Corporate partners sell Miracle Balloons, radio and television stations broadcast stories of medical miracles, and college students hold Dance Marathons—just a few of the programs generating millions of dollars each year to provide the life-saving care and crucial services kids need.

Through its continuous efforts to help kids, Children’s Miracle Network has raised more than $3.4 billion to date, most of which is donated a dollar or two at a time by caring individuals.

Children’s Miracle Network has grown dramatically since its founding in 1983, from a televised fundraiser in a small studio to one of the world’s leading children’s charities helping million of kids each year.

To donate or to learn more, go to http://ChildrensMiracleNetwork.org.