13th Annual Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Gears up for 2007 East Coast Adventure
Charlotte, N.C. (March 16, 2007) - The Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America announced today the ride route for its 2007 motorcycle ride. NASCAR driver Kyle Petty will be joined by Chick-fil-A President and Chief Operating Officer Dan Cathy, as more than 250 participants, including NASCAR celebrities, ride sponsors and motorcycle enthusiasts, travel more than 2,800 miles in eight days. The group will travel the East Coast from the woodlands of New England to the Blue Ridge Mountains as it heads towards its final destination, the beaches of Florida.
Now in its 13th year, the Charity Ride has included more than 5,350 riders who have logged more than 45,000 miles and donated more than $9 million to charity. In 2006, the Ride donated $1.2 million to the Victory Junction Gang Camp and other children's charities. Petty and his wife, Pattie, founded the Victory Junction Gang Camp, which is dedicated to enriching the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering, in a safe and medically sound environment.
"The Charity Ride gets bigger and better every year thanks to the unbelievable support of our faithful riders, sponsors and fans," said Petty. "Pattie and I deeply appreciate the individuals across the nation whose generosity touches the lives of deserving children and their families. We are excited to shake things up a bit this year and travel the East Coast - and to see our fans, who give us the energy and motivation to keep going."
The 2007 Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride kicks off in Bar Harbor, Maine, on July 14 and will make overnight stops in Woodstock, Vt.; Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Gettysburg, Pa.; Hot Springs, Va.; Augusta, Ga.; St. Augustine, Fla.; and concludes on July 20 when riders will relax at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. Fuel and overnight stops throughout the Ride will be marked by events and activities for fans, supporters and riders. On July 18, riders will stop at the Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, N.C., to meet campers and tour the grounds. This week, designed for children with burn, skin or craniofacial disorders, is funded by proceeds from the 2006 Charity Ride. As a result of The Ride's efforts, 80 children will attend the 5-day camp session free of charge.
"We at Chick-fil-A are thrilled to continue supporting a worthy program such as the Kyle Petty Charity Ride," said Chick-fil-A President and Chief Operating Officer Dan Cathy. "Children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses have the opportunity to create special memories and develop new friendships at the Victory Junction Gang Camp; these experiences create a positive impact that's hard to match."
In 2006, fans and spectators donated coins along the Charity Ride route through the "Small Change. Big Impact." program. These donations totaled more than $53,000 - the equivalent of sending 21 additional campers to the Victory Junction Gang Camp at no cost to their families. "Small Change. Big Impact." will collect contributions again in 2007 and also will extend its reach into communities along the Ride route. Led by Kyle Petty, riders will create acts of goodwill in communities along the Ride route, demonstrating that quarters add up to make dollars - hundreds and thousands of dollars - and even the smallest act of kindness can benefit children across the nation in big ways.
For the fourth year, Chick-fil-A will serve as the title sponsor of the Charity Ride and recently announced its extension of the sponsorship through 2009. Other 2007 sponsors include Victory Motorcycles/Polaris Industries, Pilot Travel Centers LLC, SunTrust Banks, Sunoco (the official fuel of NASCAR), Wells Fargo, Coca-Cola, Dodge Motorsports, Sprint Nextel and Wincraft Racing. To learn more about the 2007 Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, visit www.kylepettycharityride.com
About the Kyle Petty Charity Ride
NASCAR driver Kyle Petty combined his passion for helping others and his love of motorcycles to create The Chick-fil-A Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America. Formed in 1995, the Kyle Petty Charity Ride has become one of the most successful and popular charity events in NASCAR. The annual trek features NASCAR celebrities, ride sponsors and motorcycle enthusiasts traveling cross-country to raise money for The Victory Junction Gang Camp and other children's charities. Now in its 13th year, the Charity Ride has logged more than 45,000 miles, encompassed more than 5,350 riders and donated more than $9 million.
About Victory Junction Gang Camp
The Victory Junction Gang Camp is a not-for-profit organization founded by NASCAR driver Kyle Petty and his wife, Pattie, in honor of their son Adam. Located on 72 acres in Randleman, N.C., the camp opened its doors in 2004 to enrich the lives of children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses by creating camping experiences that are memorable, exciting, fun, empowering, physically safe and medically sound. More information is about the camp is available at www.victoryjunction.org
About Chick-fil-A Inc.
Celebrating its 40th year in business, Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc., is the nation's second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain (based on sales), with nearly 1,300 restaurants in 37 states and Washington D.C. In 2006, Chick-fil-A produced record sales of $2.275 billion - a 15.16 percent overall increase and an 8.52 percent same-store sales gain that helped extend the chain's streak of consecutive sales gains to 39 years.
Credited with inventing the boneless breast of chicken sandwich and first introducing the chicken nugget concept, Chick-fil-A serves nutritious and freshly prepared food products in mall locations, stand-alone restaurants, drive-thru-only restaurants, Chick-fil-A Dwarf House(r) and Truett's Grill(r) full-service restaurants, and through licensed outlets in college campuses, hospitals, airports, businesses and industrial sites.
2007 Ride Route
Saturday, July 14 Bar Harbor, Maine to Woodstock, Vt. Sunday, July 15 Woodstock, Vt. to Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Monday, July 16 Saratoga Springs, N.Y. to Gettysburg, Pa. Tuesday, July 17 Gettysburg, Pa. to Hot Springs, Va. Wednesday, July 18 Hot Springs, Va. to Victory Junction Gang Camp, Randleman, N.C. Randleman, N.C. to Augusta, Ga. Thursday, July 19 Augusta, Ga. to St. Augustine, Fla. Friday, July 20 St. Augustine, Fla. to Hollywood, Fla.
