July 25, 2008
Contact:
Vanessa Vaughan, The Conservation Fund, 703.908.5809
Chelsea, MI – Racing for Wildlife – a joint effort between the Ryan Newman Foundation and The Conservation Fund – in partnership with Michigan International Speedway (MIS), Michigan United Conservation Clubs and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), is hosting its first Racing for Wildlife Charity Trap Shoot on Thursday, August 14, 2008, at the Chelsea Rod and Gun Club. NASCAR’s winner of the Daytona 500, Ryan Newman, will make a special appearance.
Proceeds from the event will aid restoration efforts at Mill Lake Youth Camp, a historic camp built in the 1930s. Racing for Wildlife and its partners are working to raise $1.5 million to fully restore Mill Lake Youth Camp and open it to the public. Once restored, the camp - located 25 miles northeast of Michigan International Speedway – will offer kids and families outdoor education programs and recreational opportunities.
Attendees will take part in a competitive clay pigeon shooting “flight”. Tickets for the charity trap shoot can be purchased online through eBay at http://stores.ebay.com/Racing-for-Wildlife. Cost for attendance is $100 per adult and $50 per child (16 and under). Lunch is included.
In 2007, The Ryan Newman Foundation teamed up with The Conservation Fund, with inaugural support from MIS, to launch “Racing for Wildlife” – an exciting effort to unite the sports community with passionate land and water conservationists across the country.
Racing for Wildlife pursues new conservation projects that offer recreational opportunities near racetracks, so families can easily enjoy the outdoors in protected places. Racing for Wildlife’s first project is the restoration Mill Lake Youth Camp near Michigan International Speedway. The second project is the protection of 1,100 acres of unique forestland habitat within the Talladega National Forest, just a short drive from the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.
The Ryan Newman Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which was established in January 2005 by NASCAR driver Ryan Newman and his wife, Krissie. The mission of the foundation is to educate and encourage people to spay/neuter their pets and to adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters; to educate children and adults about the importance of conservation so the beauty of the great outdoors can be appreciated by future generations; and to provide college scholarship funding through the Rich Vogler Scholarship program to students interested in auto racing careers. The Ryan Newman Foundation is proud to be supported by the NASCAR Foundation. For more information, visit http://www.ryannewmanfoundation.org
Considered one of the country’s premier racing facilities and largest sports arena nestled on 1,400-plus acres in the scenic Irish Hills, Michigan International Speedway offers fans the chance to join live television and radio audiences for five races featuring the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA RE/MAX Series. For more information, visit http://www.mispeedway.com.
MUCC is the largest statewide conservation organization in the nation, with nearly 100,000 members and more than 500 affiliated clubs. MUCC works to conserve Michigan's wildlife, fisheries, waters, forests, air, and soils by providing information, education and advocacy. For more information, visit http://www.mucc.org.
The Department of Natural Resources is responsible for the stewardship of Michigan's natural resources and for the provision of outdoor recreational opportunities; a role it has relished since creation of the original Conservation Department in 1921.The Michigan DNR is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the State's natural resources for current and future generations. For more information, visit http://www.michigan.gov/dnr.
Ryan Newman and Bobby Allison are in a race to save wildlife. Donate today to get them closer to the finish line.
Powered by: Phase2 TechnologyRacing for Wildlife
The Conservation Fund
1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 1300
Arlington, Virginia 22209-2156
Phone: 703-525-6300
Fax: 703-525-4610
Email: postmaster@conservationfund.org
