Community Involvement

Speedway Children's Charities is a non-profit organization with the purpose of raising funds for organizations that meet the direct needs of children with medical, educational or social challenges. The Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities distributes funds each year to qualified youth organizations in Sonoma County. The Sonoma Chapter has distributed nearly $1.7 million to Sonoma County youth organizations since 2002, including a one-year record of $554,045 in 2005.

Some of the groups that benefit from the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities include the Valley of the Moon Boys and Girls Club, Sonoma Valley Education Foundation and Giant Steps Equestrian Center, among others. SCC has touched the lives of Sonoma County children from more than 100 youth organizations over the last three years.

The raceway also embarks on a number of community-based initiatives each year, several of which are fast-approaching. Below you'll find brief descriptions of these upcoming events and how you can help. Stay tuned to infineonraceway.com for specific updates on each event as they become available.

Thanksgiving Food Drive, Oct. 30-Nov. 17
Please join us in collecting food for the less fortunate this holiday season with the 6th annual Infineon Raceway Thanksgiving Food Drive, Oct. 30-Nov. 17. People are encouraged to drop off non-perishable food items at several designated locations including Mary's Pizza Shack, Destination RKA in Windsor and Infineon Raceway. FISH (Friends in Sonoma Helping), the beneficiary of the food drive, has been helping Sonoma Valley residents in need since 1970. In addition to food, FISH also aids families in need with clothes and rental assistance. More than 7,000 pounds of food has been collected the first five years of the food drive.

For more information about the Food Drive, click here.

Toy Drive and Christmas Party, Nov. 13-Dec. 11
Infineon Raceway will partner with several Sonoma Valley youth groups this Christmas season for the 4th annual High-Powered Toy Drive. All items collected during the toy drive will be given to needy children at the "Race to the Holidays Christmas Party" at Infineon Raceway on Dec. 16. People are encouraged to drop-off new, unwrapped toys between Nov. 13- Dec. 11 at one of several locations to be announced.

High Speed Blood Drive, Feb. 26
Join us at the 5th annual High Speed Blood Drive, Feb. 26, at Infineon Raceway to benefit the American Red Cross. Race fans who agree to donate a pint of blood will be treated to a "hot lap" at speed around the 12-turn, 2.52-mile road course by a professional race-car driver. The High Speed Blood Drive has generated more than 400 pints of blood over the last four years.

NHRA Tour de Charity, March 3
Infineon Raceway will host the 5th annual "NHRA Tour de Charity" on its 16-turn, three-quarter mile kart track on Saturday, March 3. The first 50 fans who register will have a reserved seat in the action-packed day. The event includes a day of karting with top drivers from the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, autographs, lunch and the chance to compete in a 10-lap timed race for a grand prize. All proceeds benefit Speedway Children's Charities, which serves needy youth organizations in Sonoma County. For more information, please contact Diana Rose at (707) 933-3918 or drose@infineonraceway.com.

Cycle Gear Charity Auction, May 20
Signed memorabilia from top AMA road-race motorcycle stars are up for grabs at the 4th annual Cycle Gear Motorcycle Charity Auction. The auction will take place on Sunday of the AMA Superbike Showdown at Infineon Raceway. More than $21,000 has been raised for Speedway Children's Charities the first three years of the auction combined.

Vintage Race Car Festival, June 2
The Vintage Race Car Festival returns to the Sonoma Plaza, June 2, at the 21st annual Jaguar Wine Country Classic event at Infineon Raceway. The evening features samplings from several Sonoma Valley purveyors and local wineries. The Vintage Race Car Festival raised approximately $16,000 for Speedway Children's Charities in 2006.

COPIA Wine Country Pavilion, June 2-3
With the purchase of a ticket to the 21st annual Wine Country Classic event at Infineon Raceway, fans are granted access to the COPIA Wine Country Pavilion, which features samplings from several of the finest wineries and restaurants from the Sonoma and Napa valleys.

Raceway Builder's NASCAR Grand Marshal's Banquet, June 22
The Raceway Builder's Grand Marshal's Banquet is held on Friday night of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race weekend at beautiful Cline Cellars in Sonoma. The evening includes a reception and sit-down dinner, an introduction of the Infineon Raceway NASCAR Grand Marshal as well as some of the top NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers. The event generated $94,000 for Speedways Children's Charities in 2006.

Race-n-Rock Charity Auction, June 24
Join us on Sunday of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event in the Wine Country Winner's Circle for the 2007 Race-n-Rock Charity Auction. Last year, top selling items included a Budweiser racing helmet signed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and a Snap-on Tools toolbox. In total, more than $40,000 was raised for Speedway Children's Charities in 2006.

Nitro Night at the Fior d' Italia Restaurant, July 26
Nitro Night is held in advance of the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals and features several star drivers from the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, a sit-down dinner at the Fior d'Italia restaurant in historic North Beach, and an auction with one-of-a-kind items. More than $20,000 was raised for qualified youth organizations at the first "Nitro Night at the Fior" charity dinner in San Francisco in 2006. Stay tuned for more details!

IRL Grand Marshal's Banquet, Aug. 24
The IRL Grand Marshal?s banquet will be held on Friday evening of the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County. In 2006, the star studded evening featured IRL IndyCar® Series drivers Marco Andretti (Andretti Green Racing) and Vitor Meira (Panther Racing), four-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser and was hosted by ABC/ESPN commentator Dr. Jerry Punch. The event raised several thousand dollars for Speedways Children's Charities.

IRL Charity Auction, Aug. 26
Dreams come true at the Speedway Children's Charities auction on Sunday of the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County weekend. In 2007, you will have the chance to bid on once-in-a lifetime experiences and items signed by some of the top IndyCar® Series drivers. In 2006, the auction raised $7,500 for Speedway Children's Charities.

Classic Sports Racing Group, Oct. 13
The Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities will host a reception for CSRG (Classic Sports Racing Group) on Saturday of their vintage race weekend at Infineon Raceway in mid-October. For the fourth straight year, the club will donate proceeds from its race weekend to the Sonoma Chapter. CSRG has been extremely generous in donating over $90,000 to Speedway Children?s Charities!

If you would like more information about the Sonoma Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities, please contact Denise Silver at (707) 933-3950 or dsilver@infineonraceway.com.