Monster Energy Supercross Raises More than $50K for Operation Homefront
Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart at San Diego Supercross
2014 Operation Homefront
Monster Energy Supercross has always paid tribute to our troops by fundraising.
The SX Championship’s latest effort was a Military Appreciation Race held in San Diego, which was won by Yoshimura Suzuki’s James Stewart.
The race raised more than $50,000 to support Operation Homefront, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors.
A tremendous outpouring of support from Monster Energy Supercross and its family of sponsors generated $25,000 in donations, including Monster Energy, Rocky Mountain ATV/MC, KTM, FOX Sports 1 and Toyota for the San Diego stop of the championship on February 8, Feld Motor Sports says.
Besides the donations, Operation Homefront also held an online auction featuring military-themed racing gear from the race. The gear was worn by 11 riders, including Stewart, the defending AMA Supercross Champion Ryan Villopoto (Monster Energy Kawasaki), Ryan Dungey (Red Bull KTM) and Chad Reed (TwoTwo Motorsports Kawasaki).
When it wrapped up, the auction raised over $25,000, bringing the total of Operation Homefront in excess of $50,000.
“This San Diego Military Appreciation Race provided a truly unique opportunity for Monster Energy Supercross to not only show its gratitude for the sacrifices of our military members, but also support the important cause Operation Homefront is serving for our wounded veterans,” said Dave Prater, director of supercross, Feld Motor Sports.
“This industry is one big family and our fans are dedicated in their love of the sport, and I think that’s evident in the amount monetary support we were able to generate for Operation Homefront.”
Feld Motor Sports says it provided the donation to Operation Homefront as unrestricted funds, giving the nonprofit the flexibility to apply the funds where it can do the most good to meet the needs of the military community. Operation Homefront has, over the last 12 years, developed the strength of a national organization, while focusing on serving military families at the very local level. Nationally, 93 percent of total donations to Operation Homefront go directly to programs that provide support to military families.
“Our service members and their families really are the core of America’s strength, and they face challenges that many don’t,” said Jack Chirrick, executive director of the California field office of Operation Homefront.
“Last year we saw a tremendous spike in requests for emergency assistance, resulting in a 263 percent increase in the number of grants we awarded. We really appreciate new partners like Feld Motor Sports stepping forward to join our other partners in our mission to serve the families, active-duty service members, and veterans who have served all of us so selflessly.”
For additional information, log onto supercrossonline.com.
