From a press release issued by Infineon Raceway:

Infineon Raceway Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities Distributes Record $458,000

SONOMA, Calif. – The Infineon Raceway Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities will distribute $458,000 to 36 needy youth organizations in Sonoma County for the 2004 season. The figure represents the largest single-year distribution since the Sonoma chapter was formed in 1996, and an increase of more than $100,000 over the chapter’s 2003 total grant awards.

The chapter’s Board of Trustees recently approved the distribution of funds at its annual meeting. Speedway Children’s Charities is the primary charitable arm of Speedway Motorsports, Inc, which owns and operates Infineon Raceway. The Sonoma County chapter has raised more than $1.2 million over the past four years.

The monies awarded in 2004 were generated through a combination of Infineon Raceway events, plus a donation by Sonic Automotive Corporation. This year’s fundraising events included the NASCAR Grand Marshall’s Banquet, Rock-n-Race Auction, NHRA Tour de Charity, Dancin’ & Draggin’, the Sonoma Valley Vintage Race Car Festival and the Classic Sports Racing Group’s Charity Challenge.

Thirty-six groups will receive funds, including: Boys & Girls Club of Petaluma; Boys & Girls Club of Rohnert Park; CARE Children’s Counseling Center; Community Action Partnership; El Nido Teen Center; Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center; Grandparents Parenting…Again; Kenwood Education Foundation; Kid Scoop; La Luz Center; Loving Paws Assistance Dogs; McDowell Drug Task Force; Operation Youth of Sonoma Valley; Redwood Empire Council; Redwood Empire Food Bank; Routes for Youth; Santa Rosa Symphony; Schell-Vista Fire District; Social Advocates For Youth; Sonoma Children’s Cancer Foundation; Sonoma County Public Library Foundation; Sonoma Garden Park; Flowery School, Adele Harrison Middle School and Sonoma Valley High School via Sonoma Valley Education Foundation; Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance; Soroptimist International of Sonoma Valley; Twin Valley Aquatics; Valley of the Moon Children’s Foundation; Volunteer Center of Sonoma County; Willmar Center for Bereaved Children; Luther Burbank Center for the Arts; Boys & Girls Club Valley of the Moon; Court Appointed Special Advocates of Sonoma County; YWCA of Sonoma County; and Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.

Speedway Children’s Charities is a non-profit organization with the purpose of raising funds to be distributed to qualified children’s organizations. Founded in 1984 by Bruton Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., Speedway Children’s Charities originated at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in North Carolina.