PDRA Announces Shriners Hospitals for Children as Official Charity

PITTSBORO, NC – The Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) is proud to announce Shriners Hospitals for Children® as its Official Charity. As a family-oriented organization, the PDRA believes that the partnership with Shriners Hospitals is fitting and hopes to bring greater awareness to the their mission to send Love to the rescue®. The PDRA will incorporate Shriners Hospitals into activities at each of their ten events in 2015 to increase awareness and provide fundraising opportunities.

PDRA will provide “Shriners Hospitals for Children, Official Charity of PDRA” decals for use on competition cars. Select PDRA drivers and Miss PDRA will also have the opportunity to visit Shriners Hospitals in coordinating cities along the PDRA tour.

Shriners Hospitals for Children provides specialty care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate at its 22 locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Shriners Hospitals manages all aspects of treatment, including surgery, rehabilitation and psychological support, regardless of the families’ ability to pay.

“This is my second opportunity to work with Shriners Hospitals on a national level,” stated PDRA Senior Vice President of Marketing, Mike Congdon. “I got to know Shriners Hospitals when I worked with NASCAR driver David Ragan as his Business Manager. The work they do with children and their families is truly inspiring and life changing. I believe our family-oriented drivers and teams will be a great tool to build awareness and bring more smiles to more faces of children at Shriners Hospitals. I’m happy that we were able to put this program together and honored to work with Shriners Hospitals once again.”

Members of the fraternity, Shriners International and patients from local Shriners Hospitals will have the opportunity to attend PDRA events, interact with drivers and watch 200+ MPH race cars, all while raising awareness for Shriners Hospitals. The PDRA plans to host VIP giveaways at 2015 events to raise funds for Shriners Hospitals for Children and showcase the importance of the relationship. The PDRA will participate in Shriners Hospitals for Children events such as Walk for LOVE™ and the East-West Shrine Game®.

“We are excited Shriners Hospitals for Children has been named the Official Charity of the Professional Drag Racing Association,” commented Dale Stauss, chairman of the Board of Directors for Shriners Hospitals for Children. “Teaming up with the PDRA gives race fans and our fraternity, Shriners International, the opportunity to help provide life-saving and life-changing care to kids.”