BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. -- The Michael Andretti Foundation, with the Dr Pepper Snapple Group, has announced that 7-Eleven Inc. president and CEO Joe DePinto (pictured) will serve as the honorary chairman of the Racing Round Up Gala, scheduled for June 9 in at Gilley's Dallas.
7-Eleven is a longtime sponsor of Andretti's IndyCar team, Andretti Autosport and served as primary sponsor for the team's 2004 IZOD IndyCar Series championship-winning team.
The Racing Round Up Gala will benefit the Children's Museum in the new Perot Museum of Nature & Science with a [image-nocss] portion of proceeds going to Speedway Children's Charities at Texas Motor Speedway. Event-goers will have the opportunity to meet the IZOD IndyCar drivers of Andretti Autosport, including Marco Andretti, Mike Conway, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Danica Patrick. The standard charitable donation for this limited event is $250 per person, or $350 per person for VIP access.
Meanwhile, Andretti Autosport has also announced that Hire Heroes USA, 7-Eleven, the National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees and Dr Pepper Snapple Group have joined forces to provide primary sponsorship backing for the No. 27 entry of Mike Conway at the 100th anniversary edition of the Indianapolis 500.
Hire Heroes USA offers support, job-search assistance and job-placement services to those who have honorably served in all branches of the U.S. military, and to their spouses, to reduce veteran unemployment. It tries to match career interests, qualifications and transferable skills of veterans with the needs of hiring companies partnering with Hire Heroes. Veterans who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom or those who are wounded or disabled, receive priority. Services are provided at no cost to the veteran.
The sponsorship program is part of a bigger marketing initiative that includes an in-store component at participating 7-Eleven stores. A portion from the sale of specially marked products during April and May will be donated to Hire Heroes USA. Tags designating the donation amounts will be featured prominently throughout the store along with a special display of participating products.
7-Eleven was the primary sponsor of the team's 2004 series championship-winning entry and remains an associate sponsor on the No. 7 GoDaddy.com entry of Danica Patrick.
Dr Pepper Snapple Group is a current backer of Andretti Autosport, supporting the No. 26 car of Marco Andretti through its Venom Energy brand and the No. 28 car of Ryan Hunter-Reay with the Sun Drop Citrus Soda brand. Snapple, one of the company's flagship products, is an associate sponsor of both Andretti and Hunter-Reay.
Conway's car at Indianapolis will be known as the No. 27 Hire Heroes USA/7-Eleven/Dr Pepper car.
"I'm thrilled to be representing Hire Heroes USA, 7-Eleven and Dr Pepper as part of this historic running of the Indianapolis 500. Hire Heroes is a great organization, and I welcome the opportunity to help them with their mission to find jobs for veterans, especially while competing in the biggest race in the world on Memorial Day weekend," said Conway.
"Memorial Day weekend is a natural time for Americans to reflect on the sacrifices made by generations of military veterans. It is easy to forget that hundreds of thousands of those same veterans--who fought for the American Dream--are struggling in the nightmare of long term unemployment. Hire Heroes USA is dedicated to the mission of ending veteran unemployment and restoring pride to those that formerly wore their country's uniform. Together with 7-Eleven and Dr Pepper, we are pleased to support Mike Conway and the No. 27 Andretti Autosport team as they drive awareness of this incredibly important cause, Hire Heroes USA president Brian Stann said.
"Promoting Hire Heroes on Mike Conway's car running in the Indianapolis 500 dramatically increases the awareness of this organization's important work. 7-Eleven, its franchisees and several key suppliers also are supporting Hire Heroes though our in-store fundraising campaign," Jesus Delgado-Jenkins, senior vice president of merchandising, marketing and logistics for 7-Eleven said.
Bruce Maples, National Chairman, National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees, added, "7-Eleven franchisees first got involved with the Hire Heroes organization last year and really believe in the importance of its mission. Many of our customers are race fans, and 7-Eleven offers them an opportunity to support this worthy organization."
And David McMichael, vice president national accounts, convenience and gas, for Dr Pepper Snapple, said, "We are proud to partner with winning organizations like Hire Heroes, 7-Eleven and Andretti Autosport. The work Hire Heroes is doing to find employment for returning veterans of the United States Armed Forces is both inspiring and patriotic. We are excited to showcase the Hire Heroes organization on Mike Conway's car during this years Indianapolis 500."
Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc., Plano, Texas, produces flavored beverages in North America and the Caribbean. In addition to its flagship Dr Pepper and Snapple brands, the company's portfolio includes Sunkist soda, 7UP, A&W, Canada Dry, Crush, Mott's, Squirt, Hawaiian Punch, Penafiel, Clamato, Schweppes, Venom Energy, Rose's and Mr & Mrs T mixers.
Based in Dallas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 8,400 7-Eleven stores in North America. Globally, there are more than 40,500 7-Eleven stores in 16 countries. During 2010, 7-Eleven stores worldwide generated total sales of more than $62.7 billion.
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