4/4/2023
BAPS Motor Speedway
BAPS & Thrivent Fusion Financial Group Team Up to Give Back
YORK HAVEN, Pa.: A commitment to community outreach has been a staple of BAPS Motor Speedway and its management team over the last five years.
Giving back and getting involved has increased in 2023. Thanks to its partnership with Mike Gallagher and Thrivent Financial Fusion Financial Group, Kolten Gouse and his team have put together three programs for the season.
The first kicks off this week. A Food Drive will take place April 8, 15, 16, and 22 with all items being donated to New Hope Ministries. Fans can donate coffee/tea, pasta, pasta sauce, canned vegetables, canned fruit, ketchup, laundry detergent, and toiletries. Items can be dropped off at the track during the week or during the above events.
“We are pleased to have Thrivent Financial on board for the second year,” Gouse said. “One of the things I wanted to do when we took over the speedway is to become a fixture in helping out the community.
“It’s not just about bringing people into the racetrack. That is important, but we want to do whatever we can to help make the community a better place for kids of all ages and their families.”
This year’s Backpacking at BAPS program benefits the Newberry Elementary School and begins on July 1. Thrivent will provide book bags that will be filled with supplies by select fans, drivers, and race teams during intermission.
Once filled, the backpacks will be delivered to Newberry Elementary School by the first week of August. According to Gouse, every student at the school will receive a book bag filled with supplies for the 2023-2024 school year.
“We understand the importance school has on the kids of our community,” Gouse said. “Elementary school is one of the foundations of life. It stresses the importance of learning and puts kids on the right path to success.
“Costs are rising, and parents are saddled with getting clothes, supplies, and everything their child needs for school. We want to help take some of that burden off parents, and this is one way we can help do that.”
Thrivent will also be involved with the Toys for Tots initiative at the speedway. The collection for this event will be Nov. 18 during the Drydene Oil Gobbler Bash. Anyone who brings a donation will receive free admission to the event.
Toys or books are preferred and should be in the range of $10. The Gobbler Bash will feature a Pumpkin Smash Demo Derby, Figure-8 Racing, Ladies Powder Puff, Car Soccer, and more. It starts at 1 p.m.
“Hosting these three events has special meaning to us,” Gouse said. “It’s our way of saying, ‘Thank you,’ to the community and also trying to make it a better place for families to live. Thanks to Thrivent and our staff at the speedway, we are meeting our goals of being a better community partner.”
Article Credit: BAPS Motor Speedway
