Wish for Our Heroes Program Provides Free Tickets to Local Military
ST. PETERSBURG, FL, February 27, 2013 – The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has partnered with Wish for Our Heroes, a national military charity, to implement a new program focused on sending thousands of local military members to attend the 2013 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, March 22-24.
This year, individuals and businesses will have the opportunity to make a tax deductible donation to a program for which 100 percent of the funds raised will be utilized to send local military members to the 2013 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The program will be administered by Wish for Our Heroes and will include three donation options. Donors can make a general donation of any amount, purchase an entire ticket for a hero or donate an existing ticket.
Wish for Our Heroes is a national 501(c)(3) dedicated to assisting military members facing hardship. “Our average wishes assist military families with basic needs. Things like food, shelter, transportation, and child needs,” said Jeff Wells, President of Wish for Our Heroes. “Occasionally, we have the opportunity to do something fun for our heroes and this is one of those programs. It is an honor and privilege to partner with the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg to send heroes to this year’s race. The military is a huge part of the Tampa/St. Petersburg community and this is a great way for all of us to give something back to our heroes.”
The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has a long history of honoring our nation’s military. “We are proud to be working with Wish for Our Heroes,” said Tim Ramsberger, President of the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. “Honoring the men and women of the military community is something that is very important to us. We encourage everyone to show their support for these brave individuals by visiting the website and making a hero’s wish come true. It’s a simple gesture that will go a long way.”
For anyone who donates to this program and purchases a ticket for a hero, Wish for Our Heroes will provide a report to the donor detailing the military member they sent to the race. “Transparency is extremely important. We want donors to see and hear directly from the hero they’re sending to the race,” said Wells.
The first set of donated tickets were presented today at a special event in Palmetto, FL to U.S. Army Specialist Charles Lemon, a double amputee combat veteran and resident of St. Petersburg. The tickets were presented to SPC Lemon by Honda Grand Prix personnel and a group of 10 IndyCar and Pirelli World Challenge drivers that will be racing at the event in March.
To make a donation or to learn more about this program, visit gpstpete.com or www.wish4ourheroes.org. Fans may also make a $10 donation into this program by texting ‘America’ to 20222. For any military member interested in receiving free tickets to the 2013 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the ticket request link can be found at www.wish4ourheroes.org.
About the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg takes place March 22-24, 2013 and is run on a 1.8-mile, 14-turn waterfront circuit that includes a combination of adjacent downtown streets circling Pioneer Park, the Progress Energy Center for the Arts, the Salvador Dali Museum and extending onto the runways at Albert Whitted Airport, which overlook the Tampa Bay and picturesque St. Petersburg Harbor and Marina. To learn more about the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, visit gpstpete.com.
About Wish For Our Heroes
WISH for OUR HEROES is a national charity dedicated to “Helping Heroes Battle Hardships”, by granting wishes to military and their families. WISH for OUR HEROES is a volunteer-based organization, allowing every dollar donated to directly assist the troops. Since 2009, over 1,300 wishes have been granted to military heroes. www.wish4ourheroes.org.
