FedEx Racing driver Denny Hamlin will drive a special #11 FedEx Office/March for Babies Toyota in the “SUBWAY Fresh Fit 600™” at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday, April 10, 2010 in effort to rev up the revenue for the March of Dimes and give every baby a healthy start in life.
“This is the third year in a row that I raced the March for Babies car at the Phoenix Raceway,” said Hamlin. “Last year we placed sixth and I’m hoping this year we’ll win! I want to do everything I can to help raise awareness for the amazing work the March of Dimes does so that more babies are born healthy.”
The #11 FedEx Office/March for Babies® Toyota was unveiled today during a ceremony at Joe Gibbs Racing Inc. in Huntersville, N.C. Hamlin and team owner Joe Gibbs were on hand to reveal the special paint scheme for the Phoenix Cup race.
During the race, Hamlin also will wear a helmet designed by Morgan, Preston and Chase Copeland. The triplets are the children of FedEx Office employee Alan Copeland and were born seven weeks premature in 2005. Today, their dad says, Morgan, Preston and Chase are healthy, active four-year-olds thanks to the March of Dimes-funded treatments and the medical care they received.
For the past six years, FedEx has been a national sponsor of the March for Babies, the March of Dimes annual event that raises funds to support research and other programs that improve the health of babies. March for Babies events happen in more than 900 communities all across the United States. Most occur the last weekend of April 24-25.
“FedEx and the March of Dimes have a long history of working together to save babies,” says Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, President of the March of Dimes. “We will be supporting Denny and the #11 FedEx racing team to win in Phoenix. No matter the outcome, FedEx and Denny will always be champions for babies for helping to fund cutting-edge research and community-based programs that help families have full-term, healthy babies.”
Thousands of FedEx employees and their families also will participate in the 2010 March for Babies. Last year, FedEx, and all of its operating companies, raised over $1.4 million.
“FedEx is proud to share with March of Dimes a commitment to on-time, healthy deliveries,” said Laurie Tucker, FedEx senior vice president of FedEx Corporate Marketing. “Over the years, March of Dimes has helped thousands, including many FedEx employees, who have had premature babies or have been connected to someone who has. We are pleased to support the March of Dimes in their mission to reduce the number of premature births.”
FedEx provides corporate funding and employee volunteerism for several initiatives that help increase resources needed for education and lifesaving research related to preterm birth. In addition to the company's sponsorship of March for Babies, FedEx also provides financial support and free shipping for the March of Dimes national campaign to prevent premature births.
Photo Caption: NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin and four-year old triplets Morgan, Preston and Chase Copeland, born seven weeks premature, unveiled a new #11 FedEx Office Toyota Camry to raise awareness for the March of Dimes signature fundraiser March for Babies®. Denny will drive the purple and white car on April 10th. The triplet designed the helmet Hamlin is holding, which he will wear during the race. (PHOTO CREDIT: Action Sports Photography, Inc.)
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