JDRF Kids to Give Ford Customer Service Division's NHRA Funny Car a New Look

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Mon, 2 Jun 2008, 11:38 AM

JDRF Kids to Give Ford Customer Service Division's NHRA Funny Car a New Look for U.S.

Courtesy of Alexis Kinch
Photo copyright 2008 NHRA

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Nationals

Bob Tasca

Ford Customer Service Division (FCSD) announced this week that it will use its NHRA Funny Car program to help the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) raise awareness of Type 1 diabetes.

To kick off this partnership, JDRF kids have the next three weeks to submit a design for the Motorcraft/Quick Lane/Custom Accessories Shelby Mustang Funny Car, driven by Bob Tasca III, for the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis over Labor Day weekend.

"We're very excited to partner with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and use our sponsorship in the NHRA to help raise awareness for such a great cause," said Al Giombetti, Ford Customer Service Division executive director. "We've got some terrific things planned this season with the car design contest, inviting JDRF kids to be our guests at the race track, and helping raise awareness by carrying the JDRF logo on our car for the season."

For the car design contest, each submitted design will be featured on the www.JDRF.org/Ford website from June 23 to July 31. During that time, the public is invited to vote for their favorite design by making a monetary donation to JDRF. The top five donation-earning designs will then be narrowed down to one, which will be featured on Tasca's Shelby Mustang Funny Car during the U.S. Nationals Aug. 29 - Sept. 1.

The winning child and his or her parents will be invited to Indianapolis for an official unveiling of their paint scheme with FCSD and Tasca, and will have a chance to see the car run during qualifications for the race.

In addition to the car design contest, FCSD will host local JDRF kids at six races this season, and for each elimination round that Tasca wins during those races, FCSD will make a donation to the JDRF national chapter.

"I'm really thrilled that Ford Customer Service Division has partnered with JDRF to help raise awareness and money for a cure through our racing program," said Tasca. "I'm really looking forward to the JDRF race day events because the best part of my job is interacting with kids. Helping raise money for them for each round we win is a great incentive to get the job done not only for my team and sponsors, but also for JDRF."

"JDRF is extremely excited about partnering with FCSD for this racing season," said Gina Roche-Kelly, senior account manager, International Development Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. "This is such a unique opportunity to help raise funds for critical diabetes research and to raise awareness about juvenile diabetes. The chance to design the FCSD-sponsored Funny Car is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for these kids, and an exciting way to help collect donations for JDRF."

About Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
JDRF is the leading charitable funder and advocate of type 1 (juvenile) diabetes research worldwide. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Type 1 diabetes is a disease, which strikes children suddenly and requires multiple injections of insulin daily or a continuous infusion of insulin through a pump. Insulin, however, is not a cure for diabetes, nor does it prevent its eventual and devastating complications, which may include kidney failure, blindness, heart disease, stroke, and amputation.

Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, JDRF has awarded more than $1.16 billion to diabetes research, including more than $137 million in FY2007. In FY2007, the Foundation funded 700 centers, grants and fellowships in 20 countries. http://www.jdrf.org