Wed, 09 Nov 2022, 16:21 PM Team Kalitta Honored by A Kid Again Organization

Courtesy of Elon Werner, Kalitta Motorsports

YPSILANTI, Mich. --- On Saturday night Connie Kalitta and Doug Kalitta along with the entire Kalitta Motorsports organization were honored by A Kid Again, during a special fundraising event "Adventure Takes Flight" at the Kalitta Air hangar in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Since the launch of the partnership between A Kid Again and Kalitta Motorsports just 18 months ago, A Kid Again has grown from serving 2,500 families in Ohio and Indiana, to now serving more than 11,000 families in all fifty states.

"Kalitta Motorsports has been instrumental in helping A Kid Again reach more families across the country, creating once-in-a-lifetime experiences for them at the drag races and connecting us with their incredible partners," said Cassy Sleeper, A Kid Again Director of Strategic Partnerships. "Team Kalitta has been at the forefront of fueling Adventures and give families across the country a time out from childhood illness. We are beyond grateful and proud to honor Connie, Doug and Team Kalitta for the thousands of priceless smiles and life-long memories they have made possible for so many deserving families through their generosity."

Before the Michigan chapter began in 2021, the national expansion team including Sleeper and Kathy Greene Derr were working primarily with corporations, hospitals and nonprofit partners to bring A Kid Again to Michigan. Team Kalitta stepped up in a very big way, when they didn't have to, to give these families the chance to race like A Kid Again at races across the country including Charlotte, Norwalk, Indianapolis, Houston and Dallas.

The "Adventure Takes Flight" event was the first time Kalitta Air has opened their hangar to the public. Connie Kalitta greeted every guest at the entrance while Doug Kalitta offered photos with one of his Wallys. A Kid Again kids were surprised with their autographs on race cars and 16-year-old Chase Kulik, A Kid Again Michigan kid and Junior Dragster, emceed the event and shared his emotional story of how Team Kalitta and A Kid Again have impacted his entire family. Guests flew Kalitta Air's 747 and 777 flight simulators, mingled with local and national A Kid Again board members, partners of Kalitta Motorsports and Kalitta Air, and participated in an exclusive auction of red, blue & yellow Macsimizer Tool carts, donated by Mac Tools as a nod to Doug, Shawn & JR's race teams. Additionally, Kalitta Motorsports marketing partners Fifth Third Bank, Applied Innovation, Mac Tools, Gearhead Coffee, and Revchem Composites participated in the event and throughout the seasons with donations to A Kid Again.