Sandusky, Ohio (May 16, 2016) – Alpha Energy Solutions, ThorSport Racing, and Ben Rhodes are honored to announce they have joined forces with USA Cares, a non-profit organization based in Radcliff, KY, to grow awareness of veteran and military families in crisis for two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) races in 2016. USA Cares, which exists to help bear the burdens of service by providing post-9/11 military families with financial and advocacy support in their time of need, will adorn the No. 41 Toyota Tundra driven by Rhodes at both Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway on May 20, and Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway on October 1. Rhodes will also continue to run the USA Cares decal on the B-Post of his Tundra for the remainder of the 2016 NCWTS season as he competes for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors and the series championship title.
“I had the opportunity, recently, to visit USA Cares headquarters in my home state of Kentucky,” said Rhodes. “I was able to spend the day with their staff and case workers to hear from some of the veterans and military families they’ve helped firsthand. I was so inspired, and energized by their stories, that I knew I had to get involved. Our military has done so much to take care of us, and protect our future, that I feel like it’s now our turn to take care of them. USA Cares provides a great avenue to do just that, and I look forward to working with them to grow awareness of this great cause.”
USA Cares is committed to its mission of providing financial and advocacy assistance to post-9/11 active duty U.S. military service personnel, veterans and their families. USA Cares was launched through a grassroots partnership between the management of WAVE-3 TV (NBC) in Louisville, Kentucky; Kroger Food Stores – Mid-South Division; and the Fort Knox Chapter of the Association of the United States Army. The organization was dubbed Kentuckian Cares with a goal to raise funds to help military families in financial crisis through the sale of “Support Our Troops” yard signs. While $121,000 was raised, the need for assistance proved to be greater than the original initiative could meet. In October 2003, a new 501(c)(3), national organization now known as USA Cares was created with a toll-free call center to process the increasing number of requests for assistance.
Today, almost 13 years later, USA Cares has responded to over 80,000 requests for assistance with over $11.8 million in indirect-support grants in all 50 states for Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine and Coast Guard clients.
“USA Cares provides emergency financial assistance to military families in crisis at the earliest stage of intervention to prevent further financial distress,” said Hank Patton, Executive Director for USA Cares. “We are proud of our 48-hour turnaround, because typically, the families need relief right away and cannot afford to wait on a long process. Much of what we do is made possible by our generous individual and corporate donors, as well as our grant partners, wanting to “pay it forward” to those who have honorably served our country in uniform. The need far outweighs our means, but our mission is to provide every family with options and assistance to get back on their feet and resolve the crisis they are in.”
Through their fast response for assistance, application screening process, and the leverage they have with other organizations to provide assistance, USA Cares goal is to help restore financial stability and self-sufficiency by giving “a hand up.” The organization strives to reach families at the earliest stage of intervention to prevent further financial distress and suffering, especially for the combat injured and their families.
The No. 41 USA Cares Toyota Tundra will make its debut during the NC Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday, May 20. The 134-lap event will be televised on FOX Sports 1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90 at 8:30pm ET.
To learn more about USA Cares, or to help support their efforts please visit: www.USACares.org. Or, find them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/USACaresOrg or follow them on Twitter @USACaresOrg.
About USA Cares:
USA Cares is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that addresses the critical and unmet needs of post 9-11 service members, veterans & military families facing service related hardships. The objective is to reach families at the earliest stage of intervention to proactively prevent further financial distress including foreclosure. When USA Cares is contacted to provide assistance, our goal is to respond to each family within 48 hours. Assistance programs include combat injured, career transition, emergency and housing assistance. We have responded to more than 80,000 requests for emergency financial assistance, which are paid directly to the creditor in the form of a grant. USA Cares provides the critical support that our veterans and military families need to create a foundation for financial resilience. For more information visit: www.usacares.org
About ThorSport Racing:
ThorSport Racing, based in a state-of-the-art 100,000-square-foot facility in Sandusky, Ohio, is the longest-tenured NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. ThorSport Racing, which has competed in the NCWTS since 1996, will run the No. 88 Menards Toyota Tundra driven by two-time NCWTS drivers’ champion Matt Crafton, the No. 13 Cabinets by Hayley Toyota Tundra driven by Cameron Hayley, the No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Toyota Tundra driven by Ben Rhodes, and the No. 98 Safelite/Curb Records Toyota Tundra driven by Rico Abreu in 2016. For more information visit www.ThorSport.com