Look To The Stars News: Kyle Petty

Dierks Bentley Makes Music And Miles For Children's Hospital

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:00:00 -0000

Not only did country superstar Dierks Bentley become a dad for the first time last weekend, he also led a group of celebrities on a motorcycle rally to raise money for the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.

The 32-year-old singer raised over $275,000 for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt during his third annual Music & Miles for Kids celebrity motorcycle ride and concert on Sunday, just a day after his wife, Cassidy, gave birth to their baby daughter.

Bentley was joined by fans and motorcycle enthusiasts on the rally, which went from Vanderbilt to downtown Nashville and culminated in a concert featuring Tim McGraw and John Rich. Also performing at the concert – a huge surprise for the crowd of 5000 – was NASCAR driver Kyle Petty, who organizes an annual charity motorbike ride of his own.

Bentley is now looking forward to spending some time with his new family and hopes to organize an even bigger charity event next year.

NASCAR's Kyle Petty Signs Guitar For Charity Auction

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

NASCAR driver Kyle Petty has signed a guitar that is being auctioned off to raise money for his camps for terminally ill children.

The driver is currently leading a long-distance motorcycle ride through the United States to raise funds for the Victory Junction Gang, a series of camps he opened to serve children with a variety of health issues that would typically prevent them from attending camps. To help raise awareness of the ride, Petty has autographed a new Gretsch 6120 Nashville model guitar specially donated by the Gretsch Company, a familiar name to lovers of fine guitars, and the instrument is currently up for grabs on eBay.

“I can’t say how happy I am that Gretsch came on board to help us out like this,” said Petty. “It is a great guitar! I play my guitar every day of my life. I have one at home and I have one on the road with me when I travel. There is something about a guitar that just brings happiness. I have about 150 songs that I have written not only for my family, but for friends. This guitar is a unique item, and I am sure that it will do really well during this auction. We are really excited!”

The driver is also excited about his motorcycle ride, which has raised over $10 million for his charity since the first ride in 1995.

“I could have never imagined what we have created,” he said. “The Ride really started with just a handful of us that got pledges to ride across country and wanted to donate to children’s hospitals in different cities. We were thinking, “Wow! Riding motorcycles and donating money to charity, it does not get any better than this!”. The Ride started out as just a few riders, and now it has a waiting list. It is amazing how much support we have gotten, not only from the communities, but the past and present riders as well.”

To find out more about the ride, visit their website.

NASCAR Driver To Lead Charity Motorcycle Ride

Thu, 29 May 2008 11:32:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

NASCAR driver Kyle Petty will lead a field of more than 250 riders as they wind their way from the Midwest to the Deep South in an effort to raise awareness of and funds for the Victory Junction Gang and other children’s charities in July.

The charity motorcycle ride will depart from Traverse City, Michigan, on July 13, making overnight stops in Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, West Virginia and North Carolina, before reaching Georgia on July 19.

The charity ride has taken place every year since 1995, and this year marks the launch of a new fundraising program – The Charity Ride Dream Team Challenge – which is challenging individuals to form their own “pit crews” (called Dream Teams) to raise money for and awareness of the event and its beneficiaries.

Since 1995, 5,700 participants have logged more than 7.2 million cumulative motorcycle miles and donated more than $10.5 million to Victory Junction Gang Camp and other charities that support chronically ill children. Petty and his wife, Pattie, founded the Victory Junction Gang Camp, a year-round camp that serves children with a variety of health issues that would typically prevent them from attending camp, in North Carolina in 2004. The camp operates solely on the donations of corporations, organizations and individuals. The Pettys recently announced the opening of a second Victory Junction Gang Camp in Kansas.

“Pattie and I are constantly amazed and inspired by the dedication of our riders, sponsors and fans,” said Petty. “These companies and individuals are truly committed to bettering the lives of deserving children and their families. We’re looking forward to another great event – and more incredible results!”

More information about the event can be found at Kyle Petty’s website.

Musicians Start The Year With Generosity

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:45:39 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

2008 has only just begun, but already celebrities are straining at the leash to spread generosity among those who need it. And a host of musicians have kicked off the year with donations and events to raise money and awareness for a number of good causes.

Pop group OK Go are set to release a charity EP on iTunes on February 5, with all proceeds going to victims of Hurricane Katrina. The 5-song release, “You’re Not Alone”, will coincide with Mardi Gras 2008, and will benefit New Orleans-based musicians displaced by the 2005 disaster.

“New Orleans is one of the last places in America where music is truly a fundamental part of everyday life,” said OK Go singer Damian Kulash, whose hits include “A Million Ways” and “Here It Goes Again”. “People get together on the weekends and parade through the streets just playing songs; 12-year-old-kids learn funk on the tuba; everyone dances. Life elsewhere in the world simply isn’t as celebratory. If we allow the culture of New Orleans to die by leaving its musicians marooned around the country, America will have lost one of its great treasures.”

iTunes has agreed to waive all proceeds from EP sales, and digital distribution powerhouse IODA will promote it free of charge. In addition, free freight shipping is to be provided by EFM Worldwide/Horizon Cargo, and Music Travel Management has contributed free airfare for the band to play two benefit shows – January 11 at Tipianas, New Orleans, and February 2 at The 9:30 Club in Washington DC.

Rockers Switchfoot have also been on the charity trail recently, and have raised over $100,000 for Habitat For Humanity. The band donated $1 from every ticket sold during their Appetite For Construction tour to the organization, and also spent time working alongside volunteers for the charity during some of their stopovers.

Country singer and Grammy nominee Taylor Swift is another celebrity to show her generous side recently, when she donated the pink Chevy pick-up truck given to her by her record label to children’s charity, the Victory Junction Gang.

“[The organization] has camps all over the country for children who are sick,” said the 18-year-old singer. “For one week they can forget they’re sick and just have a blast and hang out with other people they can relate to. They look forward to it, and I love that cause.”

The Victory Junction Gang will use the truck to pick up children from the airport and give them a fun ride to the camp.

Swift will also perform at Nashville’s Sound and Speed event, the NASCAR and country music celebration to be held on January 11 and 12 to benefit the Victory Junction Gang. She will officially hand the keys of the truck over to NASCAR driver and organization founder Kyle Petty during the event. More information can be found at www.victoryjunction.org.

Singer and founder of the Show Me Campaign, John Legend, will join Earth Institute director Jeffrey Sachs for an evening of information, discussion, and music at Columbia University on January 28, as part of the Show Me Poverty Action Tour. The evening hopes to stimulate people to actively work to overcome global poverty, and more information can be found at the University website.

Pop group the Barenaked Ladies are to play at the North American Auto Show’s annual black-tie charity gala at Cobo Arena, Detroit, on January 18. The $400 ticket price will benefit a host of local children’s charities, including Barat Child and Family Services, the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan, Boys Hope-Girls Hope of Detroit, The Children’s Center, and the Detroit Institute for Children. Proceeds will go towards goods, clothing, and health and support services for needy children. Tickets and information can be found at www.naias.com.

And finally, February 25 will see a charity concert commemorating the 5th anniversary of the Station Nightclub tragedy in Rhode Island, the fourth largest nightclub fire in US history.

The concert will be held at the Dunkin Donut Center in Providence, Rhode Island, and will feature Twisted Sister, Tesla, Stryper, as well as members of Staind, Boston, and Chicago.

The show has been organized by the Wake Up To Love Foundation, founded by Tesla drummer Troy Luccketta, and proceeds will go to the Station Family Fund, an organization set up by the community to assist victims of the fire. 100 people were killed in the blaze, with another 200 seriously injured, and 65 children lost either one or both parents. Survivors still struggle for compensation and support, and many are unable to meet their monthly needs.

Tickets for the show are available at www.ticketmaster.com.

Look To The Stars News: Kyle Petty

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