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Since CARA Charities’ inception in 1981, the organization has donated more than $4.2 million to worthwhile causes within the racing community and across the country. The “Buckle Up Baby” Children’s Car Seat program provides car seats to children of needy families in the major cities where open wheel races are held. Over $600,000 has been donated to local children’s hospitals by this project. In 2000, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s awarded its Buckle Up America Champions Award to CARA Charities for this program.
Scholarship funds, auto safety research and children’s health issues all benefit from CARA Charities’ fundraising activities. At Methodist Hospital, in Indianapolis, toys are given to each new patient and holiday parties are all courtesy of CARA Charities.
Other recipients include:
Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital
Michigan Children’s Hospital
Methodist Hospital of Indianapolis
Children’s Memorial Foundation of Chicago
Denver Children’s Hospital
Rich Vogler Memorial Scholarship Fund
Miami Project to Cure Paralysis
IRL Ministries
Champ Car Ministries
Long Beach Memorial Medical Center
Wisconsin Children’s Hospital
Hulman Critical Fund at Methodist Hospital
Phoenix Children’s Hospital
National Child Safety Council
Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang
Ronald McDonald House
The Richstone Family Center
Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
Loma Linda Children’s Hospital
Shirley Bettenhausen Children’s Fund
Founded in May 1988, the CARA Charities Children’s Fund has given major philanthropic dollars to Methodist Hospital of Indianapolis for the purchase of gifts presented to each child at hospital admission and for birthdays and funds for parties and special holidays. The dollars are the direct result of the proceeds from the sale of the annual CARA Charities’ racing car drivers and owners designed Christmas Ornaments.
In February 2000 and in respect for the driving force behind the Fund, the name was changed to honor and include the name of the late Shirley Bettenhausen, a former CARA Charities president.
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