A Race Car Becomes a Vehicle to Fight Older Adult Hunger

In December 2012, AARP Foundation announced the release of the design of the 2013 No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet SS, driven by four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon.

2011 was Drive to End Hunger’s first season as a No. 24 primary sponsor. This is the paint scheme that launched our race program, and the effort to make millions of Americans aware of older adult hunger.

AARP Visa Card from Chase became a co-primary paint sponsor in 2011. By sharing with Drive to End Hunger $0.03 from each purchase made using an AARP Visa Card and by donating $1 from each new card account opened, Chase Bank USA N.A. contributed nearly $2 million during the year. That's the estimated equivalent of 750,000 meals for adults over 50.

The change was subtle, but the 2012 look for No. 24 featured a slight adjustment in placement of the AARP logo on the quarter panel, and a larger logo and position shift on the hood.

No. 24 doesn’t just build awareness for older adult hunger; it underscores our ongoing fundraising effort to support short and long term hunger solutions.  Every “Hunger” text to 50555 yields a $10 donation to Drive to End Hunger.

At the May , 2012, race at Speedway, Darlington, SC, No. 24 was specially painted to champion the Charlotte 1 Million, a May 24-25 event in Charlotte, NC, at which nutritious meals were packaged by thousands of volunteers in the Charlotte Convention Center to help feed older adults across the  state (which ranks 7th hungriest) who struggle to meet their daily food requirements. The result?  One million meals donated.

No. 24 raced five times in the 2012 season with the AARP Visa Card from Chase as our co-primary paint sponsor. During the year, Chase Bank USA N.A. again made donations as it had in 2011, up to a maximum of $2 million. All donations supported Drive to End Hunger.

Zynga and its Farmville social networking Facebook game, joined Drive to End Hunger in 2012. Farmville provided its players with opportunities to purchase virtual goods to boost their scores and improve their harvests while helping Drive to End Hunger. Proceeds from the sale of the in-game goods were donated to Drive to End Hunger, and Farmville co-sponsored No. 24 in the August 25 race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Total donations over the course of 12 days exceeded $87,500.

Leonardo, the leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, was featured on the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet at the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 13, 2012. Off the track, AARP and AARP Foundation are teaming up with Nickelodeon’s “Helping and Leading Others” program to publicize and support the Drive to End Hunger. Nickelodeon’s support will include a national PSA airing on Nickelodeon channels to reach kids, parents and grandparents.

In his two racing seasons as a spokesperson for Drive to End Hunger, Jeff Gordon has become an informed and articulate ally in the fight against older adult hunger.  His work has helped to broaden awareness of the issue and has drawn individual and corporate support to the cause. We look forward to continuing our work with Jeff in the years ahead.