Thanks to the help of over 1,000 volunteers, corporate support, individual donations and AARP staff, Charlotte 1 Million was a success! Over the course of the three events, 443,980 meals were packaged, and the raw materials for another 556,420 meals were donated to food banks across the state of North Carolina.
It all kicked off early in the week in Greensboro, where Richard “The King” Petty encouraged hundreds of United Healthcare volunteers to pack up 60,000 meals. Later in the week even more volunteers came out to the two-day packaging event at the Charlotte Convention Center — along with help from four-time NASCAR champion, Jeff Gordon, AARP Fitness Ambassador and tennis legend, Martina Navratilova and NASCAR’S Miss Sprint Cup. Younger fans also had the opportunity meet and pack meals alongside Disney XD star Billy Unger, who helped with meal packaging at the convention center both days.
Day Two saw more enthusiastic participation from the convention center volunteers, and included a visit from sports broadcaster and AARP Community Ambassador, James “JB” Brown. As part of its Fan Appreciation Day activities, Hendrick Motor Sports pit crews took each other on to become the flat-out fastest packing team, with No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet picking up the honors. Many fans pulled double duty and spent time packaging meals while waiting for pit crew autographs later in the day.
Later that weekend, 200 golfers, including Dan Marino, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Darrell Waltrip and Carolina Panther James Anderson competed in the annual Hendrick MotorSports Charity Golf Event. The two days of events raised more than $1.25 million for Drive to End Hunger, the Hendrick Marrow Program and Levine Children's Hospital.
Along with Hendrick and UnitedHealthcare, we are grateful for other event sponsors, including Smithfield Foods, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., PepsiCo, Walgreens, Time Warner Cable, Sprint and Chase Card Services.
To get involved or learn more, please visit www.DriveToEndHunger.org.
AARP Foundation
AARP Foundation is working to win back opportunity for struggling Americans 50+ by being a force for change on the most serious issues they face today: housing, hunger, income and isolation. By coordinating responses to these issues on all four fronts at once, and supporting them with vigorous legal advocacy, the Foundation serves the unique needs of those 50+ while working with local organizations nationwide to reach more people, work more efficiently and make resources go further. AARP Foundation is the charitable affiliate of AARP. Learn more at www.aarpfoundation.org.
