SONOMA, Calif. (Oct. 10, 2018) - Sonoma Raceway President and General Manager Steve Page has been selected as one of three finalists for the 2018 Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award, an annual award created to recognize the philanthropic efforts of individuals within the NASCAR industry.
Other 2018 finalists are Joey Logano, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™ driver and founder of the Joey Logano Foundation, and Ryan Newman, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™ driver and co-founder of Rescue Ranch.
"One of Comcast's most important pillars is re-investing in our local communities, and it has been incredible to see this come to life through our NASCAR partnership with the Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award," said Matt Lederer, Executive Director of Partnership Marketing at Comcast. "This annual award, now in its fourth year, has given us a platform to highlight members of the NASCAR family who truly embody a generous and benevolent spirit."
Page has shown long-standing commitment to the residents of Northern California through his work with the Sonoma chapter of Speedway Children's Charities, along with his efforts to support and rebuild areas affected by last October's devastating wildfires. To offer relief to those impacted by widespread fires, Page opened the gates of Sonoma Raceway to provide a refuge for those who were evacuated from their homes, hosting more than 100 campers and serving as a temporary evacuation center.
Page, whose family was also evacuated, and his staff served meals and sorted donations to provide clothing and necessities to evacuees. He also helped mobilize the local community in thanking public safety personnel, spearheading a "Laps of Appreciation" fundraiser that generated more than $72,000 for the Sonoma County Resilience Fund and the Redwood Valley and Santa Rosa Community Recovery Fund.
Throughout the raceway's NASCAR race weekend in June, Page oversaw "Sonoma Rising," an initiative designed to honor fire survivors, salute first responders, and lend support to the North Bay's ongoing rebuilding efforts. As part of that effort, the raceway distributed more than 1,100 tickets to allow fire survivors to attend the 2018 Toyota/Save Mart 350 at no cost.
Since 2001, Page and SCC have distributed more than $6 million to Sonoma County organizations that serve local youth. This year the Sonoma chapter of SCC established a 'Fire Resilience Fund' to distribute grants to youth-serving groups that have increased or created programs to support the amplified needs after the fires.
The 2018 Comcast Community Champion will be selected by a panel comprised of Comcast and NASCAR executives, as well as the Chip Ganassi Racing Pit Crew Department, who won the award in 2017. Comcast will award $60,000 to the winner's affiliated charity, and $30,000 on behalf of the two remaining finalists' selected charities. The 2018 award winner will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 15 at W South Beach Hotel in Miami as part of NASCAR Championship Weekend.
The two other Comcast Community Champion of the Year finalist include Logano, who founded the Joey Logano Foundation in 2013 to support organizations across the United States that provide aid to children and young adults. Since its inception, the Joey Logano Foundation has invested more than $2 million to hundreds of organizations through a multitude of programs.
Newman and his wife Krissie founded Rescue Ranch, an 87-acre facility that works to promote respect for all animals, the earth and the environment through a wide variety of educational programs in the community, in 2012. The Ranch is home to more than 85 animals that receive around-the clock care, and serves as host to various school curriculum-based field trips, Scout badge programs, summer camps and more.
In the first three years of the award, Comcast has donated more than $350,000 to nine different NASCAR-affiliated charities, furthering the impact of efforts from NASCAR industry members. Comcast has a long track record of community service, aiding in the advancement of local organizations, developing programs and partnerships, mobilizing resources to connect people and inspiring positive and substantive change. To learn more about the Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award, please visit ComcastCommunityChampion.com.
