Racing For Kids

What Racing For Kids does

Racing For Kids is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit foundation founded in 1989 at the Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit by pediatric cardiologist William W. Pinsky, MD, award-winning journalist J. Patrick Wright (now CEO), and INDYCAR racer Robbie Buhl (now National Spokesperson). The organization uses the celebrity and visibility of professional motorsports to focus public attention and funding on the healthcare needs of children, delivering its core program through hospital visits at race venues where professional drivers spend time with sick children, sign autographs, pose for photos, and distribute branded merchandise. Supplementary programs include "Kids at the Track" events that bring outpatients and families to race weekends for VIP paddock experiences and a branded Racing For Kids Subaru BRZ campaigned in Canadian racing series to extend visibility.

The organization operates with a small leadership team (CEO, COO, Public Relations & Media Director, Event & Design Director, Social Media Director) and a mailing address in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. Business model is exclusively donation-based: revenue is generated through individual donations (accepted via PayPal), corporate sponsorships (Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund, Firestone Racing, Chevrolet, Fifth Third Bank, Henry Ford Health System, TranSystems, Fifth Third Bank), major individual philanthropists (Benson Ford Jr., Douglas E. Fregin, Michael B. McCallister), and fundraising events such as the Elkhart Lake Welcome Party and celebrity bartender challenges. No products or services are sold to generate revenue.

The charity has reported reaching more than 45,000 sick children across 750+ hospital visits in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, and Australia, with cumulative donations raised since 1989 reported between $7.5M and $8.5M. Strategic partners include AJ Foyt Racing, Andretti Autosport, Green Savoree Racing Promotions, Red Bull Global Rallycross, and Sanders Motorsport, supporting both hospital visits and Kids-at-the-Track programming.

Name

Racing For Kids

Legal name

Racing for Kids

Website

https://racingforkids.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Racing For Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 that uses professional motorsports to raise funds and deliver hospital visits for sick children, serving children's hospitals across North America and select international markets through driver-led programs and charity events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Healthcare Charity

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Racetracks (711212)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Motorsports Events (F1, NASCAR, Rally, Moto) (MPAGAMAD), Race Tracks, Circuits & Motorsport Venues (MPAKAGAE)

Keywords

• Children's hospital visits
• Nonprofit fundraising events
• Motorsports charity programs
• Pediatric patient support
• Corporate cause sponsorship

Headquarters

HQ city

Grosse Pointe Farms

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Racing For Kids generates revenue primarily through donations from individuals and organizations, fundraising events such as the Elkhart Lake Welcome Party and celebrity bartender challenges, and in-kind gifts from sponsors. The organization is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit foundation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Racing For Kids is a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation founded in 1989 that uses motorsports to brighten the lives of hospitalized children. Professional race car drivers conduct hospital visits to entertain and inspire pediatric patients, while the organization also runs Kids at the Track events and operates a branded race car program. Funding is raised through corporate sponsorships (Bridgestone Firestone, Ford Motor Company, GM Motorsports) and individual donations. The foundation has conducted more than 750 hospital visits and reached more than 45,000 children across seven countries.

Product overview

Racing For Kids is a 501(c)(3) children's charity that uses motorsports to focus public attention and funding on the healthcare needs of children. The organization operates several interconnected programs: Hospital Visits Program (drivers visit sick children in hospitals at race venues), Kids at the Track Events (bringing young patients and families to race tracks), and Race Weekend Programs (combining hospital visits with track-side experiences). The organization also maintains a branded race car program competing in Canadian racing series to raise awareness. The core offering is a charitable mission delivered through motorsport partnerships, not a technology product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hospital Visits Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 45,000+ sick children visited since 1989
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Red Bull Global RallycrosscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016Official Charitable Partner of Red Bull GRC beginning in 2016. Drivers visit children's hospitals before every Red Bull GRC event across America. Partnership included hospital visits at Miller Children's Hospital, Phoenix Children's Hospital, and others.
• Green Savoree Racing PromotionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003St. Petersburg Grand Prix promoter that works with Racing For Kids to organize Kids-at-the-Track events and hospital visits during the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. This has been a 20+ year partnership including 21 visits to Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital.
• AJ Foyt RacingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINDYCAR racing team that regularly participates in Racing For Kids hospital visits. Drivers like Santino Ferrucci lead hospital visits at race events, and the team opens its transporter for Kids at the Track experiences.
• Andretti AutosportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINDYCAR team with drivers Ryan Hunter-Reay (2014 Indy 500 winner), Alexander Rossi (2016 Indy 500 winner), and others who regularly participate in Racing For Kids hospital visits and provide testimonials.
• Firestone RacingmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTire manufacturer and INDYCAR sponsor that provides support for Racing For Kids events including Kids at the Track activities, tire tours at race events, and sponsorship of hospital visit programs.
• The American LegionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-beneficiary of the Elkhart Lake Welcome Party charity events. Racing for Kids and The American Legion Veterans & Children Foundation split proceeds from the annual event supporting both children's charities and veteran programs.
• Siebkens ResortminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHistoric resort and tavern in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin that hosts the annual Welcome Party benefiting Racing For Kids. Family-owned for nearly 110 years, stewarded through five generations.
• TranSystemsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEngineering company whose employees partner with Racing For Kids to support hospital visits and fundraising activities. Featured in Engineering Inc. magazine for their charitable involvement.
• Sanders MotorsportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian racing team that prepares and contests the Racing For Kids #12 Subaru BRZ in the SPC Series. Manages race operations, car preparation, and fan interaction at Canadian racing events.
• MD AutosportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian racing team that prepared the Racing For Kids Subaru BRZ for the 2026 SPC Series season, joining Peter Hanson and Sanders Motorsport.
• Operation MotorsportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization that connects military veterans with motorsport opportunities. Recommended local technicians to assist Racing For Kids team at Atlantic Motorsport Park events.
• SVEC Salaama Vocational Education CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUgandan vocational education center whose students signed Helping Hands decals on the Racing For Kids race car, creating international community engagement.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=hSK47EnJw0U
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/racing-for-kids

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Racing For Kids