INDIANAPOLIS, IN – July 17th – Kroger Central Division, General Mills, NASCAR/IndyCar driver John Andretti and radio personality Dave Wilson announced details of a comprehensive fund-raising effort benefiting Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health that will include: the Window World Progressive Dinner, the “Kroger Race for Riley Presented by Cheerios,” Kroger and General Mill’s red wagon scan promotion in 103 Indiana stores and the “Get Healthy, Give Hope” fund-raising campaign supported by Kroger vendors.
The combined campaign raised a record $325,905 in 2014. The campaign has raised $2.7 million for Riley Hospital in previous years, with a goal of surpassing $3 million this year.
“Kroger Race for Riley Presented by Cheerios” was started in 1997 by Andretti and Wilson. They raised almost $4,000 in the first year. It wasn’t long before others started to take notice and joined Andretti and Wilson in making a major impact on the positive work being done at Riley Hospital for Children. Now known as the “Kroger Race for Riley, Presented by Cheerios,” what was once just a go-kart race, has now turned into a week-long series of activities, and the “core” group of five people Andretti assembled works very hard in making sure the values of each event live up to the standards he and Wilson set, making each element of the week fun for the patients, sponsors and spectators and raising as much money as possible.
Atrium Party at Riley Hospital: Friday, July 17th, 2:00 – 3:30 PM
A party for patients and their families in the Simon Family Tower Main Lobby at Riley Hospital is jointly hosted by John Andretti, Dave Wilson, Kroger, General Mills and others. Activities include crafts, refreshments, an autograph session with Andretti, General Mills equity characters Trix the Rabbit and Buzz the Honeybee, goodie bags and more. Prior to the atrium party, Andretti visited patient rooms for those children unable to visit the party, offering encouragement to families and sharing gifts with Riley kids.
Progressive Dinner: Monday, July 20th, 6:00 PM, Westin Hotel
The 6th annual “Window World Progressive Dinner” at the Westin Hotel includes a dozen Indianapolis restaurants, all donating food and staff time. Glazers of Indiana Wine and Zink Distributing will donate drinks. The dinner includes a silent auction, as well as a live auction with unique experiences for bid that are not available anywhere else. The dinner raised $51,185 in 2014.
Kroger Race for Riley Presented by Cheerios: Tuesday, July 21st, Noon, New Castle Motorsports
John Andretti and Dave Wilson’s “Race for Riley Presented by Cheerios” go-kart races at New Castle Motorsports Park include a media race, a sponsor race and final race against Andretti. In addition to the go-kart races, fans will Andretti autograph session and a General Mills sponsored prize package that includes a trip to the September 20th Chicagoland Speedway NASCAR race. The event raised $36,261 in 2014.
Andretti Autosports Tour: Wednesday, July 22nd
Ten Riley patients and their families will join John Andretti on a tour of Andretti Autosports. In addition, they will have time to talk with Michael and John Andretti. The “personal touch” given by everyone at Andretti Autosports is just another example of people getting behind the “Race for Riley.”
Fan Fest & NASCAR Driver Autograph Appearance: Thursday, July 23rd
This event includes a customer race party in the parking lot of the Kroger store at 1217 S. Rangeline Road, as well as NASCAR show cars, simulators, music, refreshments, and a driver autograph session with A.J Allmedinger, driver of the #47 Kroger Chevrolet, which he will race in the Brickyard 400.
Red Wagon Scan:
Kroger’s 31st annual scan promotion in partnership with General Mills allowed customers and associates to donate $1, $3 or $5 to Riley Hospital for Children, for which they received four high-value coupons for General Mills items, including Big H cereals, Chex Mix, Nature Valley / Fiber One bars and Totino’s Pizza. All 103 Central Division Kroger, Scott’s, Owens and Pay Less stores in Indiana are participating. This scan event raised a record $167,118 in 2014, which was 3 times more than the scan raised in 2013! Kroger matched the first $10,000 in associate and customer donations.
