Adams Auto Parts Hosts Families At The Race 4 Ronald’s House

This summer marked the fourth year, Adams Auto Parts, a three-store NAPA AUTO PARTS group in Delaware, hosted families from the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House at the annual Race 4 Ronald’s House at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania. Thanks to the efforts of Gary Hackenberg and Wayne Godwin, outside salesmen at Adams Auto Parts, families had the opportunity to spend the afternoon at the track, watch the races from NAPA’s air conditioned hospitality suite, check out the car show, participate in a variety of fun, family activities, and meet Ronald McDonald himself.

The Adams Auto Parts and Race 4 Ronald’s House partnership began soon after Godwin began working at Adams Auto Parts four years ago. “That’s when I met Denny Parisan, founder of the Race 4 Ronald’s House. He works for one of our customers. I also own a collectible car that I race, so there was that connection, too. I got involved because this event supports a very good cause.”

Race 4 Ronald’s House Serves Local Families

Parisan created the Race 4 Ronald’s House in 2012 as a way to raise money for the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House that serves families of patients at Philadelphia’s Children’s Hospital and St. Christopher’s Children’s Hospital. He wanted to pay forward his debt of gratitude to the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House for their help 35+ years ago, when his son was born severely premature. The Ronald McDonald House is a home away from home for families so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little or no cost.

The Race 4 Ronald’s House event is free to spectators when they bring an unwrapped toy for the Ronald McDonald House. Racers pay a $65 entry fee. In addition, the event includes raffles, a charity auction, an opportunity to walk the track with Ronald McDonald, and other activities. With the various donations as well as the help of sponsors, 100 percent of the racer entry fee money goes directly to the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House.

NAPA Welcomes Inner City Kids Group

In addition to the families from the Ronald McDonald House, NAPA also welcomed Twin Boys Racing, a group from Chester, Pennsylvania. Several youth from the organization participated in the Jr. Dragster races. One of Godwin’s customers is involved with the group that works to provide inner city youth ages 5-18 opportunities like drag racing to help give them a positive focus. NAPA helped sponsor the young drivers.

Like the Ronald McDonald families, the boys and girls from Twin Boys Racing had the opportunity to participate in all the fun activities the Race 4 Ronald’s House event offered.

Each year the Race 4 Ronald’s House grows and this summer’s event was the biggest yet with about 200 cars and their drivers participating. NAPA and the Adams Parts Group looks forward to a continuing partnership in the years to come.