For the 17th consecutive year, NASA Southeast’s Santa’s Toy Run arrived at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta with the intention of entertaining racers and making the holiday season a bit brighter for some area women and children.
“Weather was a little cold, but all in all, it was spectacular,” said Ron Rigdon, founder of Santa’s Toy Run. “The number of registered entrants equaled last year’s, but we brought a few new faces to the show with our newest attraction – we did our first annual car show. Thanks in great part to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, who allowed us to use their Fan Zone at no charge and authorized us to do ride-along laps, we added another 61 to the total count.”
The turnout, as joyous as it was, paled in comparison to the happiness the event’s donations brought to those in need. Rigdon came up with the idea in 2008. Then an active NASA racer, he saw an opportunity to do some philanthropy through his passion.
“I always made my racing about something. I tried to come up with the best recipient for some sort of charity, and I realized it was the kids,” he said. “There’s not a better group. These are less fortunate kids – the hidden homeless, I call ‘em. These are kids in foster care, in group foster homes, and in domestic violence shelters with their moms. A lot of these kids wouldn’t have toys if it wasn’t for Santa’s Toy Run.”
This year, Santa’s Toy Run raised $16,090 and donated enough toys to provide 300 kids with a small bag containing 3-5 toys, valued at $20 apiece. Of the money raised, $4,600 came in the form of Walmart gift cards, which are given to kids 15 and older and to the moms in domestic violence shelters.
“We put these Walmart cards inside Christmas cards and write the following: hope, strength, and prevail,” Rigdon said.
A lot of these kids and women come into these shelters with just the clothes on their back. When they arrive, they need to be able to get some necessities.
To ensure that donations make their way to those in need, Rigdon vetted all his charities beforehand. After years spent working on the Speedway Children’s Charity Board of Trustees, he recognized what it took to avoid excessive bureaucratic absorption.
“We make sure to review our affiliates’ annual revenue statements to make sure their administrative costs are reasonable. Most of all, we want to receive donations for our approved organizations and to protect the integrity of each and every donor,” he explained.
The day of the Toy Run, these various organizations are required to have a representative on site in the Road Atlanta Pavilion so they can meet the racers and give out information.
Of course, the event has a lighthearted race to celebrate the season. On Sunday, the Santa’s Toy Run begins by auctioning off pole position and last place, then determining the rest of the field through a blind drawing. What follows is a 45-minute non-points race that gets quite busy. Officials have green-flagged as many as 65 cars at one time. Roughly 300 racers and Time Trial drivers arrived at Road Atlanta this year.
Along with the main event, Tracy Gaudu offered ridealongs in her Corvette for the third consecutive year.
Thankfully, the holiday cheer has spread westward. Three weeks ago, NASA Texas partnered up with the local Toys for Tots for their fourth running of their own Toy Run.
Great weather at Eagles Canyon attracted an impressive turnout. With 255 unique entries, fields were full. In attendance were 35 GR Toyota Track Day enthusiasts enjoying their first track outings in their new cars, 40-odd Time Trial drivers, and a hundred plus racers. Due to the extra run group with Toyota and the limited daylight, two groups of 50 racers were let loose, “and put on a heck of a show with little to no incident. It was a great way to end the season,” said Regional Director Marie Adams.
NASA corner marshal and Toys for Tots volunteer Laura Bauer took on much of the operation, ensuring other volunteers were making the rounds, collecting donations so the toys get to the flatbed truck that would take them to their intended destination.
“Toys for Tots has recently instated a new program aimed at improving literacy, so next year’s attendants are suggested to bring a book as well as a toy to donate,” Adams added.
Some scheduling confusion and a temporary renaming of the event – “Turkey Trot” seemed appropriate because the event was rescheduled to the weekend before Thanksgiving – might have limited the number of toys donated this year. Regardless, the team still filled eight boxes with an estimated 500 toys. Lower toy counts were offset by respectable monetary contributions and sales of raffle tickets.
“Being part of Toys for Tots during the holiday season is always something I look forward to. I’m honored to continue the tradition that Will Faules and NASA Southeast started, spreading love and generosity to those who need it most. I am happy to carry on the torch and be part of making this season brighter for so many,” Adams said.
“I’m going to do this as long as I’m physically able. It feels right. I know it might be materialistic, but I hope that these toys take the kids’ minds off their situation for a couple hours or a couple of days,” Rigdon concluded.
For more information on the event, visit their site.
