OUR MISSION
AWARENESS MOTORSPORTS is driven by a God-given passion to positively impact and empower young people through our involvement in drag racing. We believe that drag racing provides us a powerful & unique platform to directly engage, impact, and empower young people with a positive message. We also create unparalleled AWARENESS for the causes and marketing partners we believe in. In all we do we believe in leading by example with integrity, accountability, and character.
HISTORY
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Everyone agrees that children truly are the future of our nation and our world.
Unfortunately, today’s youth are hard-pressed to find role models who give them a consistent, positive message in a time when they need it most. Kids in search of positive influences today are finding their favorite athletes and celebrities in drug rehab programs, being prosecuted for numerous crimes, and glorifying violence. Consequently, children face increasing pressures to experiment with drugs, drop out of school, and make bad choices. Drug use alone has impacted – either directly or indirectly – 80% of American families. Clearly, these are problems of major proportion.
In 1995, long time friends and business partners Larry Puff of Battle Creek, MI and Dr. Ron Berges of Ottumwa, IA were discussing ways to impact this issue by combining their two passions, Drag Racing and working with area youth programs, things they had both been involved in for several decades. While exploring ideas, Larry and Dr. Ron were introduced to Ron Steger, director of the national Race Against Drugs®/RAD Racing organization. Parented by the FBI and National Child Safety Council, Race Against Drugs®/RAD Racing used a motorsports-based “Just Say No” message to positively impact youth. Mr. Steger and Race Against Drugs®/RAD Racing gave Larry and Dr. Ron the partnership and methodology they were looking for and AWARENESS MOTORSPORTS was born.
In addition to their efforts impacting youth, Dr. Ron and Larry also saw an opportunity to utilize their years of racing and business experience to provide their promotional partners with effective and innovative marketing strategies to help them capitalize on the unique promotional opportunity that drag racing provides (See Marketing section for more details.). To maximize their effectiveness, Larry and Dr. Ron underwent extensive sports marketing training and in 2002, Larry's son Aaron earned his bachelor's degree in marketing and public relations and became the marketing director for the organization.
OBJECTIVES
1. Positively Impact & Empower Young People -
Through events at the race track and numerous community events throughout the year as well as through our partnerships with other agencies and organizations, we strive to engage, educate, and empower the young people we encounter to realize their full potential and become the leaders of tomorrow.
2. Build Rewarding and Mutually-Beneficial Marketing Partnerships with our corporate partners and sponsors. Through the unique platform drag racing provides us, our professional motorsports marketing experts help our partners achieve and exceed their goals through innovative & trackable results-driven motorsports marketing and promotional strategies
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In short, since our inception AWARENESS MOTORSPORTS has delivered our anti-drug/healthy lifestyle message to over 100,000 children all over the Midwest, provided our partners with unparalleled returns on their marketing investments, and received numerous awards and accolades for our efforts along the way. With all of that being said, what we are most proud of are the young people we have been able to impact, empower, and inspire along the way.
We are currently seeking promotional and cause-related partners to continue and expand our efforts for the 2020 season and beyond. Please contact our Marketing Director Aaron Puff (aaron.puff@awarenessmotorsports.com) to learn more about partnering with our team!
