Asleep at the Wheel Racing Team partners with AnySoldier.com to promote care packages to soldiers
(Austin, TX) - The Asleep at the Wheel Racing Team (aatwracing.com) recently announced they will race under the AnySoldier.com logo at all IHRA Division 4 Pro-AM events along with the 2005 IHRA Junior National and the 2005 Amalie Oil Texas National events held in San Antonio TX. The family will race their 86’ Olds Cutlass in Stock Eliminator class along with Dylan Lee competing in his junior dragster. Team co-owner and driver Tim Lee stated "Our plans are to provide visibility and promote participation in the AnySoldier.com organization’s one of a kind military care package effort". Judy Lee, co-owner and crewchief stated "We will also race and promote AnySoldier.com at selected ET/bracket race events at IHRA division 4 tracks, along with actively sending care packages to units. We’ve decided this is one of the most rewarding things we can do as a family".
Not to be left out of the promotional effort, Junior Dragster driver and team member Dylan Lee suggested the team also endorse AnySoldier.com at the IHRA Junior Dragster National Event level. On behalf of AnySoldier.com, the Asleep at the Wheel Racing team will award a $50 savings bond to the winner of each of the junior driver’s age group classes contested at the 2005 IHRA Junior Dragster National events. To be eligible for the award, similar to any other vendor contingency, the winning junior dragster must display AnySoldier.com decals, available for purchase through the organization’s website. "This will likely be one of the most economical, and easiest to participate contingency awards ever", stated one of the team members. Representatives from the IHRA sanctioning body were also excited to have such a unique and worthy cause participate in the contingency program.
AnySoldier.com, a "501(c)(3)" non-profit charitable organization, was created by Marty and Sue Horn of Maryland when their son, Army Sgt. Brian Horn, was deployed as a paratrooper in the war effort. When the family sent care packages of creature comfort items, Brian asked them to include items for fellow soldiers as well. The family begin sending additional care packages addressed "Attn: Any Soldier" to share with others in his unit. As these efforts were duplicated by friends and family, Brian persuaded other soldiers to assist with distribution of items. However, with the Department of Defense’s security decision in 2001 to ban care packages simply addressed to "any soldier", Marty and Sue saw a direct need to be fulfilled. AnySoldier.com was created to fill that requirement.
The website maintains a database that allows representatives from deployed units to volunteer as a mailing contact that will accept the care packages and distribute them to fellow soldiers in the "attn: any soldier" philosophy. Currently the website lists over 1200 troop contacts willing to distribute items. It connects citizens with active duty service members and even allows the units to post specific items desired. The items range from writing materials to snacks, health/hygiene products, stateside magazines & newspapers, and even morale boosting letters and cards for service members that receive little or no mail from home.
While the organization does accept tax deductible contributions, its primary goal is to provide soldiers with care packages, no matter how simple or inexpensive. As a quote from the AnySoldier.com website states: "This is about SUPPORT, not just STUFF! A LETTER, from you, your children, the kids at church or school, is THE BEST THING to send. A show of personal support is far better than spending a bunch of money that you don't have."
