Austin Hatcher Foundation Presents Founder Club Member Award to IMSA
Austin Hatcher Foundation Presents Founder Club Member Award to IMSA
· Relationship Dates to 2009, Resulting in Nearly $2.5 Million in Contributions to Foundation
· Award Presented to IMSA President Scott Atherton During ‘Roar Before The Rolex 24’ at Daytona
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Jan. 5, 2018) – The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer recognized one its most important longtime partners today, presenting the Founder Club Member Award to the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). The presentation was made at iconic Daytona International Speedway during the “Roar Before the Rolex 24” test sessions held prior to IMSA’s season-opening sports car event, the Jan. 27-28 Rolex 24 At Daytona.
Amy Jo Osborn, co-founder of the Austin Hatcher Foundation, presented the award to IMSA President Scott Atherton in recognition of the sanctioning body’s assistance in generating nearly $2.5 million in contributions to the foundation from 2009-2017. That span started during the era of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) which was sanctioned by IMSA; the Austin Hatcher Foundation was the longtime Official Charity of the ALMS. The relationship continued in 2014 when the ALMS merged with the GRAND-AM Rolex Series under a revamped IMSA organization. Since then, the foundation has been a “Proud Charity” of IMSA.
The IMSA link was a harbinger of things to come for the foundation. In recent years it has expanded its presence in both the motorsports and automotive industries via a partnership with Goodguys Rod & Custom Association and in becoming a member of the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Marketing Association) Cares family of charities. In addition, the foundation conducts visits to children’s hospitals across the United States in IMSA race markets, bringing its signature Diversionary Therapy program to assist young cancer patients and their families.
“IMSA has been one of our pillars from the outset of our organization,” said Austin Hatcher Foundation Amy Jo Osborn. “IMSA was absolutely integral to the efforts in getting the foundation established and helping to open other doors for us in motorsports and automotive circles, either directly or indirectly. And it was especially gratifying when we were accepted by the people who worked for GRAND-AM when the merger occurred. IMSA endured and so did our relationship.
“Now, all these years later the numbers speak for themselves. IMSA has clearly been vital to our mission of erasing the effects of pediatric cancer. We are proud to honor them with the Founder Club Member Award.”
About the Austin Hatcher Foundation
The mission of the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer is to erase the effects of pediatric cancer and optimize each child’s quality of life through essential specialized intervention beginning at the time of diagnosis and continuing throughout survivorship. The Foundation, founded in 2006 by Amy Jo Osborn and her husband, Dr. James Osborn, is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Services are provided to children with cancer, and their families, via the Foundation’s acclaimed Psycho-Oncology Division at the Educational Advancement Center (EAC) in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The EAC is a state-of-the-art facility that opened in 2016. The Foundation provides all services at no cost, with services funded solely by the generous donations of supporters. Since its inception, the Foundation has provided services to more than 70,000 individuals across 28 states, in 30 children’s hospitals. The Foundation is part of the SEMA Cares Family of Charities, is an official Proud Charity of the International Motor Sports Association and the official charity of SimCraft. For more information on the Foundation, visit www.hatcherfoundation.org or contact the Foundation via e-mail at info@hatcherfoundation.org. Follow the Foundation on Facebook at facebook.com/austinhatcherfoundation and on Twitter at @austinhatcher.fo.
