by
john manzi for NAADA
Over
the years the North American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) has donated to
worthy charities and this year will be no exception.
“NAADA
members have had the pleasure of being able to donate in excess of
$100,000 to worthy charities over the many years of our existence and even as
the amateur racing season gets underway this season we've already made
donations of $500 to both the Make A Wish Foundation and to New Vocations
Racehorse Adoption Program,” noted NAADA president Joe Faraldo who
additionally donated to each charity.
Those
donations were made in late March during participation in the
amateur driving series sponsored by the Florida Amateur Club at Pompano
Park.
According
to Faraldo over $13,500 was raised during the Florida Amateur Club's racing
series.
"Hats
off to Dein Spriggs, President of the Florida Amateur Club and its
membership for organizing such a worthwhile event. An event that saw David
MIller and Tim Tetrick donate their time and talent as leaders of the teams for
their respective charities to wow the crowd with their unquestionable talents.
The long time efforts by the Florida Club have become the benchmark for other
parts of the industry to emulate, both amateur and pro.," Faraldo added.
Each
year NAADA makes its own substantial donations to charities like Juvenile
Diabetes and the Susan B Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, just to mention a few.
Monies raised for the donations come from membership and starting fees
paid by the clubs participating drivers. Those monies also continue to be used
to foster international competitions including organizing World Cup
competitions on US soil.
Over
the seasons NAADA hosts, and is hosted by, various European amateur
organizations. Already this year NAADA is preparing to host their counterparts
from Hungary in mid-April, Spain in early May, Italy in mid-August and France
in mid- October.
“It’s
a ton of work”, said Faraldo, “but worth all the effort benefitting the
charities , while also supplying a predicate for
nurturing good will amongst nations involved in harness racing worldwide”.
