Austin, Texas, May 1, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Circuit of The Americas™ and Hotels for Hope, the Austin, Texas-based social enterprise that raises funds and awareness for nonprofit organizations that positively impact the lives of children, are teaming up to raise money for Central Texas youth-focused nonprofits through hotel rooms booked for the 2012 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX™. The Grand Prix will be the first Formula 1™ event held in the United States since 2007 and is set for Nov. 16-18 at Circuit of The Americas in Austin.
Guests booking hotel rooms for the FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX™ can make their reservations through the official Circuit of The Americas website, www.CircuitofTheAmericas.com, which will interface with the Hotels for Hope online reservations tool. Travelers securing accommodations through this process automatically generate a donation to two Central Texas nonprofit organizations that provide important services to young people and their families. The designated recipients for the 2012 Grand Prix event are Austin Partners in Education and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area. Monies donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area will be dedicated to the Boys & Girls Club program now being developed in the Del Valle Independent School District.
Participating hotels will make a $1 donation per actualized room night, with Hotels for Hope matching that donation. That means $2 for every hotel room night booked through Hotels for Hope in relation to the FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX™ will go to the Hotels for Hope Fund, which will then distribute those monies to the youth organizations designated above.
"Giving back to the Central Texas community that supports us--and making special provisions for children and young adults--is very important to Circuit of The America's owners and employees," Bruce Knox, the Circuit's executive vice president said. "Tens of thousands of guests, including motorsports enthusiasts from around the world, will be visiting Central Texas as part of the return of Formula 1 racing to the United States. This collaborative effort with Hotels for Hope allows us to capitalize on the tremendous boost to regional tourism that the FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX™ will bring to our area by also creating a way for visitors to support local nonprofits that make a real difference in the lives of young people."
"Hotels for Hope is excited to work with Circuit of The Americas to provide this important community service in conjunction with the FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX™, an international sports and entertainment event," Hotels for Hope founder and owner Neil Goldman added. "Since its inception just two years ago, Hotels for Hope has already made a significant contribution to our partner beneficiaries, all of which make a direct impact on the lives of children. We look forward to helping guests plan for their trip to Central Texas while raising funds and awareness for two very special organizations that help local kids lead healthier, happier and more fulfilled lives."
About the Designated Recipients for the 2012 Initiative
Austin Partners in Education
Austin Partners in Education (APIE) delivers innovative reading, math and college readiness programs that raise student academic performance. By recruiting, training and deploying a diverse cadre of volunteers serving as tutor-mentors, students receive small group (1 - 3 students) instruction aligned with the Austin ISD curriculum.
In the last year, more than 2300 students in 17 schools received a minimum of 45 minutes per week of academic and personal support in elementary and middle school reading and math from more than 1000 dedicated APIE volunteers. Another 250 high school seniors received individualized tutoring and test preparation support to ensure they graduate from high school college-ready. APIE also prepared more than 800 caring adults to be mentors to support Austin students district-wide. For more information, visit www.austinpartners.org.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Areais Austin's leading youth development agency, serving 12,000 kids per year and 1,700 per day via 17 Clubs in the most economically distressed areas of Austin. Each day, kids are exposed to life-enhancing programs that enrich them both academically and socially. Club members have better school attendance, make better grades, graduate at a higher rate and are more likely to attend college in comparison to their peers. Fifty-seven percent of Club Alumni surveyed nationally say the Club "saved my life." More than a safe haven for kids "at risk," the Clubs nurture, inspire and celebrate the limitless potential of our young people. Through the Clubs, kids are given the tools and opportunities to create great futures. Follow the Club on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bgcaustin and become our fan at http://www.facebook.com/bgcaustin
About Circuit of The Americas
Circuit of The Americas will be a world-class destination for performance, education and business. It will be the first purpose-built Grand Prix facility in the United States designed for any and all classes of racing, from motor power to human power, and be the U.S. home to the 2012 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX™ Nov. 16-18 and V8 SUPERCARS.
The Circuit of The Americas' master plan features a variety of permanent structures designed for business, education, entertainment and race use. Its signature element will be a 3.4-mile circuit track with capacity for 120,000 fans. Other support buildings will include an expansive outdoor live music space, a conference center, a banquet hall as well as a state-of-the-art medical facility. Future proposed amenities include a driving/riding experience, a motorsports driving club, kart track, grand plaza event center and tower, and a trackside recreational vehicle park. For more information and downloadable video, audio and photos, visit: www.CircuitofTheAmericas.com.
About Hotels for Hope
Hotels for Hope is an Austin-based social enterprise, dedicated to creating a large charitable footprint through the simple act of booking hotel rooms. By brokering, and managing, large blocks of hotel rooms during different meetings and events, Hotels for Hope's clients turn travel expenses into cost savings while making a direct social impact. Since 2010, Hotels for Hope has saved clients 26.9 percent off of best-available rates and donated $80,765 to charity.
Each of Hotels for Hope's contracted hotels is asked to include a $1 charitable contribution, which Hotels for Hope then matches, dollar for dollar. The organization's social mission is to benefit children through their partner charities. Currently, Hotels for Hope's portfolio includes A Glimmer of Hope, LIVESTRONG, Special Olympics Texas and Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. For more information, visit www.hotelsforhope.org.
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