Jeans Day to raise money, profile of non-profits

Jeans Day to raise money, profile of non-profits
Soap Box Derby launches new effort

July 21, 2008, CINCINNATI, Ohio – “Casual Friday” at the office can benefit good causes as it boosts employee morale. That’s the thinking behind a new, national effort called Jeans Day, being launched this week by a Cincinnati non-profit entrepreneur.

“A typical Jeans Day fundraiser can collect $100 to $200 in any one office,” said Doug Newberry, who runs the Cincinnati Soap Box Derby and other fundraisers through EventFund. “By adding all these offices together, we can make a real difference with cancer research, assisting in times of disaster, food and medicine for the poor and hungry or helping a youth development group.”

Jeans Day (www.jeansday.org) will encourage office workers across the country to donate $5 every time their employer allows a “Casual Friday” or other dress-down day at work. Participating companies will direct those contributions to a different charitable group each month, organized by EventFund.

The All-American Soap Box Derby will be the first Jeans Day recipient. This Friday, the cash-strapped Akron, Ohio-based organization will encourage its supporters in the corporate world and beyond to host Jeans Day events at their places of business, with proceeds benefiting SBD. The event will support this year’s All-American Soap Box Derby competition in Akron, the local Derby organizations and help mark the 75th anniversary of the first Soap Box Derby race in 1933.

“We’ll have three years of celebrations,” said Jeff Iula, general manager of the All-American Soap Box Derby. “2008 will be the 75th anniversary of the first Derby. 2009 will be the anniversary of the first All-American race and 2010 will commemorate the first race in Akron.”

On Saturday, six World Champions will be crowned at the All-American Soap Box Derby – an event that’s going off without a major sponsor for the first time in a number of years.

The Soap Box Derby was started by Dayton Daily News photographer Myron Scott in 1933. While out shooting photographs, he came across kids racing homemade racecars down a hill. He organized a small race a week afterward and later in the summer, with the help of his employer, he organized a much larger race that attracted kids from across the country. A year later, it became the All-American Soap Box Derby and has been run annually ever since.

Derby Chief Executive Officer Jim Huntsman jumped at the chance to inaugurate Jeans Day. “We are attempting to grow our sport and I appreciate EventFund’s efforts and dedication to our program,” he said.

EventFund hopes to raise $1 million for the Soap Box Derby. “That would mean getting 100 offices in 100 cities to each raise $100,” said Newberry. “I think it’s doable, if we can get the word out.”

Newberry has currently invited over 70 national charities to sign on as Jeans Day recipients. He welcomes others to contact him at 513-322-5135 or doug@eventfund.com.

“Jeans Day is a fun and easy way to donate to charities,” said Newberry. “Everybody enjoys Jeans Days at their office and pooling money from offices across the country can really add up.”

Looking for a post-Christmas outing that doesn't include returning or exchanging gifts?

Come out to the Pleasant Ridge or Sayler Park Recreation Centers on Saturday, Dec. 29 for the first annual Cincinnati H-O-R-S-E Tournament, benefitting the Cincinnati Recreation Commission Foundation.

Horse is a basketball game in which a player makes a basket from a location, then other players must give a try from that same spot. When all people have tried, the next person in line chooses a spot and goes for a basket. Each person who misses is assigned a letter. They start with "H", then go to "O", "R", "S", and "E". A person who gathers all 5 letters is out of the game. The game keeps going until only one person is left or, in this tournament, time runs out.

In this less athletic version of basketball, the only skill required is shooting; no player is allowed to defend. This is a fun way to perk up that long Christmas break and help out a good cause at the same time.

Entry fee for the tournament is $20 per person (or $25 with a T-shirt) before Dec 19. After Dec 19, up until game day, the entry fee is $25 and does not include a shirt. The number of entries will be limited due to court and time restraints. Pre-register online or by mail.

VOLUNTEERS are also needed to help out at the event. All volunteers receive FREE T-shirts in exchange for working a three-hour shift. For more information, contact us or click HERE to sign up.

MASOCHISTS HIT THE ROAD

STRAIGHT STREET HILL CLIMB IS A LESSON
IN SELF-INFLICTED TORTURE
Nov 12, 2007, Cincinnati, Ohio -- The Straight Street Hill Climb, the most grueling 0.2 miles of running on the planet, returns on Sunday Nov. 18 after a year of monthly hill climbing challenges. Begun some 30 years ago by the Clifton Track Club, the oxygen-depleting sprint up one of the city’s steepest inclines is back, with race organizers determined to finally break the heretofore untouchable 2-minute barrier.

"It’s two minutes of self-inflicted torture, and there's nothing the United Nations can do about it!" said race director Doug Newberry, president of EventFund, LLC.

The race will begin at 9 a.m. at the intersection of Straight Street and West McMicken Avenue and proceed due east on Straight Street to the finish line at University Court. The course is mostly flat to gently rolling -- if you ignore the 35 degree slope.

EventFund revived Straight Street last November as the kick-off for year-round series of hill climbs that will culminate this weekend in the awarding of the prestigious King of the Hill trophies and Cincinnati Masochist Award.

Entry forms for the Straight Street Hill Climb are available at www.StraightStreetHillClimb.com.
Registration fee for Straight Street is $10. Proceeds will benefit the American Lung Association of Ohio.

Runners are advised that our generous sponsors will provide will be plenty of liquids to facilitate recovery upon completion (or not) of the race, but participants should bring their own oxygen.

For further information call Doug at 513-322-5135 or go to http://www.straightstreethillclimb.com/.

Drag racing comes to Kentucky Speedway

September 26, 2007, Sparta, Ky -- This weekend, Kentucky Speedway will welcome a new racing series to the Sparta, Ky loacation. The Soap Box Derby will hold an inaugural rally of gravity-powered race cars. Organized by both the Cincinnati and Louisville Soap Box Derby organizations, racers, ages eight through 17, will compete in hand-built cars down a 1/5 mile stretch of Jerry Carroll Blvd. Teams are expected from a six-state area for the event.

“I think it’s great that we could host this event.” said Mark Cassis, vice-president and general manager of the Kentucky Speedway. “The Speedway supports the efforts of the Soap Box Derby.” Cassis added that Speedway will also be hosting the Boy Scouts this weekend in a separate event, “which ties together nicely.”

Racing will take place on both Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., with two events each day. Admission is free to come and watch. “Bring a lawn chair and a cooler,” advises Doug Newberry, co-director of the event.

Rent-A-SoapBox
If you are not content to sit around and watch, Newberry said there are three cars in need of drivers. The cars will be rented out to drivers who meet age qualifications, reserve the car and pay the entry fee of $35 per race. “It’s a great way to learn what Derby racing is all about.” To reserve a car for any of the races, contact the Soap Box Derby, info@cincysbd.com or call 513-885-1373 before Friday night.

High speed fun
This is a new venue for the Soap Box Derby and it may prove to be a favorite destination for Derby racers. “I love this track,” said Nick Eaton, 2007 World Rally Champ runner-up, “It’s fast.” Eaton was doing some speed tests on the course last weekend. “Derby drivers will really like racing here because of the speed.”


How fast is ‘fast’? Eaton’s Super Stock racer was hovering around the 30 miles per hour mark on Saturday. That’s the top speed recommended by the All-American, the sanctioning body for the Soap Box Derby. “The Master’s cars will do aboiut 5 miles per hour faster than that,” said Chris Eaton, co-race director from Louisville. “We may need to shorten the course a little bit to keep the speeds safe.”

“We will be putting a heavy emphasis on safety this weekend,” added Newberry. “These cars will be reaching some high speeds so it will be fun to watch and compete, but the kids and the parents need to realize that this can be a dangerous sport if the they don’t respect the safety rules.”

If You Go
What: The Kentucky Speedway Rally

When: Saturday and Sunday, Sept 29 and 30
Check-in begins 7 a.m.
Racing (2 races) from 9 a.m. to approx. 6 p.m

Where: Jerry Carroll Blvd
Sparta, Ky
use Speedway entrance #1 off Hwy 35

Admission: Free for spectators
$35 to rent a car and race
must reserve in advance and
need to be checked-in before race begins
(bring lawn chair and cooler)

Benefitting: Proceeds from event benefit the
Cincinnati and Louisville Soap Box Derby organizations

Info: www.cincinnatisoapboxderby.com
www.louisvillesoapboxderby.com

New Cincinnati Soap Box Derby website set for unveiling this week.