Q: Hola ~ you're the race director of Des Moines' most popular off-road event and charitable fund-raiser. What are your charities and how much have you given so far?

A: VARIETY CLUB OF IOWA AND THE LANCE ARMSTRONG CANCER FOUNDATION
$200 TO EACH

Q: What are the benefits you see of partnering with charity for events?

A: IT IS A GOOD WAY TO GIVE AND HAVE FUN AT THE SAME TIME. PEOPLE RESPECT AN EVENT THAT BENEFITS A WORTHY CAUSE. IT HOPEFULLY GIVES YOU SOME ADDED CREDIBILITY. I THINK EVEN HAVING A REPRESENTATIVE OR INFORMATION PROMOTING THE CAUSE IS HELPFUL, ON A TABLE OR WRITEN IN WITH THE INFORMATIONAL FLYER. SOMETHING THAT I PLAN ON DOING THIS YEAR. MAYBE EVEN GETTING A PROMOTIONAL PACKET FROM THE CAUSE. MOST OF THEM HAVE PLENTY OF "GIVE - AWAYS"

Q: Should promoters change their focus from raising monies for cash prizes and turn events into fund-raisers?

A: THAT IS A DOUBLE EDGE SWORD, PEOPLE LIKE ME RACE FOR THE FUN OF IT AND THERE ARE OTHERS WHO DO RACE FOR THE MONEY. PRIZE MONEY WILL DRAW THE "BIG NAMES" AND OR "PRIEMER RIDERS" AND THAT IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING. WE ALL WANT THE "FAST GUYS" AT OUR EVENTS. YOU NEED ALL LEVELS OF RIDERS. THE "FAST GUYS" ARE THE ONES THAT BEGINERS LOOK UP TO AND THEIR EVENTS ARE CONSIDERED THE "MARQIE" EVENTS.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE MONEY GO TO CAUSES, AND I BELIEVE IF YOU TOOK A POLL OF PARTICIPANTS AND SPECTATORS THE MAJORITY OF THEM WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE THE MONEY GO TO A GOOD CAUSE. MAYBE HAVE A OFFERING CAN OR A DONATION BUCKET. THERE ARE ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES.

Q: What is your advice to promoters about considering partnering with a charity for future events?

A: PICK A CHARITY THAT YOU KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT AND THAT YOU BELIEVE IN STRONGLY AND THAT YOU THINK OTHERS CAN RELATE TO. PEOPLE ARE MORE APT TO SUPPORT SOMETHING THAT RELATES TO THEM AND MAKES SENSE. ALSO YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET DONATIONS IF THE VENDORS KNOW THAT IT IS A CHARITBLE EVENT AND NOT A FOR PROFIT EVENT. I AM A BIG ADVOCATE OF ASKING LOCAL VENDORS TO DONATE ITEMS. IT IS AMAZING HOW GENEROUS PEOPLE ARE. JUST LIKE MY GRANDFATHER SAYS " THE WORST SOMEONE CAN SAY IS NO."

Q: Any final thoughts?

A: FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER HELPED WITH AN EVENT OR PUT ONE ON, THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT GOES INTO IT. PLANNING AND MUCH TEAMWORK, ORGANIZATION ALONG WITH A LITTLE LUCK. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE MANY FINE PEOPLE HELP ME OUT OVER THE YEARS. THERE IS NO WAY IN HECK THAT I COULD HAVE DONE ANY OF THE PAST 4 YEARS WITHOUT THE HELP FROM A CORE GROUP OF FRIENDS. THIS YEAR I PLAN ON HAVING MORE TO DO AND "BIGGER AND BETTER" FOR THE 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME RANT. IT IS AN HONER TO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN SUCH THIS FORUM.

P.S. IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL RACES AND PROMOTERS YOU WILL CEASE TO HAVE RACES. I THINK PEOPLE NEGLECT TO REMEMBER THAT. BE SURE AND THANK THOSE WHO HAVE MADE YOUR RACING EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE. GIVE BACK TO THE SPORT THAT HAS GIVEN YOU SO MUCH JOY OVER THE YEARS.