Michigan International Speedway Plays Host to Inaugural “Fight Night for the Troops” Event to Benefit the VFW Foundation
Event to be hosted by Former Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes

CORNELIUS, N.C. (July 26, 2011) – On Friday, August 19 at the Budweiser Acceleration Club at Michigan International Speedway, the VFW Foundation will hold its first-ever “Fight Night for the Troops” event benefiting its Return the Favor campaign, which supports the military assistance programs of the VFW. The event will feature live amateur boxing sanctioned by USA Boxing, Inc. and organized by Bob Kerr Boxing Club. It will be hosted by Former Heavyweight Champion of the World, Larry Holmes.

The inaugural event was created as an alternative event to traditional fundraising efforts and is also being used as a networking event for the NASCAR community as well as for local businesses. It is also serving as a platform to increase recognition of the VFW Foundation’s year-old awareness and fundraising campaign, Return the Favor.

“Without the support of great corporate partners we would not be able to provide the assistance that we do for today’s military, veterans, and their families. The programs supported by Return the Favor support
the entire military community and we are excited for this tremendous event to continue to raise awareness and support,” says Dustin Kuhn, manager of corporate relations for the VFW Foundation.

“Return the Favor supports programs and services that provide financial assistance for military families, free phone calls for service members overseas, special events to help boost the morale of our troops and their families and much more. I truly feel we have comprehensive military support programs. We’re excited about ‘Fight Night for the Troops’ and look forward to more events like this to help raise awareness and funding for Return the Favor.”

The VFW Foundation plans to take the model from this first event and replicate it across the country in 2012.

In addition to the main event, ‘Fight Night for the Troops’ will also include a cocktail hour and dinner, as well as a silent auction. Doors open at 6:00 pm. For more information on the event and to reserve your
table, please visit http://www.hmsworldwide.com/vfw-foundation-fight-night-for-the-troops-invitation/.

About VFW Foundation

The VFW Foundation is the official charity of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), America’s oldest and largest service group for combat veterans. Return the Favor is an awareness and fundraising campaign to honor, celebrate, and support active-duty military members, veterans, and their families. Our mission is to support programs and services that provide financial assistance for military families, free phone calls for service members overseas, VIP treatment for troops and their families at entertainment events, and morale boosting events for military units. These programs and services are non-political and provided at no cost to the recipients. The VFW Foundation is one of the nation’s highest rated 501 (c) (3) non-profit organizations. For more information, please visit www.returnthefavor.org.

About HMS Worldwide

Founded in 2003 by Todd Hirschfeld, HMS Worldwide is a sports and event lifestyle marketing agency, representing clients in the sports marketing industry. With experience on the team, sponsor, property, and agency sides of the business, HMS Worldwide offers a fully integrated approach, utilizing sports marketing as a platform to build a company’s business.

For more information on HMS Worldwide, please visit www.hmsworldwide.com.

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