Austin, Texas, Aug. 26, 2013 (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 again partnering to raise money for a very worthy cause through hotel rooms booked for the Circuit-hosted events, including the 2013 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX set for Nov. 15-17.
This year, monies raised through this unique fund-raising initiative will benefit TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors), a nonprofit organization partnering with Hotels for Hope that provides immediate and long-term emotional help, hope, and healing to all who are grieving a loved one who died while serving in the Armed Forces.
Helping families survive the loss of a member of the Armed Forces
TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, case work assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person care groups and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Based in Washington, D.C., TAPS has regional offices and support staff in Central Texas at Fort Hood and Fort Bliss.
How you can help raise money and awareness
Guests booking hotel rooms for upcoming motorsports and entertainment events at Circuit of The Americas 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 TAPS. 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 will go to the Hotels for Hope Fund, which will then distribute those monies to TAPS.
"With tens of thousands of people making travel plans to visit Circuit of The Americas for our big fall races, including the International SportsCar Weekend in September, the U.S. Vintage National Championships in October and the return of Formula 1™ racing in November, we're pleased to announce TAPS as our new nonprofit beneficiary for this year's Hotels for Hope fund-raising campaign," Circuit founder Bobby Epstein said. "We are so grateful to U.S. military members and veterans for their service to our country, and we appreciate the tremendous sacrifices made by their families and friends here at home. We have a significant military presence in the State of Texas, and we're honored to support TAPS' efforts to help anyone who's lost a loved one in the service."
"Making a direct impact on the lives of children is a key part of the Hotels for Hope mission, and TAPS provides critical support and services for kids who've lost parents or relatives through military service," Hotels for Hope founder and owner Neil Goldman noted. "We're thrilled that Circuit of The Americas shares our support for this organization, and look forward to another busy season of helping guests plan for their trips to Central Texas through the Hotels for Hope online reservations tool."
"We are delighted to be selected as this year's fund-raising beneficiary by the Circuit of The Americas and Hotels for Hope," said Bonnie Carroll, TAPS founder and president. "They've made it so easy for people making hotel reservations in Austin, Texas, to support our work assisting families of our fallen troops. Funds raised through this partnership will support TAPS programs for grieving parents, spouses, children, siblings and others affected by a death in the Armed Forces."
Through its partnership with Hotels for Hope, Circuit of The Americas was able to raise $50,800 last year for local nonprofit organizations that support the needs of Central Texas children, primarily through room nights booked for the 2012 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX. This season, funds raised throughout the entire 2013 calendar year, which has included multiple motorsports events and dozens of concerts at the Austin360 Amphitheater at Circuit of The Americas, will be contributed to the Hotels for Hope Fund and then directed to TAPS.
About Circuit of The Americas
Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, is a world-class destination for premium sports and entertainment. It is the first racing facility in the United States purposely built for Formula 1™ racing and is designed to host a variety of sports and entertainment events. The Circuit is home to the FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX, which was named the 2012 "Sports Event of the Year" by SportsBusiness Journal/Daily, and is the new North American host of the summer edition of ESPN's X Games. Additionally Circuit of The Americas welcomes spectators from around the world for some of the most prestigious national and international motorsports series, including MotoGP™, V8 Supercars™, GRAND-AM Road Racing™, American Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championships.
Circuit of The Americas' 1,500-acre campus includes a variety of permanent structures designed for business, education, entertainment and sporting use. Its signature 3.4-mile, 20-turn undulating racetrack features remarkable elevation changes and a number of challenging turns patterned after some of the world's iconic Grand Prix tracks. The Austin360 Amphitheater is an expansive outdoor live music space, featuring the largest permanent stage in Central Texas and the capacity for 14,000 guests. The Circuit's iconic 25-story Observation Tower has a viewing platform offering 360-degree views of the venue, downtown Austin and Texas Hill Country. The 44,000-square foot Event Center offers an expansive convention and banquet space that doubles as an international Media Center during sports and entertainment event. The Event Center includes more than 30 broadcast booths, an internal café and dedicated news conference room. The Circuit's massive Main Grandstand features permanent seating for 9,000, a variety of well-appointed suites, and the Velocity Lounge and hospitality area. Circuit of The Americas also offers a state-of-the-art on-site medical facility, parking for 25,000 vehicles, taxi and shuttle bus depots and a permanent heli-stop. For more information and downloadable video, audio and photos, visit: www.CircuitofTheAmericas.com, www.Austin360Amphitheater.com or the Circuit's dedicated FTP site, media.circuitoftheamericas.com.
About Hotels for Hope
Hotels for Hope provides hotel brokerage services to large groups through a simple business model that contributes $2 for every room night stay to charitable organizations that seek to help children live happier and healthier lives. Since its inception, Hotels for Hope has donated more than $200,000. For more information, visit www.hotelsforhope.com.
About TAPS
TAPS is the national organization providing compassionate care for the families of America's fallen military heroes. Services are provided free of charge. TAPS has offered support to more than 40,000 surviving family members of our fallen military and the caregivers assisting them since 1994. For more information go to www.taps.org">www.taps.org or call the toll-free resource and information help line at 1.800.959.TAPS (8277).
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