Officials from the Bristol chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC) announced Thursday evening that it distributed a grand total of $676,436.88 in 2022 to support many of the rural-area child-focused agencies throughout Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
In the mobile event, all cars toured the Pinnacle Speedway In Lights and then made a stop in the BMS infield to receive their grants from SCC-Bristol executive director Claudia Byrd.
“We’re so thankful to everyone who donated and volunteered this year so that we are able to provide this much-needed support to the wonderful children in our region,” Byrd said. “There's no greater blessing than to be here at the Night of Smiles presented by Food City and help give away all of this money raised to assist area agencies throughout our community with their missions.”
LXI, a Johnson City-based agency who works with youth to create holistic change and healing in their relationships with friends, family and God, received the prestigious Jeff Byrd Grant. Presented in honor of the late president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway, the $50,000 award will go to the organization's efforts to create an activities space on their campus adjacent to the basketball court that would also be available to the extended local community. The space would include an expanded area for other games and activities and for families to hang out in a safe environment.
Night of Smiles presented by Food City is the culmination of a year of SCC fundraising events, including The Pinnacle Speedway in Lights, which opens for its 26th season on Friday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m.
Long hailed as the premier holiday display in the Appalachian Highlands Region, The Pinnacle Speedway in Lights powered by TVA spreads across a five-mile route illuminated by more than three million lights among 250 displays. A trip through the light show sends guests down alongside historic Bristol Dragway and all throughout the property, culminating with a lap around the iconic Bristol Motor Speedway half-mile oval.
The Pinnacle Speedway in Lights runs through Saturday, Jan. 7. In addition to the $50 Fast Pass presented by Citi option which is available on select nights when lines get the longest, the event costs $20 for cars from Sunday through Thursday and $25 on Friday and Saturday nights. For larger groups, vans are $50 and buses are $125.
Organizations that received funding from Bristol Motor Speedway's Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities during the Night of Smiles event are as follows:
Abuse Alternatives
Appalachia Service Project
Assistance and Resource Ministries
Boys & Girls Club of Central Appalachia
Boys & Girls Club of Elizabethton/ Carter County
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kingsport
Boys & Girls Club Greeneville & Greene County
Boys & Girls Club of Johnson City/ Washington County
Boys & Girls Club of Morristown
Boys & Girls Club of the Mountain Empire
Bread of Life Children's Ministry
Bristol Faith in Action
Bristol Regional Speech & Hearing Center
Cap the Gap for Foster Care
CARE Center
Carter County Foster Care Association
CASA for Kids
Children's Advocacy Center of the first Judicial District
Children's Advocacy Center of Highlands Community Services
Children's Advocacy Center of Sullivan County
Child Advocacy Center of the 3rd Judicial District
Coalition for Kids
Communities in Schools of Appalachian Highlands
Community Help Center of Northeast Tennessee
Crossroads Medical Mission
East Tennessee Christian Home and Academy
Family Crisis Support Services
Family Promise of Greater Kingsport
Feeding Southwest Virginia
Girls Incorporated of Bristol
Girls Incorporated of Johnson City/Washington Co.
Girls Incorporated of Kingsport
Girls on the Run of Northeast Tennessee
Good Samaritan Ministries
Greater Kingsport Family YMCA
Healing Hands Health Center
Holston United Methodist Home for Children
Hope House of Scott County
Isaiah 117 House
Jeremiah School
Jericho Shrine Center
Johnson County Safe Haven
Kingswood Home for Children
LXI (also Jeff Byrd Grant winner)
McClure River Valley Development
Morrison School
Morristown Hamblen Central Services
Mountain Kids Inc
Mountain Mission School
Mountain Region Speech and Hearing
Niswonger Children's Foundation
Of One Accord
Ridin' High Therapeutic Horse Program
Rise Up
Saint Anthony's Bread Food Pantry
Santa Pal
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee
Shepherd's Inn
Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center
SMILE Simple Methods of Loving Everyone
Southern Appalachian Ronald McDonald House Charities
Sullivan County Sheriff's Auxiliary
SYNERGY Foundation
Taking Action for Special Kids
TLC Community Center
Unicoi Family YMCA
Waiting to Hear
YMCA of Bristol
Young Life Bristol
Young Life Kingsport
YWCA of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia
For more information about the Pinnacle Speedway In Lights powered by TVA, please visit the BMS website.
