Patrick Long’s and Sebastien Bourdais’ Comments About the 7th Annual Kart 4 Kids Pro-Am Kart Race 2018 brings great growth to our 7th annual event. There’s so many new concepts and additions, but at the heart of it as always, is the children. We are well on the way towards breaking our previous annual record for funds raised, and in the end that’s what its all about: helping the families who need it. There are so many people who donate their time to this event, and it really has become a close-knit bunch. I’m very thankful for the staff and continued support of our returning sponsors as well as new additions. Moving the event to the St. Pete GP weekend for 2017 was a great evolution, and now taking it to the actual venue and circuit of the GP is one more massive step in awareness and enthusiasm for 2018. The best part? It’s right down the street from Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and a chance to try and get as many staff and patients out to join the festivities! Racers will be racers - raising the bar on the event production side, contributions and donations and ultimately awareness for such a special hospital and group of children is what was expected. The amount and rate of speed of that evolution is happening is unreal! Now comes the fun. May the best team win! Let’s get after it. “Last year was my first year really being part of the organization of Kart for Kids, and I got to meet amazing people in the St Pete community who spend a lot of time and effort making it a success. I also got to visit Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and to see the incredible work they do everyday to care for the kids only encouraged me to make it even better this year and always raise more funds. I’m very happy we managed to bring the race to the Grand Prix track here in downtown St Pete and I thank all the parties involved for making it happen. I’m also super excited about all the new sponsors that came onboard this year both from the local community and the IndyCar community! Not only are they doing a good deed, but they’re also in for a treat! I also know I can count on a good number of my fellow drivers from IndyCar and other Series to put on a good show during the race. Thanks to them and many other donors, the auction should be a great success as well, and allow us to reach our goal of $100k, so get ready to bid and have some fun!” AllAll Children’s Children’s Hospital Hospital Foundation Foundation P.O.P.O. Box Box 3142 3142 St.St. Petersburg, Petersburg, FL FL 33731 33731-3142-3142 727727-767-767-4199-4199TT 727727-767-767-4107-4107FF givetoallkids.orggivetoallkids.org Dear Friends, The 7th Annual Kart 4 Kids Pro-Am Kart Race is a wonderful testament to the dedication of DearDearour Friends, community.Friends, We are so grateful for the support of the drivers, spectators and planning committee who make the race one of the top grossing fundraising events to benefit Johns EachEachHopkins year, year, itAll itis is Children’sa a joy joy to to see see Hospital.your your enthusiasm enthusiasm This year grow grow we as as areyou you thrilledsupport support tothe the welcome children children and Kartand families families4 Kids of toof Johns Johnsdowntown Hopkins Hopkins AllAllSt. Children’s Children’s Petersburg—so Hospital Hospital through throughclose tothe the the annual annual children Patrick Patrick and Long Long families Pro Pro-Am- Amwhose Kart Kart Race. livesRace. areOnce Once transformed again, again, you’ve you’ve by rallied ralliedyour time, time, energy,energy,philanthropy. talent talent and and treasure treasure to to benefit benefit o ourur community’s community’s most most vulnerable vulnerable children. children. The The impact impact of of your your support support reachesreaches throughout throughout our our community community to to help help children children in in need need across across Florida Florida and and beyond. beyond. We are proud to be a pediatric academic health care system entrusted with the health and YouYouwell-being are are a a part part of of of thousandsa a family family of of more ofmore children than than 8,000 8,000 across individuals, individuals, 17 counties 1,250 1,250 inemployees, employees, Florida and 500 500 beyond. volunteers, volunteers, With 450 450 institutes compa companies,nies, 6060focused charitable charitable on foundations foundationsbabies, hearts, and and 20 20 brains pet pet-therapy-therapy and cancer, teams teams who wewho aretreat are dedicated dedicated the toughest to to ensuring ensuring pediatric all all children children cases have knowinghave access access to to thethethat best best generosity care. care. Thanks Thanks like to toyours you, you, we willwe are areelevate now now shaping shapingour care the the and future future help of of pediatricus pediatric meet medicine themedicine needs through through of our research researchunique patient discoveries,discoveries,population. educating educating the the next next generation generationofof pediatric pediatric leaders, leaders, advocacy advocacy and and cutting cutting-edge-edge treatment treatment – –allall whilewhile transforming transforming into into a a top top-ranked-ranked academic academic health health center. center. Each year we look forward to this amazing sporting event and all you do, all for kids. Thank you OnOnfor behalf behalf your of unwaveringof our our grateful grateful enthusiasmpatients patients and and families,and families, passion thank thank yearyou you to afterto the the drivers,year. drivers, spectators, spectators, and, and, of of course, course, the the planningplanning committee, committee, fo for rthe the role role you you play play in in making making strides strides to to create create healthier healthier tomorrows tomorrows for for all all children. children. Warmly,Warmly, JenineJenine Rabin Rabin ExecutiveExecutive Vice Vice President President JohnsJohns Hopkins Hopkins All All Children’s Children’s Foundation Foundation “Creating healthy tomorrows... for one child, for All Children.” A Kart 4 Kids fund-raising record! Last year’s Kart 4 Kids celebration raised $81,000 for John’s Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. OUR HARD WORKING 2018 RACE COMMITTEE Event Chairmen – Sebastien Bourdais and Patrick Long Dave Bassett, Co-Chair; President Kart4Kids, Inc. Page Obenshain, Co-chair; Vice President Kart4kids, Inc. Al Thomas, Bob Dikman, Charlie Neilson, Chris Russick, Christal Smithyman, David White, Denise Remus, Eddie Kish, Erica Barnes, Howard Jacobs, Jan Heylen, Jeff Holcombe, John Vita, Josh Breckeen, Larry Mendez, Lee Obenshain, Neil van Niekerk, Pamela Richard, Terry Richard, Will Reilly A very special thanks to Melissa Schneider Kart 4 Kids Progress Chart A very special thank you to the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg 2018 Pro Driver Information Sebastien Bourdais SBourdais.com Sebastien joins us for his 5th consecutive year and as Co-Event Chairman is an invaluable asset to our success. Sebastien has competed in virtually every major sports and open wheel racing series in the world. His extensive resume includes 4 consecutive Champ Car titles ’04-’07 with 31 wins, and the record for most wins in a season. He did a stint in Formula 1 in 2007-08 with Toro Rosso. He had 11 starts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with 3-2nd place finishes and a 1st in LM GTE Pro class in the Chip Ganassi Ford GT in 2016. He has 11 starts at the 12 Hours of Sebring with a 1st and two 2nd overalls and a 1st and 2nd in class. Sebastien has 10 starts in the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona with wins in 2014 and 2017 and a 2nd in class in 2018. In 2017, after a very successful start to the season with a 1st in class at the 24 Hours at Daytona and a win at the IndyCar season opener at St. Petersburg, Sebastien experienced a horrific crash while qualifying for the Indy 500. Sebastien miraculously recovered over the summer in time to come back to the IndyCar series for the last 3 races of the season. In 2018 Sebastian continues to compete in the Verizon IndyCar Series with Dale Coyne Racing Technology and continues to drive the Chip Ganassi Ford GT car in the 24 Hours at Le Mans, Rolex 24, 12 Hours at Sebring and Petit Le Mans distance races. Scott Dixon ScottDixon.com Scott joins us again for the second consecutive year to help the kids at All Children’s Hospital. Scott also started in Karts as a kid and was very successful like most of our Pro-drivers. This year Scott starts his 17th consecutive season with Chip Ganassi Racing, a team record, in the Verizon IndyCar Series. Scott has the distinction of having the most wins of any active IndyCar driver with 41 wins. Scott is a 4 time Verizon IndyCar Series Champion in 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2015, as well as winning the Indianapolis 500 in 2008. Scott won the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona in 2006 and 2015 with a second place overall in 2011. In 2016, Scott and team drove the Chip Ganassi Ford Gt to a 3rd place finish in the 24 Hours at Le Mans. Scott is off to a great start this year with a 1st in the GTLM class finish at this year’s 2018 Rolex 24 at Daytona. RC Enerson RCEnerson.com RC is an up and coming young driver making his second appearance with Kart4Kids again this year.