Jeff Gordon's AARP - 'Drive to End Hunger' Sponsorship

dpkimmel2001

dpkimmel2001

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I'm surprised that nobody has even mentioned this since their official announcement yesterday. If you did somewhere here then I guess I missed it. In a nutshell.....

Hendrick Motorsports and Jeff Gordon have teamed with AARP and AARP Foundation on the Drive to End Hunger, an unprecedented three-year initiative to address the growing problem of hunger among older Americans, including 6 million over the age of 60. Drive to End Hunger will be the majority sponsor of Gordon's #24 Hendrick Motorsports team in 2011, 2012 and 2013, with primary paint schemes in 22 Sprint Cup races annually.
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Are charitable organizations going to be the wave of the future for more NASCAR teams? I think it's going to be real interesting to see how this all plays out. Some have questioned why AARP would spend in excess of $10 million, likely $15 million or more, to promote its program on Gordon's car when it could just put that money toward feeding the hungry. What do you think?
 
I've seen Charities at a smaller level do this and make it work, not too sure it would work at this level, but I'm sure AARP did their homework or they wouldn't venture into this.
 
Some updated sponsor info on Gordon from this morning.....

A Hendrick release this morn confirms what @jennafryer posted yesterday: DuPont on No. 24 for 14 races annually starting next year.
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Maybe I'm wrong, but this is how I see it. If they can spend 10-15 or more mil to sponsor a race car, then do they really need my money? I would be more willing to donate to a place that might sponsor them for a race or 2 to get awareness of the program out there. But if they can waste that kind of money on a race car (instead of feeding the poor with it), then what else do they waste the money on and why would I donate to them?:confused:
 
JustMe said:
Maybe I'm wrong, but this is how I see it. If they can spend 10-15 or more mil to sponsor a race car, then do they really need my money? I would be more willing to donate to a place that might sponsor them for a race or 2 to get awareness of the program out there. But if they can waste that kind of money on a race car (instead of feeding the poor with it), then what else do they waste the money on and why would I donate to them?:confused:
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Good point , I agree.
 
I won't have anything to do with AARP.

I had a go-around with one of their lawyers when I returned one of their applications and told them not to contact me again.

The reason was because of their stand for gun control. It was about 15 years ago and they were pushing hard under the guise of protecting seniors.

I told the lawyer that you don't protect seniors by trying to disarm them. That seniors were even more vulnerable to crime and therefore they should not be discouraged from firearm ownership.

He never contacted me again and they no longer send me any unsolicited info in the mail. :D
 
Guido said:
I won't have anything to do with AARP.

I had a go-around with one of their lawyers when I returned one of their applications and told them not to contact me again.

The reason was because of their stand for gun control. It was about 15 years ago and they were pushing hard under the guise of protecting seniors.

I told the lawyer that you don't protect seniors by trying to disarm them. That seniors were even more vulnerable to crime and therefore they should not be discouraged from firearm ownership.

He never contacted me again and they no longer send me any unsolicited info in the mail. :D
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*facepalm
 
Guido said:
I won't have anything to do with AARP.

I had a go-around with one of their lawyers when I returned one of their applications and told them not to contact me again.

The reason was because of their stand for gun control. It was about 15 years ago and they were pushing hard under the guise of protecting seniors.

I told the lawyer that you don't protect seniors by trying to disarm them. That seniors were even more vulnerable to crime and therefore they should not be discouraged from firearm ownership.

He never contacted me again and they no longer send me any unsolicited info in the mail. :D
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Good for you ...I agree that seniors need to protect themselves, as long as they take proper gun courses.
 
Mopardh9 said:
Good for you ...I agree that seniors need to protect themselves, as long as they take proper gun courses.
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aren't senile and stay on their medications. no leaving your gun(s) at friendly's. <g>
 
Not-For-Profit organizations, which depend on the largess of others to sustain their operations (grants, subsidies and donations) paying millions of dollars to advertise themselves? It seems like a dead end street to me Plus the fact that there is something definitely "Off" about the entire picture.

On face value, I don't like it, especially since AARP is involved.
 
John Galt said:
Not-For-Profit organizations, which depend on the largess of others to sustain their operations (grants, subsidies and donations) paying millions of dollars to advertise themselves? It seems like a dead end street to me Plus the fact that there is something definitely "Off" about the entire picture.

On face value, I don't like it, especially since AARP is involved.
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Exactly and well said.
 
JustMe said:
But if they can waste that kind of money on a race car (instead of feeding the poor with it), then what else do they waste the money on and why would I donate to them?:confused:
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"Wasting " money on Nascar is the very foundation of this sport. Without forty three sponsors "wasting money" every week you will be watching tennis or golf. No wait...they have sponsors too. I think that AARP see it as a good way to spend their advertising dollars, as do others. ...Also , anyone who thinks that charities don't advertise it living in a dream world. Just think of the joy in NascarLand if the car had been sponsored by the NRA instead of the AARP.
 
ted@economy said:
"Wasting " money on Nascar is the very foundation of this sport. Without forty three sponsors "wasting money" every week you will be watching tennis or golf. No wait...they have sponsors too. I think that AARP see it as a good way to spend their advertising dollars, as do others. ...Also , anyone who thinks that charities don't advertise it living in a dream world. Just think of the joy in NascarLand if the car had been sponsored by the NRA instead of the AARP.
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I'll tell you what "Joy in NascarLand" would be to this fan:
Safe cars costing around $75K-$100K, using off-the-rack performance equipment, sponsored by folks like Midas Muffler, Sonny's BBQ or Summit Racing, and teams owned by auto sports enthusiasts who are not deeply enmeshed with financial speculators, law firms, bankers and huge non-auto related multinational companies.

That wouldn't be total Joy in NA__ARLand for me, but it would be a good start.
 
ted@economy said:
"Wasting " money on Nascar is the very foundation of this sport. Without forty three sponsors "wasting money" every week you will be watching tennis or golf. No wait...they have sponsors too. I think that AARP see it as a good way to spend their advertising dollars, as do others. ...Also , anyone who thinks that charities don't advertise it living in a dream world. Just think of the joy in NascarLand if the car had been sponsored by the NRA instead of the AARP.
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I think his point is valid. I won't donate to any charity that spends millions on ads. When I found out that the guy at the United Way was making 1.2 million a year, I swore I would only donate to local charities.
 
ted@economy said:
"Wasting " money on Nascar is the very foundation of this sport. Without forty three sponsors "wasting money" every week you will be watching tennis or golf. No wait...they have sponsors too. I think that AARP see it as a good way to spend their advertising dollars, as do others. ...Also , anyone who thinks that charities don't advertise it living in a dream world. Just think of the joy in NascarLand if the car had been sponsored by the NRA instead of the AARP.
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I don't care what a privately held company does with their money because they are not asking me for mine. If a charity that depends mostly on donations from people like me can "waste" that much money a year sponsoring a car in nascar, they don't get my money. That was my point. How many people could they feed with that 20 mil? Instead they sponsor a race car.
 
After reading my post let me clarify. Yes a privately held company asks for my money, by wanting me to buy their products. They do it for a profit. Now if they want to take that profit and spend 20 mil on a race car, I could care less.
A charity asks for my money to feed the hungry. I'm not a happy camper when I find out they spend 20 mil sponsoring a race car, instead of doing what they want the money for. Any idea how many people that 20 mil would feed in a year?
 
JustMe said:
After reading my post let me clarify. Yes a privately held company asks for my money, by wanting me to buy their products. They do it for a profit. Now if they want to take that profit and spend 20 mil on a race car, I could care less.
A charity asks for my money to feed the hungry. I'm not a happy camper when I find out they spend 20 mil sponsoring a race car, instead of doing what they want the money for. Any idea how many people that 20 mil would feed in a year?
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Good point!
 
Speaking of where money goes, where does the money the Army and National Guard use to sponsers cars come from?
 
JustMe said:
After reading my post let me clarify. Yes a privately held company asks for my money, by wanting me to buy their products. They do it for a profit. Now if they want to take that profit and spend 20 mil on a race car, I could care less.
A charity asks for my money to feed the hungry. I'm not a happy camper when I find out they spend 20 mil sponsoring a race car, instead of doing what they want the money for. Any idea how many people that 20 mil would feed in a year?
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The point is... that the sponsorship money does not come out of the company "PROFITS" ! It comes from an advertising budget... that is used to make those profits. If a company (or a charity) doesn't spend money in advertising , it will not make any profits. And ,yes, the military recruiting arm has an advertising budget that it chooses to spend via Nascar .
 
ted@economy said:
The point is... that the sponsorship money does not come out of the company "PROFITS" ! It comes from an advertising budget... that is used to make those profits. If a company (or a charity) doesn't spend money in advertising , it will not make any profits. And ,yes, the military recruiting arm has an advertising budget that it chooses to spend via Nascar .
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Ted's on the mark. Every company, whether it be a noon-profit, for profit, even the military, has a an advertising budget. Some are huge, some aren't. They can choose where that budget gets spent. TV, Radio, sports sponsorship, whatever.
 
VaDirt said:
Ted's on the mark. Every company, whether it be a noon-profit, for profit, even the military, has a an advertising budget. Some are huge, some aren't. They can choose where that budget gets spent. TV, Radio, sports sponsorship, whatever.
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And the public can chose whether to support them anymore if they believe that a charity sponsoring a racecar through donations.... is unethical
 
Clutch said:
And the public can chose whether to support them anymore if they believe that a charity sponsoring a racecar through donations.... is unethical
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Unethical ? Oh Pleeze. It's a billboard with wheels mate . It's just advertising .
 
I am a social worker and run a non profit program here in WV. ALL non-profits have to do a good bit of marketing to be successful. We spend a decent amount of money on trying to let people know that we exist. If no one knows you are there, you can help no one.

With that said, please keep in mind we are talking about the AARP Foundation. This is a HUGE "business" if you will, in our country. Even though TECHNICALLY the foundation is seperate from AARP (the for profit side that does things such as sale insurance, etc..) I am certain that a GREAT deal of their funding comes from the for profit side of the company. I would venture to guess that this is who is actually paying for this deal, not the foundation.
 
Gordon_Fan24 said:
I am a social worker and run a non profit program here in WV. ALL non-profits have to do a good bit of marketing to be successful. We spend a decent amount of money on trying to let people know that we exist. If no one knows you are there, you can help no one.

With that said, please keep in mind we are talking about the AARP Foundation. This is a HUGE "business" if you will, in our country. Even though TECHNICALLY the foundation is seperate from AARP (the for profit side that does things such as sale insurance, etc..) I am certain that a GREAT deal of their funding comes from the for profit side of the company. I would venture to guess that this is who is actually paying for this deal, not the foundation.
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Quite possibly GF24 and I hope that is the case.......it would still be hard to put my hand in my pocket for them knowing that my my donation may be going to advertizing
 
Clutch said:
Quite possibly GF24 and I hope that is the case.......it would still be hard to put my hand in my pocket for them knowing that my my donation may be going to advertizing
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this is exactly why i take all non-profit advertising with a huge grain of salt. many moons ago i had almost decided to donate a monthly sum to support a starving child you see often (not as much now) advertised in commercials on tv. i did a some basic research (asked them for a prospectus) and saw 70% was going to administer the charity. sorry charlie, i don't mind giving to legitimate charities but this pi**ed me off to no end. now i donate exclusively to local charities where i can see where the money is going to.
 
Gordon_Fan24 said:
I am a social worker and run a non profit program here in WV. ALL non-profits have to do a good bit of marketing to be successful. We spend a decent amount of money on trying to let people know that we exist. If no one knows you are there, you can help no one.
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I understand that. But let me ask you a question. Does your non profit spend 20 mil on just 1 form of advertising to ask for money? And did it just happen to pick the one venue that people aren't watching as much of now?
 
I understand the criticism of this program, but I firmly believe in the principle of "give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime". If the advertising creates a continuing stream of donations, and of course those donations exceed the money spent to create that stream, then it is certainly a good plan.

I admitedly don't know a lot about AARP, but what I have heard isn't very positive. I didn't know that they were encouraging seniors to disarm themselves and that ticks me off quite a bit. Policies aside, however, I don't have an issue with them spending money to increase revenue so long as that revenue feeds millions for years to come.

That said, I also believe that charities have to live with the decisions they make. I haven't donated a penny to United Way since I fund out that they fund abortion services. That is their choice to do so and it is my choice not to have any part in it. If AARP is promoting anti-gun policies and victimizing seniors then I am certainly not planning on giving them any of my money either.
 
JustMe said:
I understand that. But let me ask you a question. Does your non profit spend 20 mil on just 1 form of advertising to ask for money? And did it just happen to pick the one venue that people aren't watching as much of now?
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I wish we had that kind of money to spend on ANYTHING let alone marketing. However, if you are the program that AARP has became, you DO have that kind of money and you can do that if you wish.

The point I was trying to make is that I seriously doubt that the money paying for this comes from "donations." I would say that AARP (the business side) is paying for a great deal of this.

I also read that the other sponsors on Jeff's care are helping with this in some way. Didn't quite understand it, but that is good to know too I think.
 
The report that the money is coming from "AARP" is ambiguous, to say the least. As you state, if the money if coming from the investment (profit) side of the house, and advertising the for profit services AARP offers, that's one thing. But, if they money if coming from the 501 c3 side of the house (I think AARP qualifies as a classification 501 c3?) that another thing completely and is, in my eyes, wrong.

It's, to me, yet another case of big business (which we have to deal with every day in our lives) merging with a sport (which we use as a diversion to get away from the stuff we have to deal with in our everyday lives) and muddying the waters.

For lack of a better way to describe my feelings, I for one, resent it.
 
John Galt said:
It's, to me, yet another case of big business (which we have to deal with every day in our lives) merging with a sport (which we use as a diversion to get away from the stuff we have to deal with in our everyday lives) and muddying the waters.
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doesn't this descibe all sponsors? is aarp any different than viagra? they both want your money.
 
SlowNeasy said:
doesn't this descibe all sponsors? is aarp any different than viagra? they both want your money.
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Yes but with an organization which is normally thought of as a non-profit (whose main activity is lobbying, but that another entirely different story), for them to spend the money it takes to sponsor a car... Well, I have trouble seeing all that in a positive light. It isn't just AARP, though I have no love for the organization; I feel much the same about the paid sponsorship for handicapped kids, the Red Cross and a couple of other charities I've seen in the past few years.

I have no problem with sponsorship by the military because they don't profess to be charitable. In fact they are just the opposite; when they are doing their best work they break things and hurt people. I might add that they do it quite well, as a matter of fact.

Of course I realize that the sponsors do so in hopes of gaining my attention AND my money. I zero problem with that. But these charity-type sponsorship, or donor-financed service program sponsor deals just "Don't feel right" to me. But then, that's just me, too.
 
i agree with it not feeling right so it's not just you. <g> i wonder if nascar has guidelines (rules) for approved sponsors. i'm sure porn wouldn't be allowed but would it be acceptable for political organizations to sponsor a car? how about professional organizations or even the chamber of commerce?

don't mind me too much. my mind tends to wander a bit. <g>
 
SlowNeasy said:
i agree with it not feeling right so it's not just you. <g> i wonder if nascar has guidelines (rules) for approved sponsors. i'm sure porn wouldn't be allowed but would it be acceptable for political organizations to sponsor a car? how about professional organizations or even the chamber of commerce?

don't mind me too much. my mind tends to wander a bit. <g>
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Porn? This isn't porn! It's advertising like the Red Cross is doing with Greg Biffle, or the NRA did with Charlton Heston , it is a way of fundraising. Like when you buy a poppy or an Easter Seal , or a War Amps Key Tag ,they pay people to make them and advertise them. They pay their staff and they pay their rent. Even churches pay their preacher and their power bill. When people have fund raising dinners , they do pay for the food .This isn't some sinister plot to overthrow the free world ,it is an advertising campaign.
 
SlowNeasy said:
i agree with it not feeling right so it's not just you. <g> i wonder if nascar has guidelines (rules) for approved sponsors. i'm sure porn wouldn't be allowed but would it be acceptable for political organizations to sponsor a car? how about professional organizations or even the chamber of commerce?

don't mind me too much. my mind tends to wander a bit. <g>
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Good. It's not just me. I know that there is nothing intrinsically wrong with the HMS/AARP deal but...? As I said, it just doesn't feel right to me.

As far as the rest of your queries goes...

Porn: I won't even get into that. I'll defer to former Justice Potter Stewart who wrote that pornography is hard to describe "But I'll know it when I see it." I've heard words that NA__AR would rather Extenze would just go away and are glad that Pfizer pulled its product from Roush's #6. I don't know it they stopped Boudreaux's Butt Paste, which was on one of the BGN cars for a short time. I also seem to remember, back in the 90's, one of the drivers had a condom sponsor for a couple races, which was almost hidden on the read quarter panel. Over all I think NA__AR does a pretty good job of policing its sponsors.

Political Advertisements: A few cars carried George Wallace ads back when he ran for president. I believe I recall that, back in either 2006 or 2004 a Southern Congressional or Gubernatorial candidate (Florida?) tried to work a deal with one of the small teams and NA__AR shot the deal down. I concur, but I have my doubts how that would go if it were pushed.

Professional organizations: Several year back (around 1997 or 1998) CIVITAN had a decal on a car. I nearest recent thing to that which I can recall off the top of my head was Hermie Sadler's sponsor when he was trying Cup; the State of Virginia's "Virgina is for Lovers" Chevrolet. Also the UAW's name is, or was (I can't keep up with the name changes for the races) was on the second Talladega race.
 
John Galt said:
Good. It's not just me. I know that there is nothing intrinsically wrong with the HMS/AARP deal but...? As I said, it just doesn't feel right to me.

As far as the rest of your queries goes...

Porn: I won't even get into that. I'll defer to former Justice Potter Stewart who wrote that pornography is hard to describe "But I'll know it when I see it." I've heard words that NA__AR would rather Extenze would just go away and are glad that Pfizer pulled its product from Roush's #6. I don't know it they stopped Boudreaux's Butt Paste, which was on one of the BGN cars for a short time. I also seem to remember, back in the 90's, one of the drivers had a condom sponsor for a couple races, which was almost hidden on the read quarter panel. Over all I think NA__AR does a pretty good job of policing its sponsors.

Political Advertisements: A few cars carried George Wallace ads back when he ran for president. I believe I recall that, back in either 2006 or 2004 a Southern Congressional or Gubernatorial candidate (Florida?) tried to work a deal with one of the small teams and NA__AR shot the deal down. I concur, but I have my doubts how that would go if it were pushed.

Professional organizations: Several year back (around 1997 or 1998) CIVITAN had a decal on a car. I nearest recent thing to that which I can recall off the top of my head was Hermie Sadler's sponsor when he was trying Cup; the State of Virginia's "Virgina is for Lovers" Chevrolet. Also the UAW's name is, or was (I can't keep up with the name changes for the races) was on the second Talladega race.
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If memory serves me right the UAW sponsored or co-sponsored the Vegas race for a few years and also was on the #9 of Kasey Kahne as a Primary sponsor. A few years back, can't remember the car, there was a Nationwide driver with a candidate running for office, on it, as a primary sponsor. This is nothing new, I see nothing wrong with AARP doing what they are doing, I do not contribute to them. If you have a problem with it, don't endorse their cause, it is as simple as that. They do have a right to do what they are doing.
 
ted@economy said:
Porn? This isn't porn! It's advertising like the Red Cross is doing with Greg Biffle, or the NRA did with Charlton Heston , it is a way of fundraising. Like when you buy a poppy or an Easter Seal , or a War Amps Key Tag ,they pay people to make them and advertise them. They pay their staff and they pay their rent. Even churches pay their preacher and their power bill. When people have fund raising dinners , they do pay for the food .This isn't some sinister plot to overthrow the free world ,it is an advertising campaign.
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Excellent points. That last line in hilarious!
 
Wasn't Richard Petty openly considering running for one of the parties in a recent election?Sport isn't free from politics.
 
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