‘Largest Living Christmas Tree in Texas’ officially lit at Speedway Children’s Charities grant ceremony

by Mike Haag | Posted on Tuesday, November 29th, 2016

FORT WORTH, Texas – Everyone knows everything is bigger in Texas and Texas Motor Speedway proved that once again with its annual lighting of “The Largest Living Christmas Tree in Texas” on Tuesday evening during the Speedway Children’s Charities-Texas Chapter grant ceremony.

Fireworks are displayed during the 2016 Speedway Children’s Charities Annual Tree Lighting and Grant Ceremony at Texas Motor Speedway on November 29, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

A holiday-themed fireworks show, special visit by Santa Claus, distribution of 100 bicycles to less fortunate youth and nearly $200,000 in grants to North Texas organizations highlighted the ceremony that was held at The Speedway Club Circle at Texas Motor Speedway.

A Texas Motor Speedway tradition since the facility opened in 1997, this year’s “Largest Living Christmas Tree In Texas” is a 64-foot Norwegian Spruce from Michigan. The tree is decorated with 10,000 LED lights, oversized ornaments and topped with a 4’x4′ gold star featuring the Speedway Motorsports, Inc. corporate globe.

Speedway Children’s Charities-Texas Chapter has made a lasting impact on children in North Texas since its inception in 1997 by awarding more than $10 million in grants to area children’s organizations. The funds are raised through special events held throughout the year, with the majority of them centered on the three major race weeks at Texas Motor Speedway.

Texas Motor Speedway President, Eddie Gossage and Newy Scruggs, KXAS Ð NBC 5 Sports Director, look on during the 2016 Speedway Children’s Charities Annual Tree Lighting and Grant Ceremony at Texas Motor Speedway on November 29, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

This year, Speedway Children’s Charities-Texas Chapter distributed nearly $200,000 with the highlight being the awarding of the Founder’s Grant. The $125,000 grant, which is SCC’s largest award, was presented to The Parenting Center of Fort Worth. The organization will utilize the grant to construct a therapy playground for abused children. These specialty playgrounds give children a safe place to play and cope with the challenges they face.

The Parenting Center serves close to 20,000 clients each year from all income levels and social groups throughout Tarrant County. The center’s core belief is to empower families with the necessary knowledge and skills to lead them to develop and maintain healthy lives. The organization dedicates itself to the prevention of child abuse and neglect and is a leader in the field of parenting education and skills based training. They strive to provide individuals, families, schools and others with the tools they need to succeed together.

“Research indicates that children with any type of disabling condition – intellectual, developmental or physical – are 3.44 times more likely to be abused,” The Parenting Center Executive Director Paul Gravley said. “We are honored and thrilled because the Founder’s Grant provided by Speedway Children’s Charities will allow The Parenting Center to serve children of any age or ability, funding an adaptive playground for individualized or group play therapy. This, in turn, helps The Parenting Center to serve all families; providing the tools and resources to help build successful families.”

Santa arrives during the 2016 Speedway Children’s Charities Annual Tree Lighting and Grant Ceremony at Texas Motor Speedway on November 29, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Additional grants, ranging between $1,500 and $25,000, were awarded to CitySquare of Dallas, Denton Kiwanis Children’s Clinic, PediPlace, the Mary Crowley Cancer Research Center and a Wish with Wings.

The Chapter also recognized its top volunteers for the year, with Karen Landry receiving the President’s Award and Mike Starr and the Team Texas High Performance Racing School earning the Dick Cerza Award.

The evening concluded with 100 Fort Worth-area children, representing agencies Hispano Exito (underprivileged children in south Fort Worth) and Journey To Dream (homeless youth), receiving bikes and helmets. The early Christmas presents were compliments of Target and Walmart, which donated the bikes and helmets to the event.

Speedway Children’s Charities chapters at Texas Motor Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Sonoma Raceway will distribute a record-breaking $3.1 million in grants to a record 448 charitable organizations across the country this year, bringing the total allocation amount since 1982 to nearly $49 million.

A general view of the setup during the 2016 Speedway Children’s Charities Annual Tree Lighting and Grant Ceremony at Texas Motor Speedway on November 29, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Each chapter provides grants to programs that specifically help children in their respective region. Chapter support comes from providing winter coats and backpack meals to low-income families as well as facilitating clubs that provide healthy after-school activities and aiding hospital cancer research.

“Our impact is felt throughout the nation and none of it would be possible without the invaluable support of race fans and the tireless work from our volunteers who have helped make Speedway Children’s Charities into what it is today,” said Maj. Gen. Chuck Swannack, executive director of Speedway Children’s Charities. “On behalf of everyone at Speedway Children’s Charities, I give sincere thanks to our many sponsors, donors and volunteers. Through everyone’s gracious assistance, Speedway Children’s Charities will help make the holiday season and beyond brighter for children in need.”

For more information on Speedway Children’s Charities or to learn how to volunteer or make a donation, visit www.speedwaycharities.org.

Story and photos courtesy of Texas Motor Speedway and Getty Images.

Scooter Gierisch, Speedway Children’s Charities Ð Texas Chapter President, PJ and Hope of ÒThe Great American Sweethearts!Ó pose with Executive Director, Paul Gravley after accepting the FounderÕs Grant to The Parenting Center during the 2016 Speedway Children’s Charities Annual Tree Lighting and Grant Ceremony at Texas Motor Speedway on November 29, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Scooter Gierisch, Speedway Children’s Charities Ð Texas Chapter President, PJ and Hope of ÒThe Great American Sweethearts!Ó pose with Karen Landry, Speedway ChildrenÕs Charities Volunteer after accepting the PresidentÕs Award during the 2016 Speedway Children’s Charities Annual Tree Lighting and Grant Ceremony at Texas Motor Speedway on November 29, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway) *** Local Caption *** Scooter Gierisch; Karen Landry

Scooter Gierisch, Speedway Children’s Charities Ð Texas Chapter President, PJ and Hope of ÒThe Great American Sweethearts!Ó pose with Mike Starr, of Team Texas High Performance Racing School after accepting the Dick Cerza Award during the 2016 Speedway Children’s Charities Annual Tree Lighting and Grant Ceremony at Texas Motor Speedway on November 29, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Scooter Gierisch, Speedway Children’s Charities Ð Texas Chapter President, PJ and Hope of ÒThe Great American Sweethearts!Ó pose with Director of Donor & Volunteer Engagement, Shari Markey after accepting a grant on behalf of PediPlace during the 2016 Speedway Children’s Charities Annual Tree Lighting and Grant Ceremony at Texas Motor Speedway on November 29, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway).

Scooter Gierisch, Speedway Children’s Charities Ð Texas Chapter President, PJ and Hope of ÒThe Great American Sweethearts!Ó pose with VP of Strategic Development, Pat Brown, after accepting a grant on behalf of Mary Crowley Cancer Research Center during the 2016 Speedway Children’s Charities Annual Tree Lighting and Grant Ceremony at Texas Motor Speedway on November 29, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Scooter Gierisch, Speedway Children’s Charities Ð Texas Chapter President, PJ and Hope of ÒThe Great American Sweethearts!Ó pose with David Piccolo, after accepting a grant on behalf of Denton Kiwanis ChildrenÕs Clinic during the 2016 Speedway Children’s Charities Annual Tree Lighting and Grant Ceremony at Texas Motor Speedway on November 29, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Scooter Gierisch, Speedway Children’s Charities Ð Texas Chapter President, PJ and Hope of ÒThe Great American Sweethearts!Ó pose with Manager of Donor Relations, Sarah Carroll, after accepting an award on behalf of CitySquare during the 2016 Speedway Children’s Charities Annual Tree Lighting and Grant Ceremony at Texas Motor Speedway on November 29, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Scooter Gierisch, Speedway Children’s Charities Ð Texas Chapter President, PJ and Hope of ÒThe Great American Sweethearts!Ó pose with Executive Director, Judy Youngs after receiving a grant on behalf of a Wish with Wings during the 2016 Speedway Children’s Charities Annual Tree Lighting and Grant Ceremony at Texas Motor Speedway on November 29, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Children receive bikes during the 2016 Speedway Children’s Charities Annual Tree Lighting and Grant Ceremony at Texas Motor Speedway on November 29, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Members of the Northwest High School Choir perform during the 2016 Speedway Children’s Charities Annual Tree Lighting and Grant Ceremony at Texas Motor Speedway on November 29, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

Children participate during the 2016 Speedway Children’s Charities Annual Tree Lighting and Grant Ceremony at Texas Motor Speedway on November 29, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway)

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About the Author Mike Haag

Mike Haag has covered motorsports in San Antonio and South Texas for more than 36 years. In addition to covering motorsports for the San Antonio Express-News for nearly 28 years, Mike also has co-hosted TrackSmack with Dawn Murphy for 18 race seasons. In addition to being a writer, Mike taught high school English and Journalism for 30 years before retiring in May, 2020.