For more information on Andersen Racing:
Linda Mansfield, Restart Communications     
Cell: (317) 201-0729                
E-mail: LindaKMansfield@cs.com
 
 
For more information on Give Kids the World:
Susie Storey, Director of Communications    
Tel.: (407) 396-1114, ext. 4273
E-mail: susies@gktw.org
 
 
NOTE: Photos and B roll are available for media use.
 
 
 
RLR/Andersen Racing and Summerton
Are Helping to Give Kids the World
 
KISSIMMEE, Fla., May 9 - Some special children will be cheering for 
RLR/Andersen Racing's Jonathan Summerton to do well in the Firestone Freedom 100 on 
Friday, May 22 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
 
Most of them don't know that Summerton is the current Firestone Indy Lights 
point leader.  They just know the tall blond with the quick smile is a race 
car driver, and he cares enough about them to spend some time volunteering 
at the Give Kids The World Village in his hometown of Kissimmee, Fla. 
 
Give Kids the World Village is a 70-acre, non-profit resort that provides 
cost-free accommodations, donated tickets to the Orlando, Fla.-area 
attractions, meals and more for children with life-threatening illnesses and their 
families. With the help of many generous individuals, corporations, and 
partnering wish-granting organizations, Give Kids The World has welcomed more than 
95,000 families from all 50 states and more than 68 countries since it 
opened in 1989.
 
Firestone Indy Lights fans may have noticed the Give Kids the World decals 
on Summerton's No. 9, which also carries advertising for Allied Interior 
Products, Lafarge North America and Mockett & Co. Summerton knew of the 
not-for-profit organization's existence for many years since he's from Kissimmee, 
but he recently checked it out first-hand for himself. He liked what he saw, 
and ended up signing up both as a volunteer and as a marketing partner to 
help raise awareness and funds for the unique facility.  He's gotten his 
Palmetto, Fla.-based team involved too, as well as his mother, Janet, who signed 
up as a volunteer with her son.
 
Over the Easter holiday Summerton dished up ice cream for guests at the 
resort.  Yesterday he and his mother were both working at the facility's ice 
cream parlor, and tonight he's attending a fund-raising gala for the 
not-for-profit organization.
 
"I'm very excited to be a part of Give Kids the World," Summerton said.  
"It is such a great place for the kids and their families to go.  I enjoy 
being a volunteer there and a supporter of their charity.  I'm very pleased to 
be racing for them."
 
"We are so excited to begin this new partnership with Jonathan Summerton 
and RLR/Andersen Racing," shared Pamela Landwirth, president, Give Kids The 
World. "All of us at Give Kids The World are honored to have Jonathan as one 
of our volunteers, and now we are ready to cheer him on this season. He is 
truly helping us to continue to inspire hope for children who need it most!"
 
Andersen Racing strives to provide drivers like Summerton with the best 
training possible so they can make careers as race car drivers.  The 
development team of Rahal Letterman Racing, it will field cars for Summerton, Mario 
Romancini and Ali Jackson in the Firestone Freedom 100 at IMS on May 22.  But 
before drivers reach that level, Andersen Racing offers programs in karting, 
Formula BMW Americas and the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear. 
Next weekend four of its Star Mazda drivers - Conor Daly (Derek Daly's 
son), Richard Kent, Denis Navarro and Mikael Grenier - will be competing under 
the Andersen Racing banner at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah, 
similar to how Graham Rahal raced in that series with Andersen Racing before he 
became an IndyCar star.
 
An impressive resource of Andersen Racing's development program is Andersen 
RacePark, the team's own 1-mile road course test track at its headquarters 
in Palmetto, Fla. It is a favorite of area go-karters.  Team and track 
co-owners Dan and John Andersen, who also own and operate construction companies 
in their native New Jersey, have agreed to help underwrite certain costs for 
corporate fund-raisers at Andersen RacePark to benefit Give Kids the World. 
 Companies' employees would raise donations for Give Kids the World similar 
to other relay-race promotions, and then enjoy a day at the track in 
Andersen RacePark's fleet of 12 brand-new Birel 9-horsepower concession karts that 
are capable of speeds up to 40 miles per hour. 
 
What's more, Andersen RacePark personnel are also exploring the possibility 
of fitting six slightly smaller karts for Give Kids the World guests whose 
wish might be to drive a kart at Andersen RacePark.  This idea will proceed 
on an individual basis based on each pre-teen's physical condition.
 
"As a team we applaud Jonathan's involvement with Give Kids the World, as 
well as our Star Mazda drivers' involvement in the Racing for Kids program, 
and we'll try to support them all however we can," said Dan Andersen.  "Our 
whole team is set up to help young drivers make their dreams come true and 
succeed in a very tough sport, auto racing.  It's great when any driver takes 
the time to help others who are dealing with their own, even more important 
battles against life-threatening illnesses or injuries. We're proud that 
they're keeping things in perspective as they move up racing's ladder."
 
To learn more on the Internet, see gktw.org, andersenracingteam.com, 
andersenracepark.com, jonathansummerton.com and indycar.com/pro.
 
The Freedom 100 is scheduled to be telecast live on VERSUS at noon Friday, 
May 22.