The Drive for Life Foundation Gala will celebrate 42 years of
giving in a big way with two-time World Series Champion
Kirk Gibson as this year's special
guest speaker. The Gala will take place on Monday, September 24, 2024 starting at
5:30 p.m. at the Radisson Plaza in
Kalamazoo. Tickets for the event
are on sale now at driveforlifefoundation.org with each ticket
admitting two guests, and serving as one entry to win a new 2024
Honda Accord or $30,000.
KALAMAZOO, Mich., July 17,
2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Drive for Life
Foundation is proud to announce Kirk
Gibson, a two-time World Series Champion, as its special
guest speaker for its upcoming 42nd Annual Drive for Life
Foundation Gala. The event will be held at the Radisson Plaza at
Kalamazoo Center on Monday, September 24,
2024 at 5:30p.m.
I'm excited to be teaming up with the Drive for Life Foundation
and Zeigler to help those in need. Like with all great teams,
winning is ultimately all about a getting together to do our best
for a common goal. In this case that goal is raising money for
worthy causes and charities.
"I'm excited to be teaming up with the Drive for Life Foundation
and Zeigler to help those in need. Like with all great teams,
winning is ultimately all about a getting together to do our best
for a common goal. In this case that goal is raising money for
worthy causes and charities," said Gibson, who is currently a color
commentator for the Detroit Tigers on Bally Sports Detroit and a
special assistant for the Tigers.
The American baseball legend spent most of his career with the
Detroit Tigers, but also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas
City Royals, and Pittsburgh Pirates. He batted and threw
left-handed. He had a .268 batting average, 1,553 hits, 255 home
runs, 870 RBIs and 985 runs scored. He won 1 MVP award, 1 Silver
Slugger award, 1 League Championship MVP award and 2 World
Series.
Over the last two years the Gala has raised a record-breaking
$3 million dollars, bringing its
grand total for the American Cancer Society and other local
charities to $7.5 million over the
last four decades.
The 42nd Annual Drive for Life Foundation Gala will be presented
by Zeigler Auto Group, Greenleaf Trust, and Huntington National
Bank. In the past the event has benefited the American Cancer
Society, Make-a-Wish Foundation, the First Day Shoe Fund, Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest
Michigan, Gull Lake Community Schools, Family Camps, the
American Heart Association, Sherman Lake YMCA, K C Ready 4S,
Southwest Michigan Miracle League, Wings of Mercy, Cheff
Therapeutic Riding Center, Walk Tall Foundation for Kids, Family
& Children Services, and many more charitable
organizations.
"Each year, the Drive for Life Foundation Gala brings together
our community for a night of support for the American Cancer
Society and numerous local charities. Thanks to this unwavering
dedication from our community leaders, volunteers, and sponsors we
are able continue to support essential services for those most in
need," said Aaron Zeigler, president
of Zeigler Auto Group, a Presenting Sponsor for the Drive for Life
Foundation Gala.
Over the last four decades, the Drive for Life Foundation has
donated over over $5.5 million given
to worthy causes and organizations.
Tickets for the Gala are now available online at
driveforlifefoundation.org with every $300 entry admitting two guests, and serving as
one raffle ticket for a chance to win a new 2024 Honda Accord or
$30,000 cash courtesy of Platinum
Sponsor West Michigan Honda Dealers.
Guests will enjoy a social cocktail hour, a silent auction, live
auction, and much more. For ticket information visit
driveforlifefoundation.org, call 269.488.2203, or email
Genni Plyley at gp@zeigler.com. For
sponsorship opportunities please contact Monty Porter at mp@zeigler.com or call
269.585.6603.
About the Drive For Life Foundation
For over four decades, the Drive for Life Gala has attracted the
support of business leaders, sponsors and volunteers; bringing the
Kalamazoo community together for
an extraordinary night of charity. The Drive for Life Gala debuted
in 1982 with a starting ticket price of just $1, raising less than $20,000 for the American Cancer Society! Today,
the annual Drive for Life Gala is presented by Zeigler Auto Group,
Brown & Brown Dealer Services, Greenleaf Trust and Huntington
Bank and benefits the American Cancer Society and other regional
charities in annual support!
About Zeigler Auto Group
Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned
dealer groups in the U.S. with 84 franchises across 41 locations in
Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include
all of the domestic and the majority of the imported
manufacturers.
Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization
owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot
motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different
powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar
& Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate
Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training
company.
The Kalamazoo-based dealer
group also owns and operates Zeigler Pre-Owned of Chicago, three Byrider franchises, three
finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm.
Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 2,500 people,
ranking among the top 1% of automotive dealers in the nation with
estimated annual sales of $2.2
billion for 2023.
The family-owned and operated company is well known for its
commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction.
Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest
Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades
in Wisconsin, Chicago, and Michigan. Besides these prestigious accolades,
Zeigler is also one of Glassdoor's 100 Best Places to Work in the
U.S. for 2024, and among Glassdoor's top 10 U.S. companies for
work-life balance.
Media Contact
Francis Mariela, Drive For Life
Foundation, 239-273-6976, letswork@francismariela.com,
driveforlifefoundation.org
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SOURCE Drive For Life Foundation