Eighth Annual "The Chet" race presented by Comerica Bank to benefit St. John's Home

MARNE, MI - For the eighth straight year, Berlin Raceway and Comerica Bank are teaming up to benefit the community, and for the fourth straight year, funds raised from ticket sales to the eight annual "The Chet" race will benefit St. John's Home, Michigan's premier residential treatment program for emotionally troubled children and adolescents. The Comerica Bank-sponsored race will be held on Saturday, August 9.

The Chet, held in memory of track founder Chet Mysliwiec, is a $5,000 to win, 100-lap Coors Light Late Model race and it is also a fundraiser. The race will generate a minimum of $5,000 in funds raised for St. John's Home, compliments of Comerica Bank. Most funding for the home comes from charitable contributions from the community, such as the Berlin Raceway/Comerica Bank fundraiser.

St. John's Home is a nationally acclaimed, non-denominational, non-profit organization that has been devoted to West Michigan's children since 1889. Located on Knapp St. in Grand Rapids, St. John's is the only youth home in America designed by kids, for kids. The home includes a residential treatment program for 60 abused and neglected children and adolescents; the KidsFirst program, an emergency shelter care program for Kent County youth that sees more than 600 youth each year; the Champions for Life Host Homes program, a foster family program; and the Discovery Program, an adolescent substance abuse center for teens. St. John's boasts a success rate of more than 80% of their students (vs. the state average of 55%) who leave the home to become economically independent and guarantees every student a college education or vocational training after high school.

St. John's Home will be having a silent auction on Saturday. A pair of Kyle Busch (NASCAR Sprint Cup point leader) autographed racing gloves, a pair of tickets to Michigan International Speedway and a Berlin Raceway 2-seater ride are among the items to be auctioned off with all of the proceeds benefiting St. John's Home.
This is the eighth year that the partnership between Berlin Raceway and Comerica Bank has resulted in contributions to community organizations. Contributions totaling $42,406 have been made to organizations such as the Berlin 4-H program and the Todd Senneker Memorial Foundation (which awards a scholarship to a senior from Wayland Union High School in memory of the late Berlin Raceway driver), as well as to St. John's Home.

Other organizations benefiting from monetary donations through Berlin Raceway's Community Support program include the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, the Chris Bradley Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Marne Lions Club and the Wright Township Sewer Fund. Berlin and its partners have contributed a total of $70,223 to the community through this program.

Tickets for "The Chet" are $15, children 6-12 are half price and 5 and under are free. Pit passes are $30. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Berlin Raceway administrative office (2060 Berlin Fair Drive, Marne, MI) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets are also available by phone to Berlin Raceway at (616) 677-5000 or online at www.berlinraceway.com. Gates open at 12:15 p.m. and the first race begins at 7 p.m.