JASON TAYLOR FOUNDATION AND HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY
TO HOLD SECOND ANNUAL “WRITE TRACK POETRY” COMPETITION
Thirteen Miami-Dade County middle schools to participate in program,
to be held in conjunction with Omari Hardwick bluapple Poetry Network
MIAMI- As Homestead-Miami Speedway prepares to host NASCAR’s championship races in all three national series for the 16th consecutive year, it is also continuing its commitment of helping kids excel in the classroom. This school year, kids will put pen to paper and compose poems as part of the second annual “Write Track Poetry” competition. The Speedway and the Omari Hardwick bluapple Poetry Network of the Jason Taylor Foundation are partnering with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to hold the contest.
The goal of “Write Track Poetry” is to promote school-wide interest in creative writing and literacy through poetry with a focus on a NASCAR theme. This year, students from 13 Miami-Dade County middle schools will submit a poem based on the topic, What is Your Legacy?
As part of this year’s competition, the top three poetry pieces in each grade (6-8) from all 13 schools will be awarded two tickets to the NASCAR XFINITY Series Ford EcoBoost 300 championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, November 18, 2017. The school with the highest percentage of participation will receive a donation from Homestead-Miami Speedway’s charitable outreach program, “Driving for a Cause.”
“Last year, the ‘Write Track Poetry’ program saw a great deal of success, providing kids a platform to express themselves in a form of art,” said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matthew Becherer. “Poetry is an impactful instructional tool in the classroom that helps students build upon their creative skills, while also expanding their cultural horizons. We are excited that NASCAR and Homestead-Miami Speedway can be a part of their conversation.”
“We are thrilled to see significant growth in the Write Track Poetry program in just its second year,” said Seth Levit, executive director of the Jason Taylor Foundation. “There is nothing more powerful than witnessing young people come alive as they begin to feel validation in their uniquely personal stories and experiences. The fact that this validation is coming from institutions like Miami-Dade County Public Schools and the Homestead-Miami Speedway is priceless for these students.”
Of the 13 schools, the top-three poets overall will have the unique opportunity to be driven to school in the Homestead-Miami Speedway Official Pace Car. At the conclusion of the competition, one of those top-three poets will be given the chance to have their piece professionally recorded/produced and played prior to the start of the Ford EcoBoost 300.
• Air Base K-8 Center
• Arthur & Polly Mays Conservatory of the Arts
• Campbell Drive K-8 Center
• Caribbean K-8 Center
• Coconut Palm K-8 Academy
• Gateway Environmental K-8 Learning Center
• Irving & Beatrice Peskoe K-8 Center
• Kenwood K-8 Center
• Leewood K-8 Center
• Leisure City K-8 Center
• Mandarin Lakes K-8 Academy
• Redland Middle School
• Richmond Heights Middle School
Each of the 13 schools will be holding pep rallies. The following are confirmed pep rallies with dates and times as follows:
Thursday, Sept. 28 at 8:45 a.m.
Gateway Environmental K-8 Learning Center
955 SE 18 Ave., Homestead, FL 33035
Friday, Sept. 29 at 8:45 a.m.
Kenwood K-8 Center
9300 SW 79 Ave., Miami, FL 33156
Friday, Sept. 29 at 2:00 p.m.
Leewood K-8 Center
10343 SW 124th St., Miami 33176
Thursday, October 5 at 9:30 a.m.
Arthur & Poly Mays Conservatory of the Arts
11700 SW 216th St., Goulds 33170
Friday, Oct. 6 at 9:30 a.m.
Richmond Heights Middle School
15015 SW 103rd Ave., Miami, FL 33176
About the Jason Taylor Foundation
In July 2004, Miami Dolphins legendary Defensive End and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Jason Taylor, established the Jason Taylor Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organization. The Foundation’s mission is to support and create programs that facilitate the personal growth and empowerment of South Florida’s children in need by focusing on improved health care, education and quality of life.
Since opening its doors, the Jason Taylor Foundation has impacted tens of thousands of children through innovative programming including The Jason Taylor Reading Room, Cool Gear for the School Year, the Jason Taylor Children’s Learning Center, Jason Taylor Scholars and the Omari Hardwick bluapple Poetry Network, among others. For more information on the Jason Taylor Foundation, please email us at info@jasontaylorfoundation.com, call us at 954.424.0799 or follow us @jtfoundation99 or @bluapplepoetry.
About Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway has been open since 1995 following an initiative to spur economic recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. The Speedway is a 650-acre facility that features a 1.5-mile oval and 2.21-mile road course. The Speedway hosts on-track events nearly 300 days per year and generates more than $301 million annually for the region. In 2016, NASCAR celebrated its 15-year anniversary (2002-16) of crowning champions in all three of its national series at Homestead-Miami Speedway during Ford Championship Weekend. Champions crowned at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2016 were Jimmie Johnson (Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series), Daniel Suarez (NASCAR XFINITY Series) and Johnny Sauter (NASCAR Camping World Truck Series). 2017 Ford Championship Weekend will be held November 17-19.
About “Driving for a Cause”
“Driving for a Cause,” the charitable arm of Homestead-Miami Speedway, operates under the auspices of the NASCAR Foundation as a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. Homestead-Miami Speedway will continue each of its charitable activities, including its in-kind donations to local groups, support of Homestead Hospital’s Speediatrics unit, and its program where organizations can work track events in exchange for a donation to their group or cause.
