Furniture Row Racing teams with global humanitarian organization

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Christine Connolly Bell
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Highlights

  • No. 78 Chevrolet to carry World Vision signage
  • Team owner talks about being with World Vision during aftermath of 2004 tsunami

Seattle, WA (February 18, 2014) — As a means to raise awareness and resources to fight global poverty and injustice, the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet, driven by Martin Truex Jr., will display signage for World Vision during the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice along with providing emergency assistance during natural disasters and civil conflict.

Barney Visser, Furniture Row Racing team owner and supporter of World Vision for more than 30 years, witnessed firsthand the high-caliber efficiency of World Vision’s relief work in the ghastly aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which killed more than 230,000 people.

Thirty days after the tsunami hit, Visser went with World Vision workers to the Indonesian city of Banda Aceh, the closest city to the tsunami’s epicenter where approximately 167,000 people died and many more injured.

“I have always been impressed with World Vision for its worldwide efforts during natural disasters and humanitarian work in aiding the poor and sick,” said Visser. “But what I saw firsthand after the tsunami in Bande Aceh was how truly prepared and competent World Vision workers were in one of the most horrific disasters in history. I was extremely proud of how World Vision took the lead with its disaster response team and how they executed a well-prepared emergency plan.”

Visser added, “Furniture Row Racing will be proud to showcase World Vision on its race car in 2014 and hope that more NASCAR fans take notice of this extraordinary humanitarian organization.”

The idea of being involved with Furniture Row Racing and NASCAR, beginning with Sunday’s Daytona 500, has added a high-degree of excitement to the workers and volunteers of World Vision, which is based in Federal Way, Wash., outside of Seattle.

“NASCAR fans are among the most brand loyal of any sport in the U.S. and have clearly demonstrated their support for meaningful causes,” said Morris Franklin, Director of Sports & Entertainment at World Vision U.S. “The partnership with Furniture Row Racing will provide World Vision with an opportunity to reach thousands of fans at The Great American Race and millions more on TV.  We are confident this exposure will improve the lives of children around the world.”

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About Furniture Row:

The Furniture Row companies make up one of the largest family-owned specialty home furnishings and bedding retailers operating more than 330 stores in 31 states. To learn more, please visit http://www.FurnitureRow.com  Furniture Row also owns and is the primary sponsor of a NASCAR Sprint Cup team. For more information on the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing program visit http://www.FurnitureRowRacing.com

About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization conducting relief, development, and advocacy activities in its work with children, families, and their communities in nearly 100 countries to help them reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit www.WorldVision.org/media-center/ or on Twitter @WorldVisionUSA.