VA partners with Richmond International Raceway to increase access to benefits

VA is partnering with the Richmond International Raceway to promote greater access and awareness to VA benefits as a part of its Summer of Service initiative – an effort designed to encourage and grow the number of individuals and organizations serving Veterans in their communities.

VA will honor past and present military members during the pole qualifying and Federated Auto Parts 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on Sept. 11 and 12 in Richmond, Va. VA’s Mobile Vet Center will be onsite with a team of health and benefits experts who can answer Veterans’ questions, share information and help Veterans and family members’ access VA benefits and services. As part of the collaboration, RIR will offer Veterans and their families a 70-percent discount on tickets for the Sept. 11 race, as well as their traditional military discount on tickets for the Sept. 12 race.

“The best way to reach Veterans is to involve partners that engage Veterans in the communities where they live,” said VA Secretary Bob McDonald. “Through innovative partnerships like this and our Summer of Service initiative, we have the opportunity to reach Veterans and their families who may not realize they are entitled to VA benefits and services or who may not know where to go for assistance,” said McDonald.

Prior to the Richmond race, VA and the raceway will hold a “Driving VA Benefits and Services Home” event Sept. 10 at the Richmond VA Medical Center featuring NASCAR drivers, VA benefits services and a NASCAR pace car.

“Richmond International Raceway is proud to partner with such an important organization as the Department of Veterans Affairs,” said Richmond raceway president, Dennis Bickmeier. “NASCAR is a very patriotic sport, and we pride ourselves on supporting the men and women who have served and are currently serving our country. There’s no better way to do that than by partnering with VA to set the field for the Federated Auto Parts 400 ‘Last Race to Make the Chase.’”

These outreach events are part of the larger MyVA initiative, which is dedicated to improving the Veteran experience and increasing customer-service where Veterans live. In addition to the upcoming RIR activities, VA participated in six other NASCAR events and will conduct outreach at three more during the remaining 2015 race season. Look for VA at Michigan International Speedway (Aug. 15-16), Darlington Raceway (Sept. 5-6) and Chicagoland Speedway (Sept. 18-20).

For more information about tickets and to learn more about the September RIR event, visit www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/nascar-outreach.

Did you see the story Vantage Point did with NASCAR crew member and Army Veteran Chris Clayton? Watch it below

VA takes its commitment to care for the nation’s Veterans and their families very seriously, and this summer, we invite all of you to join in that commitment. Community by community, state by state, our nation can work together to serve Veterans during the VA Summer of Service.

• Look for VA at community events and engage our employees and partners.
• Reach out to your local medical facility or National Cemetery to find out what you can do to help.
• Check out #VASummerOfService on Vantage Point, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and join VA in caring for America’s Veterans.