Driven to Give:
Racing Community United to Feed Those in Need
Due to the government shutdown, 42 million Americans will not receive federal assistance to buy food this month, affecting nearly 13 million children. Over the past week or so we’ve watched nightly debates and discussions on our televisions, none of which have resolved the problem. One side accuses the other and the “blame game” gets played. However, the bottom line stays the same. People are struggling, they will continue to struggle, and many will go hungry.
Welcome to the stage Formula 1.
Fast cars, celebrity attendance, magnum champagne, and all the glitz and glamor leaves little to the imagination. Formula 1 is a sport for the world’s wealthiest elite. Luxury sponsors such as Louis Vuitton and TAG Heuer surround tracks while the engines of Ferraris, Aston Martins, and Mercedes Benz roar.
But it’s not the luxury brands pitching in. Nope. It’s not the multimillionaires living in Monaco, paddock club guests who spend thousands to sip champagne in hospitality suites, or influencers that party in exclusive night clubs who are offering a solution. Instead, a simple and effective idea came from an online content creator.
The account Podium Sundays reached out to several of their fellow creator friends across multiple platforms to make a difference. “Driven to Give: F1 Creators Racing to Feed America” allows creators to harness their platforms and audience for the greater good. The fundraiser is collaborating with Feeding America, one of the leading non-profits in the country that works with over 200 food banks, to create a small change. In addition, motorsport content creators are encouraging their audiences to volunteer time and to get involved in the local area if a monetary donation is out of reach.
Within the first three hours the racing community raised $10,000. New milestones were set and exceeded. As it currently stands, over $52,000 have been donated in only two days.
The internet will always hold power, and every like, share, comment, and repost spread the word even further. I find it encouraging that a majority of people involved do not work on social media full time. They have normal jobs and live relatively ordinary lives. Many racing fans do not live in the luxurious excess seen so prevalent through the sport’s marketing campaigns, but that has not stopped them from giving to those with less.
In an environment that can be ultra-competitive and breeds intense animosity, a sense of community is not always at the forefront in online spaces. However, many racing fans, myself included, began their accounts to connect with others over a shared passion. Formula 1 fans bond over rivalries, DNFs, and waking up at odd hours to watch 20 men drive around in squiggly shapes. In a lot of ways, I’m not surprised the community came together for something so important.
After this weekend’s race in Brazil, Formula 1 will return to the United States for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Considering the governing body takes an intense apolitical stance, I do not expect the sport or any individual involved to speak up or shy away from the opulent displays accompanying a race weekend. But I do not think we need their voices.
Leadership can come from anywhere.