Yamaha makes annual Feed the Children donation

Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., made its annual donation to the Feed the Children charity on Friday, Nov. 12 at Yamaha’s corporate headquarters in Cypress, Calif., as employees, members of the local Star Touring and Riding Association, and Yamaha Factory Race Team members celebrated another season of racing.

Yamaha executives and employees congratulated race team members, like three-time QuadCross Champion Dustin Nelson, for another successful season, and then handed over a check for $3,500 to Feed the Children. Shortly after the check presentation, more than 50 members of the Star Touring and Riding Association loaded food, toys and other items onto their motorcycles and transported them to the Community Action Partnership of Garden Grove and Calvary Chapel West Grove for more than 400 local families in need.

“Yamaha employees have supported Feed the Children for more than a decade making significant personal contributions that have impacted thousands of local families who were in need,” says Bob Starr, Yamaha general manager of corporate communications. “Thanks to all of the Yamaha employees and the Star Touring and Riding Association for their efforts.”

In conjunction with the Feed the Children donation event, Yamaha brought in Factory Racers to celebrate the 2010 season and meet Yamaha employees. World-class racers Bill Dixon, Jessica Patterson, Dustin Nelson, Josh Hayes and James Stewart visited Yamaha’s offices and attended the charity donation.

One of Yamaha’s Factory Racers who was signing autographs and helping cook breakfast for Yamaha employees was Nelson, three-time QuadCross ATV champ. Nelson has been battling all year for his fourth title, and hopes to clinch the West Coast MX championship at the QuadCross Finale at Glen Helen Raceway this weekend.

“We’re pushing the YFZ450R harder and faster than ever this year, and I’m excited to be competing for the championship again,” Nelson said. “The QuadCross series continues to be more competitive each year, and we’re proud to keep the Yamaha team at the top of the podium. We’re looking forward to this weekend and will do everything we can to bring home another championship.”

Yamaha has worked with Feed the Children for more than 10 years raising several hundred thousand dollars and feeding tens of thousands of children. This is the fourth year Yamaha employees and Star Touring members made the ride from Yamaha to the local Feed the Children office to drop off the donated supplies. Feed the Children is an international and nonprofit relief organization that delivers food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to individuals, children and families who lack those essentials.