Press release

MINI MOTORERS PROVE THEY ARE ONE IN A MILLION!

When MINI TAKES THE STATES 2016 departed from Atlanta, GA on July 9, the participants vowed that they would be motoring with a purpose throughout every mile of the epic cross-country rally by supporting this year’s charity partner, Feeding America.

And they sure have stuck to their promise to #DefyHunger!

That’s because the ambitious target that was set for MTTS 2016 to raise sufficient funds during the 14-day event to provide more than 800,000 meals to American families in need has already been surpassed by almost 25% - and it’s been achieved with several days of the marathon driving adventure still remaining.

A delighted Thomas Felbermair, VP of MINI of the Americas, revealed that an amazing total of 1,003,781 meals had been provided by motorers by the time MTTS 2016 had rolled into the city of Cheyenne, WY.

Speaking to around 1,300 motorers at the Rise & Shine event at the start of a 420-mile drive to Park City, UT, on day 11 of MTTS 2016, he said: “When I heard before the start of the rally that the plan was to provide 800,000 meals, I thought that the target sounded impossible to reach, but as you have driven through this beautiful country, you have topped our expectations thanks to your amazing generosity.”

With a lot of driving still ahead before the end of the rally in Palm Springs, CA, he predicted that the fund raising efforts of the motorers would lead to a much higher number of meals being provided. “I think that we might even see a final total of 1,100,000 meals,” he optimistically predicted.

Participants in MTTS 2016 have been contributing in various ways, including raising funds and awareness as they motor across the country. They have brought food donations directly to the start of the event each day and they are then delivered to a local Feeding America food bank.

Feeding America is the nation’s largest relief organization of its kind dedicated to fighting hunger through a network of food banks.

One in seven families in this country are facing hunger and one in five children in the USA don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Every dollar raised helps to feed 11 families.