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Officials from the Bristol chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC) announced Thursday evening that it distributed a grand total of $804,560 in 2023 to support many of the rural-area child-focused agencies throughout Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

“We’re so thankful to the people who supported and joined our effort to help us meet the needs of children in our region,” said Claudia Byrd, executive director of Speedway Children’s Charities Bristol chapter. “There’s no greater blessing than to be here at the Night of Smiles to give away all of this money raised to assist area agencies throughout our community with their missions.”

Family Crisis Support Services of Norton, Virginia, received the prestigious Jeff Byrd Grant. Presented in honor of the late president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway, the $50,000 award, which was established in 2011, is the largest single grant presented each year. Family Crisis Support Services, which offers advocacy, support groups, housing, emergency shelter, a 24-hour hotline, youth prevention and community education for victims of domestic violence, has been a vital resource in Southwest Virginia since 1982.

The annual Night of Smiles is the culmination of a year of SCC-Bristol fundraising events, including The Pinnacle Speedway In Lights, which opened for its 27th season  Nov. 17.

Long hailed as the premier holiday display in the Appalachian Highlands Region, The Pinnacle Speedway in Lights powered by TVA spreads across a five-mile route illuminated by more than three million lights among 250 displays. A trip through the light show sends guests down alongside historic Bristol Dragway and all throughout the property, culminating with a lap around the iconic Bristol Motor Speedway half-mile oval.

Organizations that received funding from Bristol Motor Speedway’s Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities during tonight’s Night of Smiles event are as follows:

Abuse Alternatives

Appalachia Service Project

Bethany Christian Services of East TN

Boys & Girls Club of Central Appalachia

Boys & Girls Club of Elizabethton/ Carter County

Boys & Girls Club Greeneville & Greene County

Boys & Girls Club of Johnson City/ Washington County

Boys & Girls Club of Morristown

Boys & Girls Club of the Mountain Empire

Branch House (New)

Bread of Life Children’s Ministry

Bristol Emergency Food Pantry

Bristol Faith in Action

Bristol Regional Speech & Hearing Center

Cap the Gap for Foster Care

CARE Center

Carter County Foster Care Association

CASA for Kids

CASA of Northeast Tennessee

Children’s Advocacy Center of the first Judicial District

Children’s Advocacy Center of Highlands Community Services

Children’s Advocacy Center of Sullivan County

Child Advocacy Center of the 3rd Judicial District

Coalition for Kids

Crossroads Medical Mission

East Tennessee Christian Home and Academy

Family Crisis Support Services

Family Promise of Greater Kingsport

Girls Incorporated of Bristol

Girls Incorporated of Johnson City/Washington Co.

Girls Incorporated of Kingsport

Girls on the Run of Northeast Tennessee

Good Samaritan Ministries

Grace Manor (New)

Healing Hands Health Center

Holston United Methodist Home for Children

Hope House of Scott County

Isaiah 117 House

Jeremiah School

Jericho Shrine Center

Johnson County Safe Haven

Kingsport Family YMCA

Kingswood Home for Children

McClure River Valley Development

Morrison School

Morristown Hamblen Central Services

Mountain Kids Inc

Mountain Mission School

Mountain Region Speech and Hearing

Niswonger Children’s Foundation

Ridin’ High Therapeutic Horse Program

Rise Up

Saint Anthony’s Bread Food Pantry

Santa Pal

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee

Shepherd’s Inn

Sleep in Heavenly Peace (New)

Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center

SMILE Simple Methods of Loving Everyone

Southern Appalachian Ronald McDonald House Charities

Sullivan County Sheriff’s Auxiliary

SYNERGY Foundation

TLC Community Center

Unicoi Family YMCA

Waiting to Hear

YMCA of Bristol

Young Life Bristol

Young Life Kingsport

Young Life Upper East Tennessee

YWCA of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest VA

For more information about the Pinnacle Speedway In Lights powered by TVA, please visit the BMS website.