WHAT: Special appearance by NASCAR driver Robby Gordon and the No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet Monte Carlo with FDNY-Special Olympics paint scheme. The car, promoting Fire Safety Awareness and the Special Olympics, will race at NASCAR’s Winston Cup event at Watkins Glen International on August 10, 2003.

WHEN: Monday, July 21, 2003, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Engine Company 16 / Ladder Company 7
234 East 29th Street, New York, NY (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues)

WHO: NASCAR driver and long-time FDNY supporter Robby Gordon (winner of the Dodge/Savemart 350 in Sonoma, Calif, and currently 15th in the Winston Cup points standings); NAME, FDNY; athletes from Special Olympics.

WHY: Robby Gordon, Cingular Wireless and NASCAR appreciate the skill, bravery and dedication that members of the New York Fire Department and the participants in Special Olympics exhibit every day.

Cingular Wireless will donate $50 to the Special Olympics and $50 to FDNY for each lap Gordon completes at the Watkins Glen event, $500 to each organization for each lap Gordon leads and $50,000 to each organization if Gordon wins.

FDNY and Cingular Wireless are strong supporters of the Special Olympics, which promotes training and athletic competition for individuals with mental retardation. Special Olympics participants develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy by sharing their athletic skills in an enriching environment. Members of the FDNY community proudly contribute their time to various Special Olympics events, providing equipment set-up and support at athletic events.

The FDNY Fire Safety Education Fund is the non-profit foundation of the Fire Department of the City of New York. The Fund supports the FDNY in serving the public and saving lives through fire safety education and other joint projects. The Fund, in conjunction with the Fire Department, created a state of the art learning center in Rockefeller Center in 2001. More the 100,000 School children and visitors from across the city and throughout the nation have visited the Fire Zone experiencing first hand the important lessons of prevention, practice and planning. The Fund is the only organization sanctioned by the Fire Department and the City of New York to market the FDNY logo. A significant portion of the proceeds from the sale of officially licensed FDNY Fire Zone products goes to support the work of the Fund.