Jeff Gordons New Sponsor (NO JOKE)

[Dollar Bill]

Usually that title is the start of a good joke but this is the truth.  Gordon's primary sponsor for the next 3 years is the AARP and the AARP Foundation.  The actual sponsor will be themed "Drive to End Hunger".  It's an awareness campaign to let people know about starving elderly Americans.  When I first heard this I thought that since times are tough and hunting for sponsors in NASCAR is becoming more difficult than previous decades that maybe Hendrick might get between 5-8 million per year.   It was reported that the deal is around 14 million per year for only 22 of the 36 races a year.

I am sometimes a little slow but it took me about 20 seconds to realize that the AARP is spending 42 million in 3 years to make us aware that there are starving ederly Americans.  I would love to see the marking strategy dynamics on this one.  I wonder how much food $42 million would buy?  Do they actually plan to make more than 42 million in proceeds off of this sponsorship?

I would rather buy a bag of groceries and give it to a homeless or elderly person than trust this AARP scheme.

http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/opinion/10/27/one-menz-jmenzer-jgordon-aarp-sponsorship/index.html

[robfan]

VERY SAD!!

[AndrusMotorsports88]

Its just the way it works!!! Thats what they keep telling us. Just think if they are spending that much on a sponsor.... how much are the CEO's getting to take home. I am sure they dont donate any of there money to the cause.

[68mustangfb]

UN-REAL !!

[Jaws]

One of the strongest looby groups in Washington. If they are spending 42 million on Jeff bet they are spending way more there.

[thewackyracer]

I can see it now, the front of car vinyled like a set of false teeth.

[Longhair]

Makes ya wanna puke don't it ?

Not real good at math... BUT, how many old folks aarp membership dues does it take to equal 42 million ?

Or maybe, its more Obama money ?

Gordo's race car is afterall a Govt. Motors Car [GMC].

[BigBadBob]

AARP is a non-profit corporation completely un-affiliated with the government.

Some financial references from     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AARP

AARP's total revenue for 2006 was approximately $1 billion and it spent $23 million on lobbying

AARP earns more income from selling insurance to members than it does from membership dues.

According to AARP's 2008 Consolidated financials, it was paid $652,000,000 in royalties from insurance companies that sold products referred by AARP. AARP also received an additional $120,000,000 for the ads placed in its publications.

If you read the whole article they aren’t without controversy but they also sound like they are a pretty well run organization. If you don’t like them don’t join or use any of their services. I haven’t previously joined but seeing as they’re willing to advertise (which is what sponsorship is) via racing, I think I will.

[bakes]

Terms of the sponsorship involve him having a turn signal installed in his car and reuiring it to always be on, and for him to dump Chevy and drive a Buick.

[laffman]

If they want to sponsor my car i will delivery the food in my race car!

[mcd23]

Does he have to change his number to 50 and drive slower?   

[oldguy]

Thewackyracer, bakes, laffman & mcd23 - thanks for the humor - I needed that!

BigBadBob - thanks for the info.

J

[Gomerpyle]

The seat will be lower so all we see is his knuckles on the stearingwheel!!!

[BigBadBob]

Dollar Bill...

The cynicism is understandable. Many non-profits return little of the funds they gather to the cause they support. I got to thinking maybe I’d put my foot in my mouth with my snap judgement of the “goodness” of AARP intentions... found a charity ratings site... AARP doesn’t look bad at all, specifically the AARP Foundation, the non-profit arm of AARP.

I don’t understand why they only got a 2 star rating, but the program expenses is an impressive 88%... also impressive is the revenue/expenses chart indicating this number has been trending upwards in recent years...

Program Expenses: This measure reflects what percent of its total budget a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.

Administrative expenses (salaries, etc.) 1.9% of the total budget, a very low number... no one’s salary is over $240k

The $14 million per year to Gordo would represent about 11% of the $127 million budget reported for 2008... seems like a reasonable percentage for advertising. Of course the for-profit arm of AARP will benefit also, but these guys are high profile enough that if non-profit side was sketchy, somebody would be singing about it.

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3205

Directly giving food is of course a good thing too. Please send doughnuts (any type but chocolate covered) to:

     BigBadBob
     P.O. Box....

[volvo]

i would have thought it was going to be kleenex after hearing on tv all week