Knoxville Raceway and Partners Unlimited Team Up Transforming Lives Through Creative Arts

KNOXVILLE, IA (June28) - Partners Unlimited, transforming lives through creative arts, has teamed up with the legendary Knoxville Raceway for a special event on August 25th. With a racing theme, Partners Unlimited have created an innovative new program called Art Car here in Iowa.

For 2007 Partners Unlimited is working with five community groups. The Osceola Arts Council, Ottumwa Teen Center, DSM Boys & Girls Club, DSM/Oakridge Neighborhood and the Newton/Quakerdale Youth Shelter have all agreed to build and Art Car that will eventually be auctioned off at the Knoxville Raceway on August 25th.

Benefits from the auction will be used to support the community groups involved and the programs of Partners that ultimately help youth succeed through the arts.

Kelly Boon, Executive Director of Partners Unlimited stated, “The arts provide a joyful solution to making better choices about substance abuse and other risky behaviors and pitfalls that challenge our children today. The Art Car project is a fun, creative means to engage these children and challenge them is a positive way.”

Upon completion, the Art Cars will be displayed in the communities they were created, the Iowa State Fair and eventually Knoxville Raceway where they will be auctioned off on August 25th. The event in August will include Knoxville’s Saturday night sprint car races as well as some live performances by the kids and communities who created the Art Cars.

Partners Unlimited is a statewide program that offers children, teenagers, and adults a creative approach to connecting with caring adults and community through the creation of works of art. Knoxville Raceway, at the Marion County Fair Grounds believes in transforming lives in a positive way through experience and fun.

Other sponsors include of the Partners Unlimited Art Car Project include Liz Kruidenier, Pioneer HyBred, Principal Financial, Iowa Health System, Greater Des Moines Community Foundation, Silent Rivers Design + Build.

For additional information contact Kelly Boon, Partners Unlimited (515)778-0692 kboon@partnersunlimited.org  or Brian Stickel, Knoxville Raceway (641)842-2690 brians@knoxvilleraceway.com .