2008.07.25
Tony Stewart steps up for police dogs
NASCAR driver Tony Stewart will donate bulletproof, stab-proof vests for police dogs in five states, according to an AP report.
Stewart's charitable foundation donated the money to provide 30 vests for the Indiana State Police K-9 unit and 10 for police dogs waiting for vests in Georgia, New Mexico, North Carolina and Minnesota.
Susie Jean of Socorro, N.M., requested a grant from the Tony Stewart Foundation for vests for the 14 dogs currently in the Indiana State Police unit.
Stewart, a Columbus, In., native, upped the amount to cover more vests upon learning the state police unit was expanding to 30 dogs. The vests cost $895 each, according to information provided by the foundation, meaning 40 vests would total more than $35,000.
Stewart, in Indiana this week for the Brickyard 400 race, presented the vests to state police officials yesterday at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Clermont.
Jean founded Vest 'N P.D.P. (Police Dog Protection) Inc., a nonprofit that collects donations to purchase bullet- and stab-proof vests for police dogs. So far, the nonprofit has provided 169 vests to police dogs in 22 states, not including the Stewart donation.
I am a NASCAR fan, and Stewart, a fellow Hoosier, happens to be my favorite driver.
For me, this gesture makes up for his leaving Joe Gibbs Racing, thus changing his car number, thus causing me to buy all new apparel next season when my hubby and I go racing.
I was never really crazy about the orange-colored gear anyway. Thanks Tony!
(AP file photo/April 2008)
