WEST PALM BEACH, FL – A 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, donated by Chevrolet through its relationship with Hendrick Motorsports, brought in $500,000 to help the fight against older adult hunger at the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday evening. The Camaro Z/28 was auctioned with all proceeds going to AARP Foundation in support of Drive to End Hunger.

At Barrett-Jackson, “The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auction,” Chevrolet donated the very first production 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 two-door coupe with the iconic VIN 001. David Flynn of Flynn Automotive Group in Eastern Ohio placed the winning bid for the Camaro Z/28. Flynn will have the opportunity to choose from five exterior colors the car is offered in. Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick, who has fielded Chevrolet race cars for more than 30 years, also included in the offer that Flynn could take delivery of the car at the team’s facility in Concord, North Carolina, and four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon would give him a test drive.

“AARP Foundation is profoundly grateful for the generosity of Rick and his partners at Chevrolet, and we thank Barrett-Jackson for being a great host,” said AARP Foundation President Lisa Marsh Ryerson. “The money raised today will fund immediate help for the nearly nine million Americans ages 50-plus who struggle to put food on the table every day, as well as create long-term solutions to prevent the threat of hunger for many others.”

This is the third consecutive year that a car donation through Hendrick Motorsports has benefitted AARP Foundation in support of Drive to End Hunger. In January 2013, Hendrick and car enthusiast Ron Pratte teamed up to donate a limited edition 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo street car specially designed and built by Jeff Gordon Chevrolet and a 2006 No. 24 Monte Carlo race car that Gordon drove to two victories and two pole positions on the NASCAR Cup circuit. In January 2012, Hendrick donated the first Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible. The auctions have raised more than $1.5 million combined for AARP Foundation.

“We’re grateful to Chevrolet for donating such a sought-after car and to David for his generosity,” Hendrick said. “The Barrett-Jackson auctions have provided a terrific way to raise both money and awareness for AARP Foundation, which will put this donation to great use. Hendrick Motorsports is proud to be associated with Drive to End Hunger and the important work they do to help older Americans who struggle to put food on the table.”

AARP and AARP Foundation created Drive to End Hunger in 2010 to raise awareness about the problem of hunger among struggling Americans 50+ and to develop long-term, sustainable solutions to the problem. In 2011, AARP became NASCAR’s first cause-based primary sponsor with Drive to End Hunger featured on the No. 24 Chevrolet driven by Gordon. The effort raises the visibility of hunger while collecting cash and food donations in NASCAR race markets across the country.

Since AARP and AARP Foundation launched Drive to End Hunger, it has donated nearly 30 million meals and driven corporate and individual donor commitments with an expected value of approximately $21 million. All contributions to Drive to End Hunger go to support the hunger solutions of AARP Foundation.

To learn more or get involved, please visit www.DriveToEndHunger.org. Continue the conversation or share your story at www.facebook.com/DriveToEndHunger or on Twitter using #endhunger and @Drive2EndHunger.

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About AARP Foundation

AARP Foundation is working to win back opportunity for struggling Americans 50+ by being a force for change on the most serious issues they face today: housing, hunger, income and isolation. By coordinating responses to these issues on all four fronts at once, and supporting them with vigorous legal advocacy, the Foundation serves the unique needs of those 50+ while working with local organizations nationwide to reach more people, strengthen communities, work more efficiently and make resources go further. AARP Foundation is AARP’s affiliated charity. Learn more at www.aarpfoundation.org.