Raising Money for Youth: Minority-Owned Raleigh Health Agency & Racing Group Partner

LINCOLN, Ala. –  The number 8-car, driven by Sean Corr of Empire Racing, will be wrapped in lime green and blue as it zooms around racing’s longest oval today during the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) Menards Series General Tire 200 at Talladega Superspeedway.

The car’s new coat of paint is in light of a collaboration between Yelverton’s Enrichment Services (YES), the YES Foundation and Empire Racing to raise money for underinsured and uninsured children and teenagers.

“God crosses people’s paths for a reason,” said Empire Racing Competition Director and General Manager Mike “Grumpy” Cheek during an interview with YES.  “And when I first heard of this deal, I had never met [the founders of YES]. And I’m like, ‘This is something right here.’ I said, “We’re going to make this work even if we don’t have nothing.

“If there’s anybody who’s got kids that get sick, they go to the doctor. And you never have enough insurance to cover. And now, we’re talking about people in a whole different realm with the mental health as far as trying to help that side of it –  and it ain’t like a common cold. I admire [the collaboration] and I’m just very proud to be a part of it.”

YES CEO Vickie S. Yelverton and her husband Antwane Yelverton, YES CFO, founded the Raleigh-based human health agency in 2006. The company solely focused on mental health services in the beginning but has transitioned to holistic healthcare. YES partners with local affiliates such as the North Carolina Health and Human Services and Durham Public Schools.

Empire Racing is the development team for Richard Petty Racing of the NASCAR Cup Series. And coincidentally, the collaboration between YES and Empire Racing could not come at a better time.

With NASCAR being one of the few live sports fans can watch on T.V. during the COVID-19 pandemic, racing has garnered national attention. 

“A lot of people don’t think of racing as a contact sport like football or baseball,” said Corr in an interview with YES.

“But I’ve been hurt a few times in [cars] where I’ve actually had to do the post-concussion therapy like you all offer, and it’s really great the way you all are involved in the community.”

According to YES Program Director Natashia Lewis, the initial roundtable discussion for the collaboration happened prior to Richard Petty driver Bubba Wallace, Jr, the only African-American driver in the NASCAR Cup Series, making his demands about the confederate flag to CNN’s Don Lemon June 8.

Wallace announced in 2019 that he suffered from depression in a detailed interview with Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and spoke about an emotional breakdown at Kansas Speedway that May.

“Mental health has no color,” Vickie said.

“Mental Health Matters” is a hashtag that YES uses for its brand. During the pandemic, Vickie and Natashia have hosted “Gravity Talks,” virtual panels focusing on mental health. Celebrities such as Big Daddy Kane have participated, and a future panel will be titled “Mental Health and Racing.”

According to Antwane, who played football at East Carolina University from 1999-2002, he picked up cycling as a practice of self-care during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Last month, he rode 100 miles in one day.

“Now, that’s my therapy,” Antwane said, “Getting on the bike, riding for hours at a time, clearing my mind, listening to my music – I feel refreshed after all that is done.”

Mental health care providers are essential workers during the pandemic as well. YES has transitioned to a telehealth platform to provide for their clients.

“As an agency, we’ve been able to continue to meet the need and meet people where they are to be able to continue to push forward and provide this level of care,” Vickie said, “while also collaborating with great organizations and entities, ie Empire Racing Group, to continue to grow awareness to destigmatize mental health.”

The General Tire 200 begins at 2 p.m. EST on FS1. According to Antwane, today’s 202-mile race will be the most exposure for YES and what it stands for. 

“It’s just going be a moment of being proud of what we do,” said Antwane,

“And hopefully, this will just be a small token or small approach to a national stage of what we do, because, at the end of the day, it’s so many people that are needing help, whether they realize it or not. And it’s just going to be a proud moment for us. I already know.”

Click here to donate to the YES Foundation to help underinsured or uninsured children and teenagers.

(Feature image courtesy of YES)