CALIFORNIA—Dozens of Philadelphia Church of God members from California and Arizona participated in two nascar fundraisers in February and March. In February, seven members from the Yucaipa, Calif., congregation worked at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana to tally the results of Lefty’s Reading Challenge. In March, 49 members from the Yucaipa and Valencia, Calif., and Phoenix, Ariz., congregations ushered tens of thousands of racing enthusiasts into the grandstands for the Service King 300 race, part of the nascar Xfinity Series.

Over 150,000 students from 245 elementary schools in four Southern Californian counties competed from January 16 to February 10 in Lefty’s Reading Challenge, the largest such challenge program that nascar sponsors. By reading 20 books in four weeks, students won money for their school libraries, school-wide pizza parties and free tickets to the nascar Xfinity race for themselves and their parents. Once the challenge concluded, each pcg member volunteer received $50 per day for helping tally the results.

California member Victor Muñoz Jr. said, “It has been an honor working with all my brethren in helping further God’s Work.”

The Service King 300 race also took place at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. On March 24, 19 pcg volunteers ushered during the racing practice and the qualifying rounds. On March 26, race day, 49 members ushered.

“This was my first experience attending a nascar race,” California member Georgina Hurtado said. “It was such a great day, as not only did we get to work as a team to fund-raise for God’s Work, but we also got to enjoy the race.”

From the two nascar events, Southwest pcg members raised $6,200 to send to headquarters in Edmond.