By SABRINA LIST
Vice President of Marketing and Communication, 500 Festival

The 500 Festival, a nonprofit organization committed to enriching the quality of life for Indiana residents and visitors, today announced the organization has been approved for a specialty license plate in Indiana. Available immediately through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Hoosier motorists can show their support for the magical month of May and the 500 Festival’s life-enriching events and programs when registering their vehicles in 2015.

“What started as a movement by civic leaders to connect the community to the significance of the Indianapolis 500 has led to new traditions and impactful investments in Indiana’s citizens,” said Bob Bryant, president and CEO of the 500 Festival. “Each year, the 500 Festival brings hundreds of thousands of people to the heart of the state to celebrate the magical month of May. Our specialty license plate gives Hoosiers the opportunity to support the 500 Festival’s youth and education initiatives and showcase their month of May pride year-round.”

The new specialty license plate bears the 500 Festival’s iconic logo, which has come to represent the exciting, impactful traditions in Indiana during the month of May. Offering a wide variety of programs and events — like the IPL 500 Festival Parade and OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon — more than half a million people are impacted by the 500 Festival every year. These events and programs, most of which are free and produced largely by volunteers, enhance the image of Indiana by showcasing the state’s cultural, educational and social benefits to the world.

The 500 Festival will receive a $25 donation for every 500 Festival specialty plate that is purchased. The funds generated through the 500 Festival’s specialty license plate will go towards the organization’s youth and education initiatives such as:

• 500 Festival & Indianapolis 500 Education Program, presented by Indiana University Health, a free, award-winning program for Indiana fourth grade students that opens up the world of the 500 Festival and Indianapolis 500 and their important place in Indiana’s history and culture. Through an Indiana Academic Standards-based curriculum, the program offers a variety of interesting and thought-provoking lessons and projects and a unique opportunity to visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for an educational Study Trip.
• 500 Festival KidsFit, a free educational program for fifth grade students across Indiana that uses an Academic Standards-based curriculum to encourage the state’s youth to be more active and pursue a healthy lifestyle. Participants of the 13-week program complete weekly lessons and track their progress while running one mile each week, completing 13.1 miles over the course of the program. A select number of participants finish their final mile along the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon course on the day of the event.

The 500 Festival’s specialty plate is available for purchase immediately for passenger vehicles, trucks up to 11,000 lb., motorcycles and recreational vehicles. The cost for the specialty license plate is $40 and is in addition to the normal fees and taxes paid with the registration. You may purchase a 500 Festival specialty plate online by visiting myBMV.com or at any license branch or BMV certified partner location.

To learn more about the 500 Festival, visit: www.500festival.com.