Austin Hatcher Foundation

The Hissong Group of Companies is known for its commitment to excellence in everything it does.  Giving back to the community is no exception.  Kurt Hissong, President of Hissong Development Corporation, is involved in auto racing.  He has been racing for seven years, most recently in the NASAPro Racing Series, GTS5 class.  He began looking for ways to combine his love of racing with opportunities to raise funds in support of charitable causes.  In 2009 he became aware of the efforts of Dr. Jim and Amy Jo Osborn and the CHiliPepper Racing team to raise funds for the Austin Hatcher Foundation, an organization involved in raising awareness about, and funds for, Pediatric Cancer.

Jim and Amy Jo Osborn lost their infant son, Austin Hatcher Osborn, to pediatric cancer in August of 2006. Jim and Amy Jo established the Austin Hatcher Foundation (AHF) in honor of their son. The mission of the AHF is to support research towards the diagnoses, treatment and development of a cure for pediatric cancer and to provide support and hope to children and families undergoing treatment as well as to those who have lost children due to cancer. The AHF champions bold research, new treatments, and the vision for a cure. AHF also helps families overcome childhood cancer by financing research and treatment developments, awareness programs, diversionary therapies, and the many unforeseeable costs a family often endures.

How is the Hissong Group helping this effort?  By providing much needed organizational support for this new and growing foundation.  AHF has partnered with a number of racing series, including the Ford Racing Mustang Challenge, to raise funds through racing events, as well as to provide some much needed diversional therapy by connecting drivers in the series with pediatric cancer patients and their families (bringing smiles to the faces of kids and drivers alike!).  Organizing and hosting these events had been tricky for the Osborns, and they were looking for a core group of individuals to assist them with this.  Members of the Hissong Group were able to attend and assist at several events in 2009.  It became clear that the two organizations, and the individuals involved, had a similar dynamic and that building a relationship would be good for both organizations.  As a result, the Hissong Group committed to helping with other events throughout the 2009 racing season.

In late September of 2009 Kurt, Christi and Griffen Hissong attended the Petit LeMans at Road Atlanta in Georgia.  The AHF has become the official charity of Road Atlanta. Road Atlanta will participate in and provide support for the AHF's annual fundraising and diversionary therapy events centered around Motorsports.  The Petit LeMans was a ten hour endurance race for European prototype cars, and the largest event of the season for the AHF.  The Hissong family worked alongside Jim Osborn at the event, helping to raise funds and awareness.  They are committed to and looking forward to working on this type of event next year.

The Hissong Group is honored to be of service to an organization so committed to helping others. Partnering with the AHF has provided the Hissong Group of Companies with an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of those impacted by pediatric cancer.

To learn more about the Austin Hatcher Foundation and how you can help, please visit: http://www.hatcherfoundation.org