On July 9, over 650 MINIs congregated at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, but they weren’t getting ready to race “Italian Job” style. Instead, the proud owners and passengers were preparing to embark on the 10^th Annual MINI TAKES THE STATES cross-country rally.

Philanthropic efforts are important to us at 3Birds Template and to our parent company as well. This 4,400-mile drive covers 18 states, starting in the great state of Georgia and ending in sunny California, in an effort to raise money for various charities. This year, over 4,000 motorists came together over the two-week event to #DefyHunger and support Feeding America, a nationwide network that leads the fight against hunger across our country.

The trip took drivers to two national parks, eight racetracks, and countless communities, and at times, the group expanded to over 1,500 owners and 700 MINIs of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Nine hundred of those owners made the complete trek from Georgia to California, while others joined the fleet at various points throughout the trip.

“The turnout for MTTS 2016 was incredible and we could not be more proud of the MINI community for everything they’ve done to help us support Feeding America,” said Tom Noble, Department Head, MINI Brand Communications.

Originally, MINI TAKES THE STATES aimed to provide 800,000 meals, but when the cross-country tour ended in Palm Springs, California, enough money had been raised to provide over one million meals for people around our country who struggle with hunger.

Hunger exists in every county in the United States, and it’s a reality for 48 million Americans who don’t know where they’ll find their next meal. It’s an issue that will not and cannot be solved unless we do it together, and we couldn’t be more grateful to see the support from MINI USA and their loyal community. 

- Nancy Curby, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, Feeding America.

This year’s event was extremely successful, and we couldn’t be prouder to be a part of such a great movement. If you’re interested in learning more about MINI TAKES THE STATES or want to get involved with local community efforts, contact us today or stop by to see us at 505 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC 27516.