Eight local nonprofits are decorating Christmas trees this year for a shot at extra funding, part of a holiday fundraiser returning to Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord for a fourth straight year. Speedway Children's Charities has launched its fourth annual Trees of Hope campaign inside Speedway Christmas presented by Atrium Health, giving each organization a tree to dress up and a crowd of visitors to win over.
According to Charlotte Motor Speedway, the campaign is “giving eight local nonprofits the opportunity to showcase uniquely decorated Christmas trees.” The idea is simple: visitors walking through the Christmas Village can check out each tree, learn the nonprofit's story behind it, and then vote for a favorite. The effort is meant to raise awareness and funds for organizations serving children and families around the greater Charlotte community.
Among this year's participants is The HEARTest Yard, founded by former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen and his family, which provides support services for children with congenital heart disease and their families across the Carolinas. Also taking part is the Bundle of Joy Foundation, started by Samantha and Kyle Busch, which helps remove financial barriers to IVF treatment through grants, awareness and support. The Kyle Larson Foundation, founded by the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, rounds out the motorsports-connected entries, supporting organizations that help children, families and communities through charitable giving and community partnerships.
A Mix of Causes, From Child Abuse Prevention to Anti-Trafficking Work
The lineup also includes nonprofits tackling some of the region's toughest issues. The Children's Advocacy Center of Charlotte provides coordinated investigative, medical and therapeutic services for children affected by abuse, working alongside community partners to promote healing and help end the cycle. The Exceptional Children's Assistance Center supports North Carolina families of children with disabilities and special health care needs through education, advocacy and family support resources.
Two organizations focused on human trafficking are also represented. The Lantern Project works to prevent trafficking through education and community outreach, and partners with law enforcement to identify survivors while providing safe housing, restorative care and long-term support. The Safe House Project works to identify trafficking survivors through education and awareness, and provides emergency placement, safe housing and comprehensive care once survivors are found. Wings of Eagles Ranch, described as a nonprofit center for hope, supports children and adults with special needs and at-risk youth through adaptive recreational, equine-assisted and confidence-building programs.
How the Voting and Donations Work
Visitors can explore each nonprofit's tree and cast a vote in the Christmas Village every Thursday through Sunday throughout the season. In-person votes are sold in bundles of five for $5, 10 for $10 or 20 for $20, with proceeds benefiting Speedway Children's Charities and the participating nonprofit partners. Fans who can't make it out in person can vote online throughout the Speedway Christmas season, and every participating organization receives a donation to help further its mission regardless of the final tally.
Taylor Kirby, director of Speedway Children's Charities' North Carolina chapters, said the campaign gives nonprofits a rare spotlight. “We're proud to give these nonprofits a platform to share their impact,” Kirby said, according to Charlotte Motor Speedway. Kirby added that each tree represents an organization making a difference in the community, and that every vote helps its mission continue.
This marks the fourth year Speedway Children's Charities has run the campaign, but the shape of it has shifted. A 2025 report from Charlotte Newsroom described last year's effort as the third annual edition and said it featured ten nonprofits focused on children, families and vulnerable communities across the region, two more than are participating this year.
Speedway Christmas Runs Through Early January
The Trees of Hope display sits inside the broader Speedway Christmas event, now in its 17th year at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The event features more than six million lights strung along a nearly four-mile drive-through course, along with the Christmas Village, Santa photos, festive treats and other family activities. Tickets are sold per vehicle, with Value Nights pricing starting at $46 per vehicle.
Speedway Christmas is scheduled to run nightly from Nov. 20 through Jan. 3, closed only on Christmas Eve, as reported by Speedway Digest in its coverage of this year's Trees of Hope launch. That schedule is a slight shift from last year's run, which Charlotte Newsroom reported operated nightly from Nov. 21 through Jan. 4 and was also closed on Dec. 24.
