Registration is now open for March 2 event benefiting the Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Jan. 26, 2023) - Runners and walkers have the unique opportunity to “race on track” during the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding weekend for the first time since 2019. The Wellcare Ambetter Health 5K on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Track is set for Thursday, March 2, 2023, and online registration is now open at gpstpete5k.com.
Wellcare, a leading Medicare plan based in Tampa, Fla., and Ambetter Health, the top marketplace health insurer in the United States, are teaming up as the title sponsors of this community event run on portions of the 1.8-mile Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding street circuit.
The Police Athletic League (PAL) of St. Petersburg will be the beneficiary from the 5K which will support its many programs positively impacting local children and teenagers. PAL will receive 100 percent of the proceeds from all 5K registrations.
"At Wellcare and Ambetter Health, we are always looking for opportunities to promote health and wellness in the communities we serve," said Shawn Holt, chief sales officer, Wellcare and Ambetter Health. "We are excited to join the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg 5K team and look forward to seeing everyone at the track and raising funds for the Police Athletic League.”
The race will start and end on Bay Shore Drive NE, adjacent to North Straub Park, and will join the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding race track at Turn 9 on Central Avenue, where participants will proceed onto the track. The route is fully paved for the entire duration of the 5K distance.
“The Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg is excited to see this impactful event return to our city, and we are extremely grateful to our partners for their continued support," said Heather Robb, executive director, Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg. “Since 2016, contributions from the Firestone Grand Prix and proceeds from the 5K have surpassed $210,000, which helps PAL provide enriching activities and experiences to at-risk children living in our community. We can't wait to be a part of the festivities in March!"
"After a four-year hiatus, our team is thrilled to announce the return of the Wellcare Ambetter Health 5K on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Track. We are grateful to Wellcare and Ambetter Health in helping us bring back this exciting community event that kicks off the race weekend,” said Kim Green, co-owner, chairman and CEO of Green Savoree Racing Promotions, organizers of the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. “We look forward to again hosting over a thousand walkers and runners on the track as we raise money for a great local organization in PAL."
Registration is now open at gpstpete5k.com. An advance price of $40 is offered through March 1, 2023, then the fee increases to $50 for race day signups on March 2. Additional charitable contributions are also accepted on the registration website to further the event’s impact in supporting the PAL mission.
Fast Facts
Event: Wellcare Ambetter Health 5K on the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Track benefiting the Police Athletic League
Date: Thursday, March 2, 2023
Time: 6:00 p.m. ET start (approximate)
Registration Fee: $40: now through March 1, 2023 / $50: March 2, 2023 (race day)
Registration includes race entry with chipped timing bib, commemorative finisher’s medal, T-shirt and a voucher good for two Friday General Admission tickets to the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding
Registration Website: gpstpete5k.com
The complete racing and activities schedule for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding will be released soon. For additional ticket pricing, grandstand seating and festival information, visit gpstpete.com.
About Amber Health:
Ambetter Health is a health insurance offering that is available on the Health Insurance Marketplace, or exchange, established by the Affordable Care Act. It is one of the healthcare programs provided by Centene Corporation, a leading healthcare enterprise. Ambetter Health is made available through local health plans and covers a wide variety of healthcare services, including preventive and wellness services, maternity and newborn care, pediatric services, mental health and substance misuse services, prescription drug coverage, and more.
About Wellcare:
For more than 20 years, Wellcare has offered a range of Medicare products, including Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDP), which offer affordable coverage beyond Original Medicare. Today, Wellcare is proud to offer access to high-quality, affordable, and culturally sensitive healthcare to more than 1.2 million Medicare Advantage members and 4.1 million PDP members across all 50 states. We offer benefits with every Medicare beneficiary in mind, including dental, hearing, and vision services, Flex cards to assist with co-pays, transportation services, telehealth visits, wellness and fitness programs, in-home support services, and special supplemental benefits for the chronically ill. Wellcare is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a leading multinational healthcare enterprise committed to transforming the health of the community, one person at a time.
About Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg:
The Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg (PAL) – in partnership with the St. Petersburg Police Department – provides safe, affordable afterschool and summer programs to at-risk children in our community. Our mission is to empower them through literacy-intervention/education; health and wellness; mentoring and career awareness, all factors in upward mobility. For more information visit our website at www.stpetepal.org.
About Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding:
The 19th annual Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding is a race event held during Florida’s spring break season. The site of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ season-opening race for the 13th time, St. Pete is a destination city hosting this annual motorsports tradition and offering a festival atmosphere with its downtown location. The temporary circuit is a 1.8-mile, 14-turn configuration using the streets circling Pioneer Park, the Duke Energy Center for the Arts, The Dalí Museum and extending onto the runways at Albert Whitted Airport, which overlooks the waterfront of Tampa Bay and picturesque St. Petersburg Harbor and Marina. The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding is owned and operated by Green Savoree St. Petersburg, LLC. Green Savoree St. Petersburg, LLC is owned by Green Savoree Racing Promotions 2, LLC whose other subsidiaries also promote three additional INDYCAR SERIES races: The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (June 30-July 2, 2023), Honda Indy Toronto (July 14-16, 2023) and Grand Prix of Portland (Sept. 1-3, 2023).
For more information, visit gpstpete.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page at @GPSTPETE or follow the event on Twitter @GPSTPETE and Instagram @GPSTPETE using #FirestoneGP.
