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Jim Howe provides unique experiences to underprivileged, special-needs children By Craig Cook
When Jim Howe lost his daughter, Sienna, three years ago, the No Prep Kings star made it his mission to honor her in a way that would leave a lasting legacy for the next generation. Howe started the non-profit organization Horsepower for Kids to inspire young people to follow their dreams and pursue careers in skilled trades. The organization travels to schools across the country, delivering motivational speeches, anti-bullying messages, and hands-on experiences with race cars.“ I wanted to do something that she would do,” says Howe.“ When she passed on, it weighed on me a lot. She loved helping people and it was her dream to work with kids – especially specialneeds kids. My daughter was one that always wanted to see people happy.”
The organization’ s mission is simple yet powerful: to provide support, mentorship, and unique experiences to underprivileged and special-needs children. By leveraging the excitement of drag racing, Horsepower for Kids aims to ignite a sense of hope and motivation in young lives while also exposing them to the wide range of career opportunities in motorsports and other industries that value technical skills.
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“ I was told my entire life,‘ You need to get out and get a job. You don’ t need to focus on cars. The cars aren’ t going to ever do anything for you. They’ re a waste of time, a waste of money.’ That was kind of the way I was programmed in school,” Howe says.
Howe knew he didn’ t want the next generation of kids to have that same mindset drilled into them. He’ s worked with children in various areas for over 20 years, including getting kids into Jr. Dragster programs back in the‘ 90s. During that entire time, he kept waiting for a major sponsor to appear that would allow him to expand his reach. However, when that didn’ t happen, he decided
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to take matters into his own hands.
“ I kept saying,‘ If I get a big sponsor, I’ ll do more of this. I’ ll go to these schools, I’ ll do this and that,’ and I said it for 10 years,” says Howe.“ Two years ago, I told my wife [ Amanda ],‘ You know what? I’ m tired of waiting. I’ m not going to wait on a big sponsor. We’ ll figure out a way to make this happen. How can I preach to people to follow their dreams and do what they want to do if I don’ t do it myself?”
Unlike many charities that focus solely on monetary donations, Horsepower for Kids provides immersive, hands-on experiences. Howe travels to school assemblies across the country,
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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF JIM HOWE |