A Night to Remember
By John Barnett
April 26, 2024
Celebrating 20 Years of Camp
On April 6, 2024, Victory Junction celebrated its 20th anniversary by hosting our “For the Kids” gala at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC. Guests included NASCAR dignitaries, donors, camper families, and former summer counselors. Charlotte-area TV personality Larry Sprinkle was the emcee for the evening’s program.
Victory Junction founder Kyle Petty kicked off the program by sharing his late son Adam’s dream of building a camp like Victory Junction and the significance of 20 years of Camp to him. “We dreamed of making Adam’s dream come true,” Kyle said. “That somehow, if we could fulfill his dream, a part of Adam would always be here with us. To this day, I see a little bit of him in every child that has ever walked through the gates of Camp. I believe Adam is always here.”
Clea Newman, daughter of Paul Newman, followed with a speech on the importance of camps and their transformative impact on campers and communities. As an ambassador for SeriousFun Children’s Network, she highlighted the collective’s role in serving children with complex medical conditions.
Chad Coltrane, Victory Junction’s President and CEO, then took to the stage to talk about the opportunity we all have to provide camp experiences for all the kids yet to come! Chad delivered a heartfelt and emotional thank you to everyone in attendance, to those who volunteered their time, and to our gala committee for bringing together an energizing event.
With speeches completed, current and former campers took the stage to showcase their talents. Victory Junction’s COO, Jonathan Lemmon, emceed Stage Night, the Camp talent show, featuring performances by Clayton Banks, Rachel and Lisa Bettendorf, Rylie Laber, James and David Robbins, and Stephanie Wilkerson.
Larry Sprinkle returned as auctioneer for the “FUNraising for Kids” live auction, where attendees bid on some special items, like a golfing trip to Ireland, a painting created that evening by live artist Laura Ashley, a dining experience in Victory Junction’s treehouse, a naming opportunity for a road at Camp, and two of Richard Petty’s personal iconic hats, signed by the NASCAR legend himself.
The evening concluded with Jonathan Lemmon’s inspired performance of “Smile Out Loud,” a song he wrote about Victory Junction when he first came to this special place fifteen years ago.
As the final notes of “Smile Out Loud” faded and the audience stood to applaud, the sense of community and shared purpose among those gathered was palpable. The gala not only celebrated two decades of Victory Junction’s remarkable journey but also reaffirmed the enduring legacy of Adam Petty’s vision. It was a night where memories were cherished, dreams were honored, and the spirit of giving shone as brightly as the stars above. The commitment to enriching the lives of children with serious medical conditions remains steadfast, ensuring that Victory Junction will continue to be a place of joy, resilience, and hope for many years to come.
