AOK SETS SAIL FOR NEW CHARITY HORIZONS

Philanthropist and off-road racer Nick Baldwin has spent the better part of the last decade finding unique ways to help the less fortunate via his AOK foundation – an acronym for “Acts of Kindness.”

While AOK has done a great deal of charity work in the United States, much of his group’s efforts have been to support the children and orphans of Baja, Mexico, the spiritual home to desert off-road racing. After completing one of AOK’s most successful orphanage support efforts at the recent NORRA General Tire Mexican 1000, completing a brand new website and even a Facebook page to support AOK, Baldwin is looking for bigger, more extensive things in the future.

Baldwin and co-driver Brian Nix organized a semi-impromptu fundraiser throughout the rally that raised $12,000 to purchase many truckloads of Costco-sourced food and supplies for the Casa Hogar — an orphanage near Cabo San Lucas. The list of donors for the Casa Hogar effort included Walker Evans, Butch Jensen, Jimmy Smith, Ryan Thomas, Mike Pearlman, Jennifer Coleman, Mark Post, Brian Collins, Michael Gaughan and Mark McMillin.

Together with a small group of volunteers Baldwin filled up 13 larges carts of items that included lots of food, footballs, basket balls, soccer balls, backpacks, school supplies, boogie boards and even a new television. In addition, all 30 of the orphaned boys got free movie tickets.

“In the past years we have build two schools in San Felipe and one in Ojos Negros with many other various projects,” said Baldwin. “We will never stop. I can’t tell all of our supporters how much we appreciate their contributions. Let’s get the word out and really get this thing rolling.”

If you’d like to get more information or watch the brand new Jimmy Lee Cook-produced video of the Casa Hogar event please visit www.aoknick.org