Panthers partner with Coca-Cola Consolidated, Charlotte Motor Speedway for third annual "Joy to the Carolinas" event

Dec 08, 2021 at 12:51 PM

CHARLOTTE - On Tuesday night, the Panthers and Coca-Cola Consolidated brought the third annual "Joy to the Carolinas" event to Charlotte Motor Speedway's "Speedway Christmas."

Fifteen hundred children and guardians enjoyed a unique, socially-distant, holiday drive-thru experience filled with Christmas lights and holiday music and included pick-up spots for new toys, food, winter items, shoes and socks.

Panthers players and employees, including Dave and Nicole Tepper, as well as Coca-Cola employees were on hand to help distribute the holiday giveaways.

"We weren't going to allow COVID to stop us giving back to families," Nicole Tepper said. "That was the most important thing in our heart. It was a no brainer to come back here again. This year, it's a little bit bigger and a little bit better, and I'm thinking about next year already."

The Panthers are thankful for the generosity of partners that made donations for the event, including Academy Sports + Outdoors, Atrium Health, Harris Teeter, Proctor & Gamble, Domino's and U.S. Foods.

Recipients this year included Cabarrus County Schools and Communities in Schools.

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View photos from Tuesday's Joy to the Carolinas event, presented by Coca-Cola Consolidated, at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Families experienced a drive-through holiday extravaganza and received toys, food and supplies to brighten the season.