Kalamazoo, Mich. – September 12, 2026 -- The Drive for Life Foundation will mark its 44th annual charity gala on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the Radisson Plaza at Kalamazoo Center, with MSU football coach Pat Fitzgerald headlining as special guest speaker.
Zeigler Auto Group anchors a five-sponsor lineup for the fundraiser
Aaron Zeigler, president of Zeigler Auto Group, is a presenting sponsor alongside Greenleaf Trust, Brown & Brown Dealer Services, Cox Automotive and Huntington National Bank. The event, which debuted in 1982 with $1 tickets and raised less than $20,000 for the American Cancer Society, now raises hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for the American Cancer Society and other local organizations.
NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar joins as celebrity guest
Hocevar, a Zeigler-sponsored NASCAR Cup Series driver born in Portage, earned his first Cup Series victory at Talladega Superspeedway in April 2026 and was recently named to TIME 100's Most Influential People in Sports list. He was NASCAR's 2024 Rookie of the Year.
Tickets start at $300 with a Honda Accord raffle incentive
Each $300 ticket admits two guests and doubles as a raffle entry for a new 2026 Honda Accord or $30,000 cash, courtesy of Platinum Sponsor West Michigan Honda Dealers. Tickets are on sale now at the Drive for Life Foundation's website, with guests set to enjoy a cocktail hour, silent auction and live auction starting at 5:30 p.m.
Fitzgerald brings a decorated coaching resume to the podium
A two-time consensus All-American linebacker at Northwestern and 2008 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Fitzgerald compiled 110 victories over 17 seasons as Northwestern's head coach—the most in program history—before taking over as MSU Spartans head coach. He led Northwestern to 10 bowl appearances and two Big Ten West Division titles, won Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2018, and claimed the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Year Award in 2020.