The Drive for Life Foundation Gala will celebrate 44 years of giving in a big way with MSU football coach Pat Fitzgerald as this year’s special guest speaker. Also attending as a celebrity guest is Zeigler-sponsored NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar. The Gala will take place on Thursday, September 24, 2026 starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Radisson Plaza in Kalamazoo. Tickets for the event are on sale now at driveforlifefoundation.org with each ticket admitting two guests and serving as one entry to win a new 2026 Honda Accord or $30,000.

KALAMAZOO, Mich., Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Drive for Life Foundation is proud to announce Pat Fitzgerald, MSU football coach, as its special guest speaker for its upcoming 44th Annual Drive for Life Foundation Gala. The event will be held at the Radisson Plaza at Kalamazoo Center on Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 5:30p.m.

A former standout linebacker at Northwestern, Fitzgerald was a two-time consensus All-American and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008. Before taking over as head football coach for the MSU Spartans, Fitzgerald spent 17 seasons as Northwestern’s head coach, compiling 110 victories—the most in school history. He led the Wildcats to 10 bowl appearances, two Big Ten West Division titles, and five AP Top 25 finishes. Fitzgerald was also named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2018 and won the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Year Award in 2020.

NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar will also be in attendance as a celebrity guest. Born and raised in Portage, Hocevar began racing at age seven and has quickly risen as a fan favorite. He began competing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2024 and earned his first Cup Series victory at Talladega Superspeedway in April 2026. The 2024 Rookie of the Year was also recently named one of TIME 100’s Most Influential People in Sports.

“Over the past 44 years, the Drive for Life Foundation Gala has become a powerful example of what we can accomplish when our community comes together,” said Aaron Zeigler, president of Zeigler Auto Group and a presenting sponsor of the Drive for Life Foundation Gala. “The generosity of our sponsors, volunteers and community partners allows us to make a meaningful difference, supporting the American Cancer Society and local organizations that provide critical resources and services to people throughout our community.”

The 44th Annual Drive for Life Foundation Gala will be presented by Zeigler Auto Group, Greenleaf Trust, Brown & Brown Dealer Services, Cox Automotive and Huntington National Bank.

Tickets for the Gala are now available online at driveforlifefoundation.org with every $300 entry admitting two guests, and serving as one raffle ticket for a chance to win a new 2026 Honda Accord or $30,000 cash courtesy of Platinum Sponsor West Michigan Honda Dealers.

Guests will enjoy a social cocktail hour, a silent auction, live auction, and much more. For ticket or sponsorship information please visit driveforlifefoundation.org or contact Monty Porter at mp@zeigler.com.

About The Drive For Life Foundation Gala

For more than four decades, the Drive for Life Gala has brought together business leaders, sponsors, and community members for an extraordinary night of giving.

The event debuted in 1982 with a starting ticket price of just $1, raising less than $20,000 for the American Cancer Society. Today, the Drive for Life Gala—presented by Zeigler Auto Group, Huntington Bank, Cox Automotive, Brown & Brown Dealer Services, and Greenleaf Trust—benefits the American Cancer Society and other local charities, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

About Zeigler Auto Group
Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 88 franchises across 41 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all of the domestic and the majority of the imported manufacturers.

Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company.

The Kalamazoo-based dealer group also owns and operates Zeigler Pre-Owned of Chicago, three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm.

Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 2,500 people, ranking among the top 1% of automotive dealers in the nation with estimated annual sales of $2.2 billion for 2025.

The family-owned and operated company is well known for its commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction. Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades in Wisconsin, Chicago, and Michigan. Besides these prestigious accolades, Zeigler is also one of Glassdoor’s 100 Best Places to Work in the U.S. for 2024, and among Glassdoor’s top 10 U.S. companies for work-life balance.

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SOURCE Zeigler Automotive Group