Some famous faces will be getting behind the wheel to help kick off the 39 Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach next month.
"Dallas" and "Desperate Housewives" heartthrob Jesse Metcalfe, "Twilight" star Jackson Rathbone and Latina bombshell and "Fast and Furious" star Michelle Rodriguez will be taking part in the 37th Annual "Revved Up to Race" pro / celebrity race as a prelude to the highly anticipated Grand Prix competition.
As the L.A. Times reports, Metcalfe, Rathbone and Rodriguez will also be joined by a host of other celebrities, including Long Beach's own 2012 Olympic swimming medalist Jessica Hardy, and actors Kate del Castillo ("La Reina del Sur," "Under the Same Moon," "Trade" and "Weeds"), Brett Davern ("Awkward"), Jenna Elfman ("Dharma & Greg" and "1600 Penn").
Proceeds for the event will go towards Racing for Kids, a national fundraising program that provides support for children's hospitals around the country.
However, in addition, the celebrity race allows the celebrities taking part to "feel the rush behind the wheel on the famous Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach track,"Toyota national motorsports manager Les Unger told the Times.
Past celebrities who have taken part in the race have included Cameron Diaz, Keanu Reeves, "Star Wars" director George Lucas, and "Grey's Anatomy" star Patrick Dempsey. The proceeds that Toyota has been able to give to Racing for Kids has been around $5,000 from the celebrity race. All in all, $2 million has been raised for Racing For Kids By Toyota, the Long Beach Press Telegram reports.
"This talented and inspiring celebrity group will not only help Toyota share the story of this long-running charity event, but they also will feel the rush behind the wheel on the famous Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach track," Unger said in a statement. "The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race thrills both the participants and the crowds while giving back to kids in our communities through donations to Children's Hospital of Orange County and Miller Children's Hospital Long Beach."
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