Founded by Michelle Della Penna, daughter of renowned race car driver and Indycar team owner John Della Penna, the foundation aims to provide girls aged 5 to 18 with the knowledge, skills, and mentorship to fuel their future in motorsports. With a mission to increase female representation in the industry, the foundation recognizes the importance of providing opportunities for girls to pursue their passion.
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2025 DPF FELLOWSHIPS
We are grateful to General Motors Engineering, Sonoma Raceway Photography, IMS/Speedway and Dallara for hosting our fellows in 2025
“Congratulations to Avery Willams for completing her Della Penna fellowship with Kai Robertson and Sonoma Raceway for an exciting weekend with NASCAR races.” In the last photo there’s me, Kai, Avery, michelle and Avery’s mom Tracey. You could call this “ celebrating at dinner in Sonoma”.
Here’s to accelerating dreams and driving change in motorsports!
"First of all, I'd like to thank Kai Robertson, Sonoma Raceway, and The Della Penna foundation, this experience was truly a blessing. I got a firsthand look at the fast-paced world of track photography and media. In my time spent at the track I learned so much from Kai, and while it was exhausting at times, it was incredibly rewarding. From photographing autograph sessions, to sponsor events, and the actual on track events themselves. Everyday was a new look at the many jobs a track photographer had over a NASCAR weekend. Everyone at the media center was welcoming, and we all made some amazing memories together, but you quickly learn how focused and respectful you have to be in this sport. The drivers and teams were also extremely friendly and open to conversation, and from that I have fostered some unforgettable connections with them, especially with JR Motorsports.
Overall, this weekend gave me one of the most insightful experiences I’ve ever had in this profession. I’m especially grateful to Kai—she taught me so much and is truly one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. This weekend was something truly special."
-Avery Williams
We also offered two karting scholarships with NXG Youth Motorsports to Shyanne Doran in the Grand Prix program and Ava Roberts in the Development program. Please join us for the Grand Prix racing Finale in Indianapolis on September 27th!
Isabella Contreras spent a week shadowing Luisa Macer, Jimmie McMillian, Liz Smith and the team at IMS/Speedway
"It truly was a once in a lifetime opportunity to gain experience at a young age. It wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the amazing women from the DellaPenna Foundation and every amazing individual at the IMS. I’m happy to have met everyone at the office and am very glad I was chosen for this position! It opened my eyes to many different careers in motorsports that all share things in common in some or more ways. My perspective of motorsports has changed after seeing all the effort that truly goes into having each and every event happen the way they do. I realize that although drivers and those who work in the garage are important, it isn’t everything. There is much that goes on behind the scenes of racing that contributes just as much into getting a team to operate or even the race as a whole. It’s very inspiring to see women in a field so male dominated. This was the closest I’ve ever been to the works of the track here in Indianapolis, my home, and it really sparked something deep in me. A passion, a love, a fire. It gave me hope seeing people so similar to myself in positions I find interest in. It made me realize that my dream is a welcoming environment. To conclude, I’m very thankful I didn’t chicken out that day at school when you guys came to introduce your amazing program. It’s a given opportunity I never knew would help me understand myself better.
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Emma Hagge had an amazing week with Megan Ryder and the engineering team at Bryan Herta.
"I want to thank everyone for this amazing experience, I really enjoyed the opportunity that was given to me. I am forever grateful to Megan and everyone at the shop that gave me their time to teach and show me what goes on behind the scenes at a race team. Everyone was so nice and they were always explaining what was going on and what they were doing. I almost never had any questions because of how well things were shown and thought to me but still I had quite a few because of how interesting things were. I got to learn everything from data reading, online simulations, how set up of the cars goes, I saw how carbon fiber gets fixed in the shop, how a new car is set up, and even how they fix electrical connections or even how they replace/clean them. I was even able to sit in on a divers meeting with Megan and her divers. It showed me what happens before and after a race. I was given some very good advice about my future in collage and my future career by some of the mechanics and Purdue interns that went/going to the Motorsports engineering course. (Which is something I’m very interested in doing) It was a great experience for me to see what it looks like day to day in a workshop and all the moving parts. It was also very great for me to see a little bit of everything to really think about what I want to do in the world Motorsport and engineering. It was also great to see what happens durning set backs and how the team adapts to problems and how they solve them. This has been an opportunity of a lifetime for me and I am very grateful to Bryan Herta and Megan for hosting me and to the foundation for all the support to do something I love and aspire to be one day in the Motorsport industry. Thank you all so much for everything and for the team for sharing their time with me."
Ana Palestro will be in North Carolina in August spending the week with TaiJaune Robinson and the team at General Motorsports Engineering in between her races in the Jensen F4 car at Sonoma and Laguna Seca.
Meaghan Ratliff shadowed the Dallara Team with Tiffany Hueza and Terri Talbert-Hatch learning all about marketing and communications.
Isabella Contreras spent a week shadowing Luisa Macer, Jimmie McMillian, Liz Smith and the team at IMS/Speedway
"It truly was a once in a lifetime opportunity to gain experience at a young age. It wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the amazing women from the DellaPenna Foundation and every amazing individual at the IMS. I’m happy to have met everyone at the office and am very glad I was chosen for this position! It opened my eyes to many different careers in motorsports that all share things in common in some or more ways. My perspective of motorsports has changed after seeing all the effort that truly goes into having each and every event happen the way they do. I realize that although drivers and those who work in the garage are important, it isn’t everything. There is much that goes on behind the scenes of racing that contributes just as much into getting a team to operate or even the race as a whole. It’s very inspiring to see women in a field so male dominated. This was the closest I’ve ever been to the works of the track here in Indianapolis, my home, and it really sparked something deep in me. A passion, a love, a fire. It gave me hope seeing people so similar to myself in positions I find interest in. It made me realize that my dream is a welcoming environment. To conclude, I’m very thankful I didn’t chicken out that day at school when you guys came to introduce your amazing program. It’s a given opportunity I never knew would help me understand myself better."
-Isabella Contreras
Emma Hagge had an amazing week with Megan Ryder and the engineering team at Bryan Herta.
"I want to thank everyone for this amazing experience, I really enjoyed the opportunity that was given to me. I am forever grateful to Megan and everyone at the shop that gave me their time to teach and show me what goes on behind the scenes at a race team. Everyone was so nice and they were always explaining what was going on and what they were doing. I almost never had any questions because of how well things were shown and thought to me but still I had quite a few because of how interesting things were. I got to learn everything from data reading, online simulations, how set up of the cars goes, I saw how carbon fiber gets fixed in the shop, how a new car is set up, and even how they fix electrical connections or even how they replace/clean them. I was even able to sit in on a divers meeting with Megan and her divers. It showed me what happens before and after a race. I was given some very good advice about my future in collage and my future career by some of the mechanics and Purdue interns that went/going to the Motorsports engineering course. (Which is something I’m very interested in doing) It was a great experience for me to see what it looks like day to day in a workshop and all the moving parts. It was also very great for me to see a little bit of everything to really think about what I want to do in the world Motorsport and engineering. It was also great to see what happens durning set backs and how the team adapts to problems and how they solve them. This has been an opportunity of a lifetime for me and I am very grateful to Bryan Herta and Megan for hosting me and to the foundation for all the support to do something I love and aspire to be one day in the Motorsport industry. Thank you all so much for everything and for the team for sharing their time with me."
-Emma Haggie
Ana Palestro will be in North Carolina in August spending the week with TaiJaune Robinson and the team at General Motorsports Engineering in between her races in the Jensen F4 car at Sonoma and Laguna Seca.
Meaghan Ratliff shadowed the Dallara Team with Tiffany Hueza and Terri Talbert-Hatch learning all about marketing and communications.
WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW:
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WELCOME COACH ROD REID
We are honored to welcome Coach Rod Reid to the board of Directors at the Della Penna Foundation.
INSPIRE 2025
This past May, INSPIRE 2025 included three days of celebrities, new experiences, eye opening talks, fast friends, and a some time on the track. The young women who were a part of this year's program truly illustrated what this foundation has to offer the world and young women who want to be a part of it. Special thanks to Nicole Clark, Kai Robertson, Lyn St. James, Marilyn Mangin, Whitney Dung, AJ Carney and of course Pato O'Ward for making dreams come true this weekend! Check out more photos here.
The Della Penna Foundation’s Susan Lucas-Conwell went to North America’s northern most track, Alaska Raceway Park, to meet Michelle Lackey aka ladytrackboss and shared what we’re doing at the Della Penna Foundation. Drop by if you’re in Alaska and support one of the few women-owned tracks, or do their drag and drive around Alaska!
We are pleased to welcome Brandy Falconer to our team.
Brandy brings a lifetime of motorsports experience, first in the family business in auto racing in accounting and marketing and then with Laguna Seca and Sonoma Raceway in communications and PR. Brandy is excited to help inspire the next generation of young women in motorsports through the foundation's immersive experiences.
SAN JOSE, Calif., June 25, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Della Penna Foundation invited a group of 34 High School girls from Indianapolis to learn more about careers in the motorsports industry. The three-day program during the Indy 500 qualifying weekend allowed them to visit and experience the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, motorsport engineering giant Dallara, FastTimes Karting and Performance Racing Industry (PRI) headquarters.
Read full article here
PODCASTS
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Dear Friends,
Cheers to our wonderful supporters and partners, we've been very busy with the spring events, the 2025 Della Penna Inspire program and our fellowships, karting scholarships. All of this in a particularly challenging environment in the US for those looking to create inclusive opportunities.
The 2025 Inspire program this year hosted 34 girls for a three day program in Indy, meeting women professionals in motorsports from drivers to engineers, to technicians, ER nurses, managers and marketing experts. We are grateful to our hosts and sponsors without whom the program couldn't have happened - notably Firestone, IMS/Speedway, PRI / Bell Helmet, FasTimes and Dallara.
Our girls visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
Lyn St. James speaking to our girls about the careers in motorsports and STEM.
Firestone teaching the girls the science of racing tires.
TaiJaune Robinson inspires a new group of girls each year.
Read the rest of our newsletter here
