Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson and his wife Chandra, announced today the recipients of the 2014 Jimmie Johnson Foundation/Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Champions Grants. The grants, which are awarded to K-12 public and charter schools in Chandra and Jimmie Johnson’s respective hometowns of Muskogee, Oklahoma, El Cajon, California, and where they currently reside in Charlotte, North Carolina, totaled $556,623.
“We are now in our sixth year of supporting public education, yet the enormous need continues to amaze us,” said Chandra Johnson. “All of the applications were impressive. It is exciting to read through them and learn about the new and innovative opportunities educators want to provide to their students. We are honored to be able to fund so many deserving projects this year.”
The announcement took place at Garinger High School. Garinger is one of five schools in the Charlotte area to receive a Champions Grant. Students and staff from the five local schools were in attendance as the Johnsons made the announcement on behalf of the Foundation and program partner Lowe’s. The Johnsons shared that these schools, along with seven others from Muskogee and the San Diego area, have been selected to receive the grants.
“Chani and I are very excited for this year’s projects to get off the ground,” said Jimmie Johnson. “The Champions Grant program is great because we get to see the impact of the projects from start to finish. We appreciate being able to play a role in the education of students in our hometowns and here in Charlotte.”
This year, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation/Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Champions Grant awards included $257,870 toward science and technology needs, $168,316 for health and fitness activities, $80,458 toward arts programs and $49,979 toward literacy initiatives.
The 2014 Champions Grants were awarded to the following schools:
North Carolina
- Garinger High School (Charlotte, North Carolina)
- Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy (Charlotte, North Carolina)
- Rocky River Elementary School (Concord, North Carolina)
- Rocky River High School (Charlotte, North Carolina)
- W.M. Irvin Elementary School (Concord, North Carolina)
California
- Chaparral High School (El Cajon, California)
- El Capitan High School (Lakeside, California)
- Grossmont High School (El Cajon, California)
- Loma Portal Elementary School (San Diego, California)
Oklahoma
- Muskogee Public Schools (Muskogee, Okla.)
- Sadler Arts Academy (Muskogee, Okla.)
- Tony Goetz Elementary School (Muskogee, Okla.)
The funded projects for 2014 range from constructing an outdoor classroom and kitchen to creating a district-wide e-library to creating a visual arts program. Several schools also received technology grants to purchase new computers.
Nearly $3.7 million has been contributed through the Champions Grant program since 2009.
To see a detailed list of the 2014 Champions Grant projects, please visit www.jimmiejohnsonfoundation.org.
Jimmie Johnson Foundation PR
