The eighth annual Jimmie Johnson Foundation Golf Tournament tops $650,000 in funds raised

Courtesy of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation 

SAN DIEGO – The Jimmie Johnson Foundation announced today that its eighth annual Golf Tournament and Dinner Auction raised more than $650,000. Since its inception in 2007, the event has raised more than $500,000 each year. 

“This event keeps getting better and better,” Johnson said. “I’m so thankful to everyone that supports the Foundation. It is because of sponsors like Lowe’s, that we are able to provide support to K-12 public education. Chani (wife) and I look forward to continuing the great work of the Foundation.”

Johnson, NASCAR’s six-time reigning Sprint Cup Series champion, hosted more than 130 golfers at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California, for Wednesday’s golf tournament.  The night before the tournament, more than 200 guests joined the Johnsons for a special dinner and auction, with music from the KIPP Adelante Orchestra. 

The tournament, which has raised more than $4.7 million in eight years, benefits the Champions Grants program, a partnership between the Jimmie Johnson Foundation and Lowe’s Toolbox for Education. The grants range from $25,000-$100,000 and are distributed to K-12 public educational programs throughout the Johnsons' hometowns in California and Oklahoma, and where they currently reside in North Carolina.

In addition to the tournament, the El Cajon (California) City Council organized a celebration to recognize Johnson, an El Cajon native, for his racing accomplishments and philanthropic contributions to the community. As part of the celebration on June 17, the city recognized “Jimmie Johnson Day” in the state of California and announced the naming of the street, Jimmie Johnson Drive, an overlay located on 2nd street between Main Street and the Interstate 8 Freeway.