Johnson announces winner of 2013 Team Up for Technology grant

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson announced during a Google+ Hangout that New Hanover Township School in Wrightstown, N.J. is the recipient of the 2013 Team Up for Technology grant. The $48,000 grant is the result of a partnership between the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, Lowe’s and Samsung Hope for Children.

“In the second year of this program, it is amazing to see the creativity of the video submissions we received. There was some very tough competition this year,” said Johnson, who will compete in NASCAR’s season-opening Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 24.

Danny Nelson, head custodian at New Hanover Township, nominated the school for this grant. During the celebration, Nelson was presented with a Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 7” and a Lowe’s gift bag in recognition of his efforts on behalf of the students. Kim Hill, director of brand marketing from Samsung Electronics North America and Earika Khan, market director Southern New Jersey from Lowe’s, were on hand for the live announcement, which took place in the school gymnasium.

In his nomination, Nelson shared, “Our school has lost aid money and really can’t afford to purchase any new computers. I see our kids work hard everyday with what we provide and make the best of it. I would like to help these children out some way so I am writing and entering our school, which could really use this makeover.”

New Hanover Township School plans to use the grant award, which includes $11,500 in Samsung technology and a $36,500 grant from the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, to purchase items including projectors, laptops, desktops, microscopes and audio visual equipment.

“On behalf of the entire New Hanover Township School community, I want to thank Lowe's, Samsung, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, and Mr. Johnson himself, for their generous gift,” said Scott Larkin, principal of New Hanover Township School. “Our students truly have an insatiable desire for learning. This technology makeover will be the spark plug that drives them through the finish line, and onto victory in education.”

“Team Up for Technology is a great example of how foundations and corporations can work together to help teachers and students across America,” said David Steel, Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics North America. “We are very proud to be partnering with the Jimmie Johnson Foundation and Lowe’s to provide technology that will help develop the critical skills they need for future success.”

In addition to awarding $48,000 to New Hanover Township School, 100 Samsung Galaxy Tabs™ were awarded to runner-up Barringer Academic Center (Charlotte, N.C.) and 50 Samsung Galaxy Tabs™ were awarded to third place Pewamo-Westphalia High School (Westphalia, Mich.).

Ten schools were selected from more than 1,300 submitted applications as Team Up For Technology semi-finalists and given a prize kit that included a Samsung Digital Camcorder and Samsung Laptop to create a two minute video illustrating their school’s technology needs. The amazing group of finalists also included Afton-Lakeland Elementary School (Lakeland, Minn.), Central Middle School (Kansas City, Kan.), KIPP Delta Collegiate High School (Helena, Ariz.), Nations Ford Elementary School (Charlotte, N.C.), Ricardo Lizarraga Elementary School (Los Angeles, Calif.), Timpanogos High School (Orem, Utah) and Emiliano Zapata Academy (Chicago, Ill.). Each school’s videos are now featured on www.jimmiejohnsonfoundation.org.

The Team Up For Technology program encourages parents, teachers, administrators and children’s advocates nationwide to nominate their school to receive a technology makeover. Nominations are received through the foundation’s website (www.jimmiejohnsonfoundation.org)and Twitter account (www.twitter.com/jjfoundation48). In the past two years, more than $150,000 in cash and product has been awarded through this program.