Jimmie Johnson Foundation announces more than $550,000 in grants

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In partnership with Lowe’s Toolbox for Education, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation announced on Thursday the recipients of $556,623 worth of grants.

The grants are awarded to K-12 public and charter schools in Muskogee, Oklahoma and El Cajon, California – the respective hometowns of Chandra and Jimmie Johnson – as well as their current residence, Charlotte, North Carolina.

“We are now in our sixth year of supporting public education, yet the enormous need continues to amaze us,” Chandra Johnson said.  “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 was made at Garinger High School, one of five schools in the Charlotte area to receive a grant. The other four are Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy (Charlotte), Rocky River Elementary School (Concord, North Carolina), Rocky River High School (Charlotte) and W.M. Irvin Elementary School (Concord).

Students and staff from all five schools were in attendance.

Seven other schools – Chaparral High School (El Cajon), El Capitan High School (Lakeside, California), Grossmont High School (El Cajon), Loma Portal Elementary School (San Diego), Muskogee Public Schools (Muskogee), Sadler Arts Academy (Muskogee) and Tony Goetz Elementary School (Muskogee) – also received grants.

“Chani and I are very excited for this year’s projects to get off the ground,” Jimmie Johnson said.  “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 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 projects the grants will fund in 2014 include constructing an outdoor classroom and kitchen and creating a district-wide e-library and a visual arts program.

Since 2009, the Champions Grant program has contributed nearly $3.7 million. It is just part of the mission of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, which was launched in 2006 by Chandra and Jimmie Johnson. The goal is to assist children, families and communities in need throughout the country.

For more information, visit JimmieJohnsonFoundation.org.