JIMMIE JOHNSON CHAMPIONS GRANTS AWARDED TO LOCAL SCHOOLS

By Miriam Raftery

November 20, 2014 (El Cajon)--Once again, six-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson has proven himself to be a hero for education in his hometown, El Cajon.

The Jimmie Johnson Foundation/Lowe’s Toolbox for Education has awarded $556,623 in grants for 2014—including grants to three schools in the Grossmont Union High School District.  The local grants include

• Chaparral High School - $29,482 to create a computer lab that will augment the program at Chaparral through the use of online learning and digital arts instruction.
• El Capitan High School - $23,000 to purchase new laptops for teachers so they can be better equipped to use digital/paperless resources and to teach students how to use the online resources and apps available to them.
• Grossmont High School - $80,458 to integrate technology and foster collaboration and making connections between the arts and core academic classes.

Other grants went to schools in North Carolina, Okalahoma, and to Loma Portal Elementary School in San Diego.

This is the sixth year of the Champion grants program provided by the Johnson foundation.  Jimmie’s wife, Chandra, says, “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.”

Jimmie Johnson says he and his wife are excited to see this year’s projects in his hometown get off the ground, as well as in the other locations. He adds, “The Champions Grant program is great because we get to see the impact of the projects from start to finish.”

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.

About the Jimmie Johnson Foundation

Chandra and Jimmie Johnson launched the Jimmie Johnson Foundation in February 2006. Johnson, the six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, drives the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS in NASCAR’s top series. The mission of the foundation is to assist children, families and communities in need throughout the United States. The foundation has committed more than $6.7 million to various charities. The Foundation currently focuses on K-12 public education.  For additional information on the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, please visit www.jimmiejohnsonfoundation.org.