FORT WORTH, TX (April 13, 2012) – Fisher House and the Scott Lake Elementary PTO are the next two charities selected for the 2012 Jimmie Johnson Foundation Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope, which Johnson will wear in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. on June 24, 2012.
Each organization will also receive a grant of $10,000 and a special Blue Bunny ice cream party.
Fan Jennie McFarling nominated Fisher House, an organization that provides a “home away from home” for military families to be close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury.
“Our wounded warriors need their families with them when they come home wounded, “McFarling wrote on her nomination form. “These homes are free to the family members so they can be there to support their warrior on the way to recovery.”
Holly Cain of FOXSports.com nominated Scott Lake Elementary PTO in Lakeland, Florida. “The school has spent the past four years raising money to install updated technology in their classrooms,” wrote Cain. “A grant would make an immediate and large impact.”
The Helmet of Hope program, which began in 2008, allows fans, consumers and media members across the country to nominate their favorite charity to receive a $10,000 grant, special recognition on Johnson’s race helmet and a Blue Bunny ice cream party. To date, the program has contributed more than $300,000 to 49 different charities across the United States.
This year’s Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope campaign will run for six consecutive Sprint Cup race weekends beginning at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in April. Johnson will draw one winner from a list of media submissions and one from a list of fan submissions each race weekend through the Darlington (S.C.) event in May. Fisher House and Scott Lake Elementary-PTO join the United Way of Siouxland, Nature Conservancy and Chill Foundation as charities that will be featured on the Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope.
Fans and media members may nominate their charity by visiting www.helmetofhope.org. For more information about the most recently selected charities visit www.fisherhouse.org and http://schools.polk-fl.net/scottlake/.
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Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope Page Two
About the Helmet of Hope
In its fifth year, the Helmet of Hope program gives fans and media members across the country the opportunity to nominate their favorite charity to be featured on five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson’s helmet for the June 24 Sprint Cup race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. This year’s title sponsor for Helmet of Hope is Blue Bunny Ice Cream. In addition to being featured on the helmet, each charity selected also receives a grant of $10,000 and a Blue Bunny ice cream party. To date, the program has contributed more than $300,000 to 49 different charities.
About the Jimmie Johnson Foundation
Chandra and Jimmie Johnson launched the Jimmie Johnson Foundation in February 2006. Johnson, the five-time Sprint Cup champion, drives the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet Impala 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 $5 million to various charities. For additional information on the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, please visit www.JimmieJohnsonFoundation.org.
About Blue Bunny
Blue Bunny, founded in 1913, is a brand of Wells Enterprises, Inc. — the largest family-owned ice cream manufacturer in the United States. Today, more than 500 Blue Bunny-branded ice cream and frozen novelty products can be found across the U.S. Always committed to quality, Blue Bunny products are made with only real ice cream. Wells is headquartered in Le Mars, Iowa, the Ice Cream Capital of the World. Become a Blue Bunny fan on Facebook (facebook.com/BlueBunnyIceCream) for ice cream news and updates.
CONTACT:
Mary Barr, Jimmie Johnson Foundation
704.453.2897
mbarr@jjracinginc.com
Kristine Curley, True Speed Communication
816.679.5091
Kristine.curley@truespeedcommunication.com
Liz Croston, Blue Bunny
712.548.5522
escroston@bluebunny.com