Twelve Champions Grants Awarded to K-12 Public Schools in Chandra and Jimmie Johnson’s Hometowns

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Nov. 9, 2016) – Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, and his wife Chandra, announced today, at an event at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, that 12 schools will receive $599,891 in Champions Grants this year. The grants are awarded annually to K-12 public and charter schools in and around their hometowns in San Diego and El Cajon, California and Muskogee and Tulsa, Oklahoma, as well as their current residence in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“We were very impressed by the applications submitted this year,” Johnson said. “Schools have such wide ranging needs, and, thanks to our partner Lowe’s, we are thrilled to be able to support so many great projects through the Champions Grant program.”

Chandra, Jimmie and representatives from Lowe’s spent time this morning hearing from students from the five local grant recipients about their projects and the anticipated impact on their school community. They also participated together in an educational activity facilitated by the staff at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. In addition to these five schools, seven others from Muskogee and the San Diego area have been selected to receive grants.

“It was such a joy to be able to spend time with some of the students who will be impacted by the Champions Grants,” said Chandra Johnson. “We are honored to continue to support the schools in the communities where we grew up and right here in Charlotte.”

This year, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation/Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Champions Grant awards included $228,404 toward language and literacy initiatives, $195,745 toward science and technology programs, $145,742 for health and fitness activities, and $30,000 toward school improvement projects.

The 2016 Champions Grants were awarded to the following schools/districts:

North Carolina

  • Mallard Creek Elementary School (Charlotte, North Carolina)
  • Northwest School of the Arts (Charlotte, North Carolina)
  • Piedmont Open Middle School (Charlotte, North Carolina)
  • Randolph I.B. Middle School (Charlotte, North Carolina)
  • Windsor Park Elementary School (Charlotte, North Carolina)

California

  • Cajon Valley Union School District (El Cajon, California)
  • Cubberley Elmentary School (San Diego, California)
  • Monte Vista High School (Spring Valley, California)

Oklahoma

  • Grant Foreman Elementary School (Muskogee, Oklahoma)
  • KIPP Tulsa College Preparatory (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
  • Tony Goetz Elementary School (Muskogee, Oklahoma)
  • Whittier Elementary School (Muskogee, Oklahoma)

More than $4.8 million has been contributed through the Champions Grant program since 2009.

To see a detailed list of the 2016 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 $9.5 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.

About Lowe’s in the Community
Lowe’s, a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company, has a 50-year legacy of supporting the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. Since 2007, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together have contributed more than $250 million to these efforts, and for more than two decades Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers have donated their time to make our communities better places to live. To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility and the Lowe’s Open House digital newsroom site at newsroom.lowes.com.