Mooresville, N.C — The Greg Biffle Foundation is pleased to announce the recent grant donations to more than 80 humane societies and animal shelters across the United States.

The Foundation receives hundreds of applications throughout the year and is thrilled to be able to assist 85 animal welfare agencies located in several different states across the United States. Grant awards will be used to assist these animal welfare agencies with spay/neuter programs, vet care, pet supplies and much more.

“We are very excited to be able to make donations to these amazing organizations that work so tirelessly on a daily basis to improve animal welfare,” said Nicole Biffle, Greg Biffle Foundation Vice President. “There is such great need for assistance in animal welfare and these organizations deserve all the help they can get.” For a complete list of the 2012 grant recipients, please visit our website.

The Greg Biffle Foundation was founded in 2005 by Greg and Nicole Biffle to create awareness and serve as an advocate to improve the well-being of animals by engaging the power and passion of the motor sports industry. Financial support for the foundation comes from a variety of sources including individual contributions, NASCAR Pets Calendars, and the sale of various racing and other sports memorabilia.

Since its creation, The Greg Biffle Foundation has awarded grants to humane societies and animal shelters from coast to coast. Representing the best interests of the animals and using the full potential of each participant's involvement is the purpose for the Greg Biffle Foundation. Greg and Nicole have three dogs – Foster and his daughter, Gracie, a pair of Boxers who are very familiar to race fans across the country. Foster even graced the front of a Milk Bones box in 2004. The latest addition is Savannah, who was rescued from a Georgia shelter.

The Dale Earnhardt Foundation has awarded a $2 million gift to the Girl Scouts, Hornets’ Nest Council in support of the development of the Council’s 700-acre Oak Springs property, which serves as a retreat for Girl Scouts and their leaders from throughout an eight-county Carolinas region.

In recognition of the gift, which is the largest ever granted by the foundation and the largest single gift ever received by the Hornets’ Nest Council, the campus at Oak Springs will be named the Dale Earnhardt Environmental Leadership Campus in honor of the legendary NASCAR driver.

The foundation’s grant will be used to help fund the ongoing development of the Oak Springs property, including a 25-acre lake under construction. The Girl Scouts retreat, which is located in Iredell County, features heavy forestation, diverse wildlife, broad open areas, natural water sources and rolling terrain. The property includes the former site of a skeet shooting range that was a long-time favorite of Mr. Earnhardt’s.

“Dale was an avid sportsman and outdoorsman; whether it was spending time at the Earnhardt Farm or traveling across the country on a hunt, he loved outdoor adventure,” said Teresa Earnhardt, Executive Director of the Dale Earnhardt Foundation. “We are proud to put Dale’s name on a campus like this with its beautiful wooded environment, wildlife native to the area and such a strong program teaching young people the importance of respecting nature.

“We cannot imagine a more worthy cause for our largest grant to-date which is coming in the 10th anniversary year of our foundation,” she said.

All the votes are counted and the fans have spoken: Kyle Busch and his track-inspired black-on-black "Rowdy Edition" Camry have won the Toyota Racing Dream Build Challenge. Busch's efforts earned a check from Toyota for $50,000 that goes to his chosen charity for the competition, the Kyle Busch Foundation. Toyota made the announcement at the SEMA Show with the help of TV racing commentator and Top Gear USA host, Rutledge Wood, master of ceremonies for the event.  

"My wife's going to have a lot of Christmas gifts to get again this year," said Busch. "The kids at the Kyle Busch Foundation are going to love that. We appreciate Toyota's support, everybody that's been a part of this program, all my friends here, all my competitors that we had to go up against and my friends at Detroit Speed for building such an awesome piece. I'm really looking forward to seeing Ed put this out on the road."  

"Every one of the Dream Build Challenge teams delivered in a big way," said Toyota Marketing Communications and Motorsports Vice President Ed Laukes. "You couldn't ask for a more diverse, creative and exciting group of vehicles. The drivers and teams should be proud."  

The competition began two months ago, when Toyota announced the friendly contest among four of its top racing drivers—each competing for his or her favorite charity. Along with Busch, fellow Toyota NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer and NHRA pilots Alexis DeJoria and Antron Brown each assembled teams to create their own dream build vehicles. The result was four spectacular and completely unique builds that have caught the attention of fans and auto enthusiasts everywhere.  

The build process was documented extensively on the Dream Build Facebook page (http://www.toyotaracingdreambuild.com) where anyone could follow team progress via photos and video and vote for their favorites, with opportunities to win great prizes along the way. The Grand Prize is a Dream Race Trip to the winner's choice of either a NASCAR or NHRA race event. The winner will be announced at a later date.

Jeff Gordon appeared on SPEED’s WindTunnel with Dave Despain where he announced the winner of this year’s Corvette Raffle, a fundraiser for Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation.  Paula and her husband Masky flew to Charlotte, NC  to tour the campus of Hendrick Motorsports with personal guide, Jeff Gordon.  During the shop tour Jeff took them outside the 5/24 building and presented Paula with the keys to her new Corvette

Through the success of its Corvette raffle program Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation has raised over $3.5 million dollars for childhood cancer research and access to treatment. Each dollar earned through the program is helping to bring pediatric cancer patients everywhere closer and closer to the futures they deserve: happy, healthy, and filled with choices. 

On October 13, Samantha won the Toyota Racing for Awareness T-shirt Design contest. The Racing for Awareness T-shirt design contest began in August and was a friendly competition among nine women affiliated with the Toyota NASCAR program -- including wives, girlfriends, mothers and sisters, as well as one racer. Each participant created a unique design that incorporated the symbol of breast cancer awareness -- a pink ribbon. The participants were given artistic freedom and were able to include other racing symbols on their choice on a pink, hot pink, white or black T-shirt. Fans were the able to vote for their favorite design at ToyotaRacing.com and at the Toyota PitPass display at select NASCAR races.

“I am absolutely so excited that I won,” said Samantha Busch, following the announcement. “When Toyota approached all the wives, and girlfriends and moms to be a part of this event, it was such an honor just to support such a great cause – for breast cancer awareness and to help benefit the Carolina Breast Friends. As soon as we heard about the competition, I instantly was putting it on Twitter and Facebook and telling people at autograph sessions. I just want to thank all the fans and everybody for voting every day and making it possible that my shirt gets to be sold and that it will raise funds for such a great cause.”

The t-shirt can be purchased here: http://www.toyotaracinggear.com/ with all proceeds from the sale of the T-shirt donated to Carolina Breast Friends in the name of Kyle and Samantha Busch. Toyota also donated $5,000 to Carolina Breast Friends in the names of all the participants in the contest.

"My family and I were completely blown away on Saturday by our visit to Victory Junction Camp!  The descriptions we had heard from our friends was right on target, but we had to experience it for ourselves to completely understand."

"First, I want to complement our Crew Chiefs.  They were the best!  They were focused on all our children and their experiences, while also engaging my wife and me in the overall background of the camp and its offerings.  Truly, we cannot think of one activity, facility, or staff member we came in contact with that wasn't completely focused on our enjoyment.  The positive attitude that is prevalent throughout your facility is just fantastic.  Our youngest child, Jimmy, is on the Autism spectrum and loses interest in activities that do not keep him involved and engaged.  That did not happen at all on Saturday.  My other two children, Nate and Marianne, sometimes feel left out if they feel too much focus is placed on Jimmy and I am pleased to note that they did not feel that way at all.  They were engaged in all the activities and enjoyed themselves thoroughly.  In fact, this was one of the most enjoyable, if not the absolute best family outing we have ever had."  

"Thank you again for including my family in the program last week.  We are looking forward to the next opportunity to participate.  Jimmy says he can't wait to go back! (and neither can the rest of us!)"

Office Depot managers and Office Depot Foundation representatives present Charlotte, NC non-profits with 4,000 sackpacks in a presentation on August 27, 2012

National Backpack Program Has Put Smiles on More Than 2.9 Million Faces Since 2001

Through the award-winning National Backpack Program, which is now in its 12th year, the Office Depot Foundation plans to help children prepare for school by donating 400,000 sackpacks across the United States and internationally – the most ever in a single year.  The sturdy, specially designed sackpacks come in seven different color combinations with kid-friendly graphics.  By the end of 2012, Office Depot and the Office Depot Foundation will have helped more than 2.9 million children since the inception of the program in 2001.

“In keeping with our mission – Listen Learn Care − we created these fun and exciting sackpacks in response to what kids have told us they like,” says Foundation President Mary Wong. “Every year, we have seen our donations bring hope to children whose families might not be able to afford to buy school supplies.  Parents and teachers alike tell us that we truly are helping children to build self-confidence, boost self-esteem and achieve greater success in the classroom – all as a result of being properly prepared for school.”

To give sackpacks to children this year, the Foundation is hosting more than 25 “Back-to-School Celebrations” in cities across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico – five of which will include Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet in the NASCAR® Sprint Cup Series™.  Award-winning actor, comedian and host of “America's Got Talent” Nick Cannon joined the Foundation for donation events in three cities.  In addition, thousands of sackpacks are being distributed through Office Depot stores in hundreds of local communities and in collaboration with Office Depot’s Business Solutions Division in select cities.

Thousands more are being given to kids through the Foundation’s partnerships with a dozen non-profit organizations serving children nationally and internationally.  The Foundation has teamed up with four new partners this year  AARP Experience Corps, Food For The Poor, Operation Homefront, and Speedway Children’s Charities.  Continuing partners include the Tony Stewart Foundation, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), the National Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Association, Feed The Children, the Kids In Need Foundation, Zach Bonner’s Little Red Wagon Foundation, the National Foundation for Women Legislators, and Samaritan’s Feet International, which will distribute sackpacks both nationally and overseas.  For the fifth consecutive year, donations will be made to children of the Navajo Nation in Arizona.

In May 2012, Jeff Gordon challenged his supporters and fans to hold as many Kick-It kickball games as possible in the month of September to honor Childhood Cancer Awareness Month – announcing that he would also match all fund raised from games played that month.

To kickoff that challenge, Jeff Gordon is holding his own Kick-It kickball game on Saturday September 1st, 2012 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the grass on the front stretch right beside Turn 4. The two teams for the game will consist of cancer patients and survivors and NASCAR media/family. The game is scheduled for 11:15-11:45 a.m. Anyone who has a ticket to the on-track activity that day can come and watch the game from the grandstands. Click here to learn more about how you can join the Kick-It campaign!

You can donate to Jeff's Kick-It game by visiting his game page: http://www.kick-it.org/events/jeff-gordon-kicks-it

Toyota has recruited some of NASCAR’s top ‘Fashion Stars’ to help participate in a fun, exciting and highly competitive ladies T-shirt design contest to raise money to benefit Breast Cancer awareness. These fashionista’s include the wives, sisters, moms and girlfriends of our Toyota Racing NASCAR drivers, and includes one female racer.  Toyota will donate $500 in the name of each of these participants that has created a fun ladies T-shirt to help bring awareness to Breast Cancer. The design that gathers the most votes will be featured on a parade lap car prior to the Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway and will be produced and sold on toyotaracinggear.com, with all proceeds going to the Charlotte-based charity, Carolina Breast Friends. 

Starting August 24^th, fans can visit www.toyotaracing.com/RacingForAwareness to cast your vote! Fans can also enter to win weekly Toyota Racing Prizes.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Tuesday, August 21, 2012)—On June 6 at Eldora Speedway, Kyle Busch won a lot more than Tony Stewart’s annual charity late-model race, the Feed The Children Prelude to the Dream. He also won 20,000 pounds of food and supplies provided by Feed The Children to donate to the charity of his choice. After his wife Samantha visited Barium Springs earlier in the summer and met some of the children and staff, they decided it was the right place.

“Samantha and I were surprised to learn that 1 in 7 children in Iredell County are considered impoverished. That’s right in our backyard,” said Kyle Busch. “To know that we’re doing a little to help means a lot to us but there is much more to be done to help these children. The community needs to be aware that this need is so great.

“Barium Springs is a great place because they provide so much more than the basics for these kids, which they desperately need. They set them up for success by teaching them important skill sets and giving them additional programs to make them stronger, more confident people. We are thankful to Feed The Children and Barium Springs for their service and for allowing us to participate in this day.”

Kyle and Samantha arrived at Barium Springs and were greeted by staffers and children, as well as homemade posters, hand-written notes and drawings from the children welcoming them to their home. Kyle and Samantha assisted children from the Statesville and Wilkesboro campuses by loading their vans up with food, water, cleaning supplies, and toiletries.

“Words cannot express how grateful we are for this donation,” said Barb Carlson, Donations Coordinator of Barium Springs. “Before coming to Barium Springs, many of our children have never been able to eat three meals a day.  Children arrive to our school hungry every morning.  This donation will make it easier for us to provide the basic necessities for the children in our care.”

The boxes that weren’t distributed were put in storage, but will be quickly distributed throughout Barium Springs’ network of homes in North Carolina.

“We are excited to provide help and hope to North Carolina children and families on behalf of this year’s Prelude to the Dream winner Kyle Busch,” said Kevin Hagan, Feed The Children President and CEO. “Our thanks go out to him and all the drivers who are helping us to make a difference in children’s lives all across America.”

Since 1972, Bruce Kilgour has followed the careers of his favorite drivers, attended several races, and made sure he rarely ever missed a televised NASCAR event.

Additionally, for the past eight years Bruce has gone above and beyond the average fan by donating his time, money, and efforts to The NASCAR Foundation. As a Fan Ambassador Leader, Bruce participated in the car wash fundraisers held at Auto Club Speedway and the NASCAR Day Car Wash for Kids in 2011. He has held more than 35 fund-raising viewing parties and mobilizes his volunteer team at each race in Las Vegas and Fontana to collect donations for the NASCAR Day pins and NASCAR Unites wristbands. With the help of volunteer recruits and his committed committee members, Bruce has raised more than $150,000 to benefit Speediatrics, Victory Junction Camp, and several other local hospitals.

This past May, Bruce’s committee lost a dedicated volunteer and friend, Daniel K. Webster.  To honor Dan’s commitment to helping children, Bruce and his team hosted a fundraiser in his honor, raising more than $450 for the Foundation. Please see kind words from Bruce's fellow ambassador committee members in memory of Daniel K. Webster.

"Dan was an individual who was always ready to give of his time when needed to help with children in need and he would do it without anything in return" - from friend Wayne Beresford

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"Dan was very passionate about the mission we were looking to accomplish with the Foundation! He was the last one to leave on Saturday at the CA Nationwide race day. He insisted on staying till the end.. I found out as we were packing up that Dan's friend on a Nationwide team had given him a Garage Pass... I said to him "You are here helping Bruce & I when you could have been in the garage all morning?" and Dan said "yes, I made a commitment to help, and I take this seriously"... I knew before this but this only confirmed what a genuinely awesome person he is! I love you, my friend." - from Sue Kilgour

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"Daniel K Webster was indeed one of the good ones.  This was clearly defined by how his recent passing impacted his family and friends. Dan was the epitome of what is good in this world.  During the course of his life Dan served his country as a Navy man, raised a family, worked at a company for over 30 years, and in the later years of his life volunteered to help raise money through NASCAR Unities for people he would never know.

Every time you would see Dan volunteering you would find him wearing his pearly white smile as he greeted friends and strangers alike.  Although to Dan, everyone was a friend.  He had a unique instinct to know exactly when volunteers were needed, and he was always willing to lend a hand.  Volunteering was very important to Dan, and we believe it became a clear passion for him after he took a solo trip to North Carolina, to see the race shops, the tracks, and one very special place…Victory Junction Gang Camp.  That trip changed an already good man to one who was driven to do all he could to help others.  We miss Dan deeply, and the world has suffered a great loss due to his passing." - best friend Mark Cooke

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When I did volunteer work - I was lucky enough to work on many occasions with Dan, and always looked forward to working with him - it was always such a pleasure and I loved when we were on the same project, he was so fun and cared so much about what we were doing - either for Victory Junction or the NASCAR Foundation, especially if it involved children!!  Bruce Kilgour

Dan was a very special, caring person and not only will those of us who knew him miss him, he will be missed by many that did not know him, but that he helped with his volunteering for NASCAR. - friend and Committee member Wendy Nelson

Thank you to Bruce and his committee for all of their support!

City of San Diego recognizes the work of the foundation with Jimmie Johnson Foundation Day

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (June 20, 2012) – The Sixth Annual Jimmie Johnson Foundation Golf Tournament and Dinner Auction presented by Lowe’s raised more than $650,000, setting a new event record. Proceeds from the tournament will be distributed to schools in need through the Jimmie Johnson Foundation/Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Champions Grants program.

“This is an incredible event,” said Johnson, who grew up in El Cajon, Calif.  “I love coming back to southern California and being able to connect with our sponsors, partners and friends, while raising money to fund incredible school projects.”

Johnson and his wife Chandra hosted 120 golfers at The Grand Del Mar in San Diego for Wednesday’s golf tournament, including NASCAR drivers Brian Vickers and Juan Pablo Montoya, NHRA driver Ron Capps and seven-time Supercross champion Jeremy McGrath.  

A dinner and live auction were held Tuesday evening featuring students from Mission Bay High School and Marston Middle School.  In 2010, Mission Bay High School received a Champions Grant of nearly $40,000 to revamp their outdated computer lab and print shop.  The same year, Marston Middle School received a Champions Grant of nearly $50,000 to upgrade their 53-year-old woodshop. 

In a fitting tribute to the work of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, the City of San Diego declared June 19, Jimmie Johnson Foundation Day. 

The tournament, which in six years has raised more than $3 million, focuses on the Champions Grants program, a partnership between the Jimmie Johnson Foundation and Lowe’s Toolbox for Education. The grants range from $25,000-id="mce_marker"00,000 and are distributed to K-12 educational programs in Chandra and Jimmie Johnson’s hometowns in Oklahoma and California, and where they currently reside in North Carolina.

For more information, visit www.jimmiejohnsonfoundation.org.