Johnson's foundation boosts schools
Monday, Nov. 30, 2009
A foundation run by NASCAR's four-time driving champion Jimmie Johnson is giving more than $157,000 in grants to six Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools and another $61,000-plus to other schools in the region.
The grants, part of $922,000 worth of awards announced Monday, were given through the Lowe's Toolbox for Education program. Also receiving grants from the Jimmie Johnson Foundation were several schools in the San Diego area, where Johnson grew up; and in Oklahoma, home of his wife, Chandra.
“The funding requests were so diverse,” Chandra Johnson said. “It was amazing to review the proposals and read first-hand about the pressing needs of our schools.”
The foundation said it received more than 80 applications from schools in North Carolina, California and Oklahoma. Foundation officials said the selection criteria was based on basic needs of the school.
Winning Charlotte-Mecklenburg grants were:
Ashley Park Elementary -- $62,061, to create a K-2 and a 3-5 science lab, focusing on hands-on experiments and exploration.
J.H. Gunn Elementary -- $7,380, to buy two Smart boards and laptops – equipment that enables teachers to instruct with a computer and projector.
Metro School -- $8,860.25, to buy a Smart Table, giving non-verbal students a chance to communicate with one another.
Smithfield Elementary -- $65,000, to build a new, safer playground.
University Meadows Elementary -- $14,248, to buy an Accelerated Reader program.
Also winning grants were:
East Iredell Elementary, Statesville -- $54,000, to build a new playground.
R.B. McAlister Elementary, Concord -- $3,725 to buy a Smart board.
Third Creek Elementary, Statesville -- $3,714, to buy a Smart board.
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