Jimmie Johnson Foundation awards grants to four Charlotte area schools

   Nearly $600,000 in grants - including four grants to schools in the Charlotte area - were awarded on Tuesday as part of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation's Champions Grant program. The foundation awards the grants to schools in Chandra and Jimmie Johnson’s respective hometowns of Muskogee, Okla., and El Cajon, Calif., and where they currently reside in Charlotte. This brings the contributions of the Champions Grant program to more than $2.6 million.   

   “Chandra and I are excited by the opportunity to impact thousands of children each year through the Champions Grant program,” said Jimmie Johnson, co-founder of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation. “It was amazing to see how the schools had such different needs, and they were all compelling. We are very proud to partner with our friends at Lowe’s to play a part in assisting K-12 public education through this program.” 

   Funded projects ranged from a digital fabrication lab to fitness labs to a complete performing arts stage restoration. Several schools also received technology grants to purchase new computers.

    The 2012 Champions Grants were awarded to the following schools:

    California
    -Construction Tech Academy (San Diego, Calif.)
    -Flying Hills Elementary School (El Cajon, Calif.)
    -Santana High School (Santee, Calif.)

    North Carolina
    -A.T. Allen Elementary School (Concord)
    -Billingsville Elementary School (Charlotte)
    -KIPP: Charlotte (Charlotte)
    -Piedmont I.B. Middle School (Charlotte)

    Oklahoma
    -Alice Robertson Junior High (Muskogee, Okla.)
    -Creek Elementary School (Muskogee, Okla.)
    -Irving Elementary School and Pershing Elementary School (Muskogee, Okla.)