JIMMIE JOHNSON TO HIGHLIGHT FOUNDATION AT WATKINS GLEN

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (Aug. 2, 2016) -- Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson will wear the Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope, which features five charities working to improve K-12 public education, this weekend during the Cheez-It 355 at The Glen NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International. In addition, his No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet will feature a special Jimmie Johnson Foundation 10th Anniversary paint scheme.

"I am proud to highlight the great work of these charities on my Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope this weekend," Johnson said. "Because of the generosity of our amazing partners, Chandra (wife) and I have been able to support some incredible schools and non-profits in the 10 years since we launched the Foundation. We'd like to thank Lowe's for allowing us to run the Foundation paint scheme for the eleventh time and Blue Bunny for sponsoring the Helmet of Hope program again this year. We are so grateful."

The Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope program allows fans and consumers across the country to nominate and vote on not-for-profit (501c3) organizations that support K-12 public education. Each of the recipients was also awarded a $25,000 grant and a Blue Bunny Ice Cream party.

The 5 recipient charities are:

ArtWell in Philadelphia
Carlos Gilbert Elementary Parents! Teachers! Kids! in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Change for Kids in New York
Inside the Outdoors Foundation in Costa Mesa, California
Mercy Child Advocacy Center in Sioux City, Iowa

"We are extremely proud to once again support the incredible work and commitment displayed by each of the organizations to assist K-12 public education," Wells said. "The passion around the mission of each of these organizations is evident through the rallying of their supporters to vote and ultimately secure additional needed funding. It never ceases to amaze me at how creative and driven all of the organizations are to securing the votes needed."

In addition to the Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope program, the Foundation operates the Champions Grant program in partnership with Lowe's, which provides cash grants to schools in the Johnson's hometowns and where they currently live; Team Up For Technology, a $48,000 technology makeover open to schools nationwide; and the Jimmie Johnson Foundation Wellness Challenge, a series of three athletic events in Charlotte, N.C. as well as a virtual triathlon. To date, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation has contributed more than $8.8 million to schools and non-profits across the country.