Thousands impacted by NASCAR Foundation's Classroom Donations

According to the National School Supply and Equipment Association (NSSEA), public school teachers spent $1.6 billion of their own money on classroom supplies and gear during the 2012-2013 school year, and 99.5% of all public school teachers spent some money on supplies.

In 2014, The NASCAR Foundation rallied the NASCAR industry to make an impact on classroom projects focused on innovation and technology. Schools in four track markets — Richmond, Chicago, Kansas City, and Phoenix — were selected for a visit from a NASCAR driver in conjunction with a donation.

By funding classroom projects through DonorsChoose.org, The NASCAR Foundation was able to help meet needs ranging from calculators and tablets to 3D printers. Over 79 innovation and technology projects were funded, impacting over 19,000 students.

“We brought NASCAR within reach to students in these markets by hosting assemblies in which drivers talked candidly to students on the importance of education,” The NASCAR Foundation Executive Director Lorene King said. “In every school, the students were very interested in listening to the NASCAR drivers, who focused on their educational efforts and their work as race car drivers.

“We hope that exposing students to some of the NASCAR efforts and providing resources to our schools across the country will inspire those students to continue their education.”

The NASCAR Foundation’s 2014 Classroom Donation program wrapped up this week in Phoenix, where NASCAR Next drivers gave Mountain Sky Junior High School students a sneak peek of a trivia game on NASCAR Acceleration Nation, a website for kids scheduled to launch in early 2015.

During Chase Across North America, Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup competitor Kyle Busch visited the G.B. Swift Specialty School. NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Jamie Dick visited Laburnum Elementary School in Richmond and the the Frances Willard Elementary School in Kansas City.

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