THE HOME DEPOT AND NASCAR
ANNOUNCE CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Award Recognizes Outstanding Community Service by Individual Within NASCAR Community
Download Application
 Atlanta, May 12, 2008 - The Home Depot®, the world's largest home improvement retailer and the official home improvement warehouse of NASCAR®, and The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) today announced the call for nominations for the second annual NASCAR Home Depot Humanitarian Award. The Humanitarian Award celebrates an individual within the NASCAR community who has shown extraordinary dedication to serving others and improving communities through meaningful service efforts.
Any active employee within the NASCAR industry - drivers, owners, team and track employees, licensees, media partners, and motorsports media - is eligible to receive the Humanitarian Award. Nominees will be assessed based on their community commitment and dedication; impact on the community; and charitable giving of their time and talents.
"Community service and giving back are fundamental values of The Home Depot - and like racing - are a passion for our associates," said John Ross, vice president of advertising for The Home Depot. "The NASCAR community shares our dedication to charitable giving and community service. The Humanitarian award allows us to recognize and thank a member of the NASCAR community for their efforts to help improve the lives of others."
To nominate an individual for the NASCAR Home Depot Humanitarian Award download an application and submit by Sept. 6, 2008. Nominations must include a brief description that details the individual's volunteer activities. The Humanitarian Award recipient will be selected by a special selection committee comprised of representatives from NASCAR, The Home Depot and motorsports media. The Humanitarian Award will be presented in conjunction with NASCAR's Champions Week Celebration.
"The entire NASCAR community - from our drivers to our fans - is dedicated to helping improve the lives of those less fortunate," said Marcus Jadotte, managing director of public affairs for NASCAR. "We're proud to continue our partnership with The Home Depot to recognize an individual in our sport for their community involvement."
The selection committee will identify three finalists to be honored for their community service efforts. The NASCAR Home Depot Humanitarian Award recipient will be announced at the NASCAR NMPA® Myers Brothers Awards luncheon in New York City in December. The Award winner will receive a $100,000 donation made by The Home Depot to the recipient's charity of choice and a specially-designed crystal award. The two finalists will each receive a $25,000 donation to their designated non-profit charity.
The NASCAR Home Depot Humanitarian Award was established in 2007. The inaugural Humanitarian Award winner was Don Miller, a former Penske Racing executive. Miller started the Stock-for-Tots program as a holiday event to collect toys and raise funds for Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN), an organization whose mission is to continue to help and provide education, counseling and intervention programs for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Since 1989, the event has raised more than $400,000 and distributed nearly 40,000 toys to children in North Carolina and is the largest annual fundraiser for SCAN.
THE HOME DEPOT AND NASCAR 2007 FINALISTS
FOR INAUGURAL HUMANITARIAN AWARD
The three 2007 finalists were: Kyle Petty, driver for Petty Enterprises and co-founder of Victory Junction Gang Camp; Don Miller, project creator and director of Stocks-for-Tots Charity Event; and Spencer Lueders, project creator, director and team member of 24 Hours of Booty.
ABOUT THE 2007 FINALISTS
Kyle Petty, driver for Petty Enterprises, founded the Victory Junction Gang Camp, along with his wife Pattie, in honor of their late son Adam. Victory Junction is a year-round camp located in Randleman, N.C., whose mission is to enrich the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering while in a safe and medically sound environment. The camp offers disease-specific sessions during the summer to create supportive peer groups for children encountering the same health issues. Currently, Petty serves as vice chairman on its Board of Directors.
Don Miller, Penske Racing executive officer, initiated the development of Stock-for-Tots as a holiday event and fundraiser for Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN), an organization whose mission is to continue to help and provide education, counseling and intervention programs for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Miller continues to be intimately involved in the event which brings together stock car racing and its fans to collect toys and raise funds for SCAN. Since 1989, the event has raised more than $400,000 and distributed nearly 40,000 toys to children in North Carolina and is now the largest fundraiser for SCAN.
Spencer Lueders, NASCAR Competition and Patent Counsel, started 24 Hours of Booty in 2002 by riding the famed "Booty Loop" in Charlotte by himself to raise local awareness for cancer. Today, it has evolved into a 24-hour road cycling charity event which aims to increase public awareness and support for cancer research and programs, while raising funds to support the Lance Armstrong Foundation and local cancer organizations. It is the only 24-hour event of its kind in the country. To date, the annual event has raised more than $1.3 million.
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