The NASCAR Foundation held its first Honors Gala Tuesday night in New York and raised $1.6 million while Andy Hoffman was awarded the sixth annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award.
Proceeds from the event will benefit children hospitalized around the country through the Speediatrics Children’s Fund. The NASCAR Foundation has donated more than $25 million and reached one million children since 2006.
The France family hosted the gala in tribute of Betty Jane France, who passed away on Aug. 29. Betty Jane France is the namesake of the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented by Nationwide. It is awarded to the NASCAR fan who makes an impact on children in their community. An online fan vote determines the winner.
Hoffman, the Founder of the Team Jack Foundation, started his cause after his son was diagnosed with pediatric brain cancer. He will receive a $100,000 donation from The NASCAR Foundation. Through his work, Hoffman has raised $3 million since 2011 to bring awareness to the disease.
“Tuesday night’s Honors Gala was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the work that all four finalists have been doing in their communities – work that will have a lasting impact on the thousands of people their foundations have helped,” said Brad Barnett, associate vice president of Media & Sports Marketing for Nationwide, the presenting sponsor of the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award, in a NASCAR release. “Nationwide congratulates Andy Hoffman on winning the award. Thank you to all of our finalists for making a difference and being an inspiration to us all.”
Each of the other three finalists will receive a $25,000 donation from The NASCAR Foundation. The finalists were Jim Giaccone of Bayville, New York, representing Tuesday’s Children, Logan Houptley of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a founding member of Mikayla’s Voice, and Parker White of Greensboro, North Carolina, founder of BackPack Beginnings.