Jimmie Johnson Foundation honors former champion Benny Parsons

In late 2009 Families of SMA was chosen to be one of the 12 charities featured on famous NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson’s racing helmet during the Pepsi 500 Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway on October 11, 2009. More than 1,400 charities were submitted to the Foundation, and FSMA was honored to be one of the few chosen. The program is known as the Helmet of Hope Initiative. Being part of the Helmet of Hope Initiative meant that Families of SMA became eligible to receive a grant of $1,048. Also, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation raised money by selling Helmet of Hope t-shirts – and they sold over 700! 100% of the money raised from selling the t-shirts was split evenly between the 12 charities.

After the Helmet of Hope Initiative, on behalf of Chandra and Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus, and the No. 48 Pit Crew, over $12,000 was contributed to FSMA in memory of former NASCAR Champion Benny Parsons.  Multiple members of the Hendrick Motorsports team have been touched in some way by SMA.  The group selected Families of SMA as a fitting way to honor Benny Parsons.

This $12,000 memorial, along with the Helmet of Hope initiative, allowed the Jimmie Johnson Foundation to donate a total of $14,173.19 to Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy!