Catchfence

RICHMOND, Va. (April 27, 2012) – Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Sonoma County and Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina are the next two charities selected for the 2012 Jimmie Johnson Foundation Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope, which Johnson will wear in the June 24 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

Each organization will receive a grant of $10,000 and a special Blue Bunny ice cream party.

Fan Sarah Laggos nominated the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Sonoma County.  She is a volunteer for the organization.

“Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Sonoma County work with youth to succeed academically, choose healthy lifestyles, and become people of good character,” Laggos wrote in her nomination. “It is a joy to see the active and hands-on change the BGCCSC makes in our future.”

Charlotte Observer reporter Jim Utter nominated Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina.  Second Harvest strives through education, advocacy, and partnership to eliminate hunger by the solicitation and distribution of food.

Utter wrote in his nomination that “No one should have to go through the day trying to work, go to school or play on an empty stomach.”  A repeat winner, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina also was nominated by Utter for the 2010 Helmet of Hope.

The Helmet of Hope program, which began in 2008, allows fans, consumers and media members across the country to nominate their favorite charity to receive a $10,000 grant, special recognition on Johnson’s race helmet and a Blue Bunny ice cream party. To date, the program has contributed more than $300,000 to 49 different charities across the United States.

This year’s Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope campaign runs for six consecutive Sprint Cup race weekends, and it began April 1 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Johnson will draw one winner from a list of media submissions and one from a list of fan submissions each race weekend through the Mother’s Day weekend Sprint Cup event at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma County, headquartered in Santa Rosa, Calif., and Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, based in Charlotte, N.C., join the United Way of Siouxland, Nature Conservancy, Chill Foundation, Fisher House, Scott Lake Elementary-PTO, Alzheimer’s Association in honor of Dan Wheldon, and First Descents as charities that will be featured on the Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope.

Fans and media members may nominate their charity by visiting www.helmetofhope.org. For more information about the most recently selected charities visit www.bgccsc.org or on Twitter,www.twitter.com/SonomaCntyKids or www.secondharvestmetrolina.org.

About the Helmet of Hope

In its fifth year, the Helmet of Hope program gives fans and media members across the country the opportunity to nominate their favorite charity to be featured on five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson’s helmet for the June 24 Sprint Cup race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. This year’s title sponsor for Helmet of Hope is Blue Bunny Ice Cream. In addition to being featured on the helmet, each charity selected also receives a grant of $10,000 and a Blue Bunny ice cream party. To date, the program has contributed more than $300,000 to 49 different charities.

About the Jimmie Johnson Foundation

Chandra and Jimmie Johnson launched the Jimmie Johnson Foundation in February 2006. Johnson, the five-time Sprint Cup champion, drives the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet in NASCAR’s top series. The mission of the foundation is to assist children, families, and communities in need throughout the United States. The foundation has committed more than $5 million to various charities. For additional information on the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, please visit www.JimmieJohnsonFoundation.org.

About Blue Bunny

Blue Bunny, founded in 1913, is a brand of Wells Enterprises, Inc. — the largest family-owned ice cream manufacturer in the United States. Today, more than 500 Blue Bunny-branded ice cream and frozen novelty products can be found across the U.S. Always committed to quality, Blue Bunny products are made with only real ice cream. Wells is headquartered in Le Mars, Iowa, the Ice Cream Capital of the World. Become a Blue Bunny fan on Facebook (facebook.com/BlueBunnyIceCream) for ice cream news and updates.

Source: True Speed Communication for the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, Press Release