NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Johnson Donates $1 Million to 9 Schools

Jimmie Johnson, who has won the last four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series titles, awarded nearly $1 million in education grants to school districts in California, North Carolina and Oklahoma.

Johnson received more than 80 applications from schools in districts he and his wife, Chandra, attended, as well as the greater Charlotte area, where they live. The grants from the Jimmie Johnson Foundation totaled $922,000.

The grants, part of $922,000 worth of awards announced Monday, were given through the Lowe's Toolbox for Education program.

Winning Charlotte-Mecklenburg grants were:

Ashley Park Elementary - $62,061, to create a K-2 and a 3-5 science lab, focusing on hands-on experiments.

J.H. Gunn Elementary - $7,380, to buy two Smart Boards and laptops.

Metro School - $8,860.25, to buy a Smart Table, giving nonverbal students a chance to communicate with one another.

Smithfield Elementary - $65,000, to build a new, safer playground.

University Meadows Elementary: $14,248, to buy an Accelerated Reader program.

Also winning grants were:

East Iredell Elementary, Statesville - $54,000, to build a new playground.

R.B. McAlister Elementary, Concord - $3,725 to buy a Smart Board.

Third Creek Elementary, Statesville - $3,714, to buy a Smart Board.