Jimmie Johnson Foundation, Lowe’s and Samsung Award Third Annual Team Up For Technology Grant
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 12, 2014 /3BL Media/ – Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson announced that P.S. 193 The Gil Hodges School in Brooklyn, N.Y. is the recipient of the third annual Team Up for Technology grant, a partnership between the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, Lowe’s and Samsung Hope for Children.
“Team Up For Technology is a great program because it addresses a critical issue in education – the need for adequate technology to prepare students for their futures,” said Johnson. “All of the schools’ submissions were fantastic. We are thrilled to partner with Samsung and Lowe’s to provide P.S. 193 Gil Hodges with this year’s $48,000 makeover.”
Johnson announced the award this morning through a video message to students and faculty played during a special assembly at the school.
Special education teacher Jennifer Plant nominated P.S. 193 Gil Hodges, sharing that “the state tests in 2014 are currently slated to be given on computers, unfortunately we do not have enough access to computers for students to feel comfortable with this drastic change. Our students would greatly benefit from a technology makeover/upgrade to help students become the best they can be.”
P.S. 193 Gil Hodges plans to use the $48,000 technology grant award, which includes Samsung technology, to purchase items such as projectors, laptops, tablets and document cameras.
“We are proud to be partnering with the Jimmie Johnson Foundation and Lowe’s to support K-12 education,” said David Steel, Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics North America. “Not only do our efforts address current technology needs in the classroom, they also help get kids interested in science, technology, engineering, and math – subjects that help develop critical skills they need for future success.”
Ten schools were selected as Team Up For Technology finalists and were given a prize kit that included a Samsung digital camera and Samsung laptop to create a two-minute video demonstrating their school’s technology needs. P.S. 193 Gil Hodges was chosen as the winner from an impressive group of finalists, including: Big Bear High School (Sugarloaf, Calif.), Bonita Springs Middle Center for the Arts (Bonita Springs, Fla.), Crest Middle School (Shelby, N.C.), Hansen Elementary School (Hansen, Idaho), KIPP Adelante Preparatory Academy (San Diego, Calif.), La Habra High School (La Habra, Calif.), Lake Wylie Elementary School (Charlotte, N.C.), North Pulaski High School (Jacksonville, Ark.) and Wood-Ridge Jr./Sr. High School (Wood-Ridge, N.J.). The ten finalist videos can be viewed by visiting http://www.jimmiejohnsonfoundation.org.
The Team Up For Technology program encourages parents, teachers, administrators and children’s advocates nationwide to nominate their school to receive a technology makeover. In its third year, more than 2,000 nominations were received through the Foundation’s website and Twitter account. In the past three years, more than $210,000 in cash and product has been awarded through this program.
Video and photos from the announcement event at P.S. 193 Gil Hodges will be available for download after 8 p.m. EST here: http://media.dmsprod.com/samsung.
ABOUT THE JIMMIE JOHNSON FOUNDATION
Chandra and Jimmie Johnson launched the Jimmie Johnson Foundation in February 2006. Jimmie Johnson, a six-time Sprint Cup champion, drives the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS in NASCAR’s premiere 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 $6.7 million to various charities. For additional information on the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, please visit www.jimmiejohnsonfoundation.org.
ABOUT SAMSUNG HOPE FOR CHILDREN
Samsung Hope for Children represents the company’s philanthropic commitment in the U.S. to help improve children’s health, education and sustainability. Since 2002, Samsung Electronics America and its retail and business partners have helped more than 500 schools, community-based foundations, and charities throughout the U.S. raise awareness of and funding for their causes. For more information please visit www.samsung.com/hope.
ABOUT SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS NORTH AMERICA
Samsung Electronics North America (NAHQ), based in Ridgefield Park, NJ, is an arm of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. The company markets a broad range of award-winning consumer electronics, information systems, and home appliance products, as well as oversees all of Samsung’s North American brand management including Samsung Electronics America, Inc., Samsung Telecommunications America, LP, Samsung Electronics Canada, Inc., and Samsung Electronics Mexico, Inc. As a result of its commitment to innovation and unique design, Samsung is one of the most decorated brands in the electronics industry. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com. You can also Fan Samsung on www.facebook.com/SamsungUSA or follow Samsung via Twitter @SamsungTweets.
ABOUT LOWE’S
With fiscal year 2012 sales of $50.5 billion, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 100 company that serves approximately 15 million customers a week at more than 1,825 home improvement and hardware stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.
CONTACTS:
Amanda Prothero, Jimmie Johnson Foundation
704.308.7439
Theresa Cha, Samsung Corporate Communications
201.229.4032
Tara Gudger Lowe’s
704-758-4152
Tami Flynn, P.S. 193 The Gil Hodges School
718.338.9011
