The NASCAR Foundation Announces Finalists for Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award Presented by Nationwide

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Photo – David Becker/Getty Images

The four 2017 finalists were announced Thursday for The NASCAR Foundation’s seventh annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award Presented by Nationwide, with three of those finalists coming from markets that host Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races.

The Las Vegas, Talladega and Phoenix race markets are all represented, with the Las Vegas element adding to the excitement surrounding this year’s award. The winner will be announced on Nov. 30 during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards at Wynn Las Vegas.

The award spotlights NASCAR fans who are also accomplished volunteers working for children’s causes in their communities. It honors the memory of the foundation’s late founder, Betty Jane France. The award winner will be determined via an online vote that runs through Nov. 29 at 5 p.m. (ET) at NASCAR.com/Award. The NASCAR Foundation will donate $100,000 to the charity represented by the award winner and $25,000 to each of the other three finalists’ charities.

This year’s finalists:

  • Shannon Goldwater of Scottsdale, Arizona, the founder of Feeding Matters, which furthers advances in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric feeding disorders;
  • Julian Maha of Vestavia Hills, Alabama – 50 miles from Talladega Superspeedway – is the founder of KultureCity, an organization seeking to improve the lives of children with autism, while also educating society about inclusion of children with autism;
  • Tammy Richardson of Las Vegas, representing the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation that provides programs and services to children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases;
  • Chante Gonzalez Vido of Jamul, California, a two-time cancer survivor and head counselor at a camp for young cancer patients that is operated by The Seany Foundation, which assists children and their families battling cancer.

Read more about the finalist here

“Betty Jane France would be especially proud of this year’s finalists,” said The NASCAR Foundation Chairman Mike Helton. “All four have considerable accomplishments. Any of these four would be a deserving winner of the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award.

“We urge NASCAR fans everywhere to vote for these NASCAR fans. Our finalists represent not only their respective charities but also the very best attributes our sport has to offer.”