December 21, 2006

By Rebecca Gladden

Rebecca Gladden

As we go to press, Christmas is a mere four days away, and all you procrastinators (you know who you are!) may be starting to feel the pressure.

If you have a NASCAR fan on your Christmas list, you've probably been perusing the latest in die-cast cars, collectibles, or driver-themed apparel -- or if you have a tendency toward the offbeat, you may even be considering a crock pot, tailgate hitch cover, bean bag chair, barbeque grill, or a myriad of other unique items emblazoned with the logo of your gift recipient's favorite driver.

There is nothing wrong with any of those gifts, of course, and for most NASCAR fans, there's really no such thing as "too much" when it comes to collectibles, apparel or even kitsch.

But if you're interested in saving yourself the traffic hassles, long lines, and midnight gift-wrapping sessions this holiday season, you may wish to consider making a donation to one of many drivers' charitable foundations in the name of the NASCAR fan on your Christmas list.

Many drivers and team owners have their own charitable foundations which raise money for their favorite causes. A Christmas card telling the recipient about the donation made in his or her name would be appreciated by most NASCAR fans and would help those in need throughout the new year.

If you prefer a more tangible gift, many of these foundations also sell merchandise like t-shirts, calendars and books, and even auction valuable items on eBay, with the proceeds going to the charity.

Here is a sampling of just a few NASCAR drivers' charities, a list of the causes they support, and a link for making an online donation. It's quick, easy, and a genuinely nice thing to do.

The Tony Stewart Foundation: http://www.tonystewartfoundation.com Organizations supported include the Victory Junction Gang Camp, Ronald McDonald House, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Indiana Special Olympics.

The Jeff Gordon Foundation: http://www.jeffgordonfoundation.org/ Organizations supported include the Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Marrow Foundation, the Hendrick Marrow Program, and Riley Hospital for Children.

The Greg Biffle Foundation: http://www.gregbifflefoundation.com Organizations supported include local Humane Societies, no-kill animal shelters, spay and neuter clinics, and the Animal Adoption League

The Jimmie Johnson Foundation: http://www.jimmiejohnsonfoundation.org Organizations supported include the Victory Junction Gang Camp, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the American Red Cross, and the Hendrick Marrow Program.

The Ryan Newman Foundation: http://www.ryannewmanfoundation.org The foundation supports various charities which benefit companion animals and wildlife, and also provides scholarships for students pursuing a college or university degree while participating in auto racing.

The Dale Earnhardt Foundation: http://www.daleearnhardtinc.com/content/legacy/foundation.aspx Organizations supported include the Boys and Girls Clubs, Feed the Children, and environmental and wildlife preservation causes.

The Kasey Kahne Foundation: http://www.kaseykahnefoundation.com/. Organizations supported include Ronald McDonald House and community projects in Kahne's home state of Washington and resident state of North Carolina.

The Dale Jarrett Foundation: http://www.dalejarrettfoundation.org

Organizations supported include Brenner's Children's Hospital, the American Cancer Society, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Victory Junction Gang Camp, and Project Potential.

Please keep in mind that this is just a sampling of drivers' charities and is by no means a comprehensive list. Also, many NASCAR drivers participate in fundraising without establishing their own foundations, while others have foundations that are not equipped to take online donations at this time.

If in doubt, check the home page or fan club page of your favorite driver and to learn more about their charitable efforts.

If you are still undecided, check out The NASCAR Foundation at http://www.foundation.nascar.com. The foundation supports a wide array of charities including many of the aforementioned, along with Racing for Literacy, Speedway Children's Charities, the Women's Auxiliary of Motor Sports, and a whole list of equally worthy causes.

Finally, if you don't have any NASCAR fans on your last-minute shipping list, please consider making a donation yourself during this season of giving.

You'll be glad you did.

The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.