Jeff Gordon Receives AARP Foundation Accolades With Heisman Humanitarian Award

By Mary Jo Buchanan - SpeedwayMedia.com

Jeff Gordon, four-time NASCAR champion driver of the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet, not only picked up the Heisman Humanitarian Honor this evening but also the praise of one of his primary sponsors, the AARP Foundation.

"The Heisman Trophy Trust's recognition of Jeff confirms something we've known for awhile, that he is as great a person off the track as he is behind the wheel of a race car," Jo Ann Jenkins, President of the AARP Foundation, said. "Jeff's commitment to philanthropy and helping others in need was a critical factor in the decision by AARP and the AARP Foundation that NASCAR could be a good platform for our work to help end the problem of older adult hunger."

"Since launching Drive to End Hunger, Jeff has been a committed champion to helping people who struggle to put food on the table," Jenkins continued. "Whether he's winning races or packaging meals to help hungry older adults, we couldn't have a better champion than Jeff Gordon."

"While this award celebrates the contributions that Jeff has made over the years, we are particularly excited about what is still to come," Jenkins said. "There are nearly nine million older Americas who face the risk of hunger."

"The fight against older adult hunger is the contest of a lifetime and Jeff, like the AARP Foundation, hates to lose."

Gordon became the seventh recipient of the prestigious Heisman Humanitarian Award, recognizing people in sports who demonstrate notable commitment to helping others.

"This year, the Heisman Memorial Trust is delighted to add one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history as the seventh name on the list," Jim Corcoran, Heisman Trophy Trustee said. "The Trust decision to honor Jeff was very easy."

"Like the Heisman Trophy itself, Jeff Gordon has created a legacy of excellence both on the field of competition and for the greater good of society."

Corcoran said that Gordon was honored specifically for his work with helping children with serious illnesses, through the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation and through his launch of a comprehensive cancer care center in Rwanda.

"This Humanitarian award is something I'm very proud of," Jeff Gordon said. "This is truly an honor."

"But the award is given to all walks of life and sport," Gordon continued. "To be a part of this list is something that I never expected and something that I'm very honored by."

Gordon joins other Heisman Humanitarian winners, including two Olympians, three NFL players, and an All-Star center from the NHL. Joey Check, an Olympian and philanthropist, was the inaugural winner in 2006, recognized for donation of his gold medal bonus to the Right to Play Organization to help children in need.

Other winners include George Martin, NY Giants defensive end, who helped those impacted by the 9/11 tragedy; Pat LaFontaine, an NHL great who founded an organization building interactive children's playrooms; Mia Hamm, world-famous soccer player for her work with the Foundation that bears her name dedicated to helping those with aplastic anemia; William Dunn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers star who founded Homes for the Holidays; and Marty Lyons, another NFL great, who became a surrogate father to a critically ill child.

"This is a big day for me," Gordon said. "You always want your...."

To continue reading the full article, click here -> http://www.speedwaymedia.com/?p=52639.

__________________________________________________________________

Show your support for Jeff Gordon by joining the official fan club, the Jeff Gordon Network, where you'll get a JGN t-shirt, collectable pin, Drive to End Hunger wristband and other items along with exclusive access to promotions, events and the message boards. Sign up here -> https://signup.jeffgordon.com/!
__________________________________________________________________

To get your #24 Gear, visit www.jeffgordonstore.com.

'Like' Jeff on Facebook - www.facebook.com/jeffgordon.

Follow Jeff on Twitter - www.twitter.com/jeffgordonweb.

To support the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation, visit www.jeffgordonchildrensfoundation.org.

To learn more about how to host your own game and help children kick cancer, please visit http://www.kick-it.org/jeffgordon.

To get the sunglasses like Jeff wears, visit www.dvxeyewear.com.