Captain's Corner: Joey Logano Foundation on record pace this season

The Joey Logano Foundation’s annual charity event in Connecticut, Driving Hope Home, had its most successful event yet which means charities in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver’s home state will receive even more assistance this year.

According to Lisa Bozzuto, the foundation’s director, this year’s Driving Hope Home event – which featured a golf tournament, VIP Dinner, car show, live and silent auctions and a raffle – grossed over $245,000.

The proceeds from Driving Hope Home benefit three main charities – The Connection’s foster care program, The Ronald McDonald House of Connecticut (which opened an expanded home in New Haven, Conn.) and the Joey Logano Foundation.

The Driving Hope Home events, hosted this year at the Southington Country Club and Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, Conn., were held leading up to the July 16 race weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

While much of the annual fundraiser’s proceeds go toward giving back to Logano’s home state, the foundation’s work is spread wide, reaching 105 organizations across nearly 30 states since 2013.

“A big part of our Foundation is to spread awareness and to inspire others to give back to their communities,” Bozzuto said.

Bozzuto has led the foundation for six months but has actually been working with Logano with charity events since before the foundation’s original inception in 2013.

Logano’s inspiration for his Foundation came from his visit to the tornado-ravaged Joplin, Mo., area in 2011. That, and his own experience with earning a second chance in his NASCAR racing career with Team Penske, fostered his charity outlook.

“Second chances are hard to come by in life, so when I got mine in racing, I wanted to make sure I could bring as many second chances to others,” he said.

Outside of the main fundraiser, the Foundation has many other ways to promote its work throughout the year, including:

• One hundred percent of the proceeds from the Team Logano fan club go toward the Foundation and members help assemble care comfort care backpacks for foster and terminally ill children.

• The JL Kids Crew helps children going through physically or emotionally difficult times enjoy a VIP race day experience at the track with Logano.

• The Foundation’s grant-funding program focuses on three primary needs – health, the military and community development.

• “Chasing Second Chances” is a program that features 10 donations in 10 different race markets in the NASCAR Cup series playoffs.

“Joey believes in using his racing career and his experiences in offering others a second chance in life while inspiring others to do the same,” Bozzuto said. “The Foundation is based on his personal experiences and I do believe that’s what gives he and (his wife) Brittany the passion they have for their Foundation.

“He needed a second chance, he was offered that second chance and he’s very thankful for it.”

For more information on the Joey Logano Foundation, go HERE.