1 week Ago By Matthew Robertson Online/News Editor [email protected]
FLORENCE , S.C. – Florence’s Carlos Washington, a driving force for Florence youth and community service, was one of four finalists for the NASCAR Foundation’s 2024 Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award honoring individuals who make a transformative impact in their communities.
He didn’t win the big dollars but still came home a winner for the Boys and Girls Club of the Pee Dee Area. Though Washington didn’t get the $100,000 prize, he will bring home $25,000. That will allow the club’s program for homeless youth to continue at least through 2025.
The overall winner of the award was Judy Simmons, who operates God’s Pit Crew, which is a non-profit dedicated to providing disaster relief services to children and families. Simmons earned the most online votes from a pool of nominees, including Tammy Raulerson with the Periwinkle Foundation in College Station, Texas; Washington; and Julie Woolridge with Hope of Mooresville in Mooresville, North Carolina. Each of these charities will receive a $25,000 donation from The NASCAR Foundation.
“It kinda was a little touching to start off with. I said ‘Woah, if we’re able to bring this home, this is a big deal,’” Washington said. “I was surprised this was the first time NASCAR offered anything like that for South Carolina and Florence is on the map because of it.
” “I realized that when I was at the NASCAR awards, before the awards started, that the process ended up being six months. Neal (Zimmerman with the Boys and Girls Club) called me in June and Nov. 23, that was six months – a lovely experience,” Washington said.
“Honored to have been nominated. I don’t know the number of people who submitted applications to be a part of this, but I know I was one of them. Washington said the whole experience was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that ended in Charlotte, N.
C., with NASCAR royalty. “From my school-boy hero – Richard Petty – to 2024 champion Joey Logano and a whole lot of others,” Washington said.
“After the award ceremony, they told us they would have DJ Diesel as the MC for the party. Nobody realized JD Diesel was Shaquile O’Neal and he put on a show,” Washington said. Washington said the whole thing was something he’ll remember for the rest of his life.
“Yes, yes, yes – all of it,” he said. Online/News Editor Matt Robertson is a veteran journalist who has fulfilled just about every role that a newspaper has and now serves as the Editor of the Morning News’ newsroom by maintaining SCNow.com and the Morning News print edition.
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