The Home Depot and NASCAR Select Don Miller as Recipient of Inaugural Humanitarian Award

Award Recognizes Outstanding Community Service by Individual Within NASCAR Community; Miller Has Donated More than 40,000 Toys via Stocks-for-Tots Annual Event 


ATLANTA, Nov. 30  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Home Depot(R), the world's largest home improvement retailer, and The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR(R)) today announced that Don Miller of Mooresville, N.C., was selected as the recipient of the inaugural NASCAR Home Depot Humanitarian Award for his work with the Stocks-for-Tots program. The award is the first of its kind open to any member of the NASCAR community who has shown extraordinary dedication to serving others and improving communities through meaningful service efforts. Miller is an executive for Penske Racing.

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As the NASCAR Home Depot Humanitarian of the Year, Miller received a specially designed crystal award and a $100,000 donation made by The Home Depot to his charity of choice, Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN), an organization whose mission is to continue to help and provide education, counseling and intervention programs for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Miller will also receive a playground in the city of his choice built by volunteers from NASCAR, The Home Depot and KaBOOM!(R), the Company's national nonprofit partner which envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

Miller developed Stocks-for-Tots as a holiday event and fundraiser for SCAN. Miller continues to be intimately involved in the event which brings together stock car racing and its fans to collect toys and raise funds for SCAN. Since 1989, the event has raised more than $400,000 and distributed nearly 40,000 toys to children in North Carolina and is now the largest fundraiser for SCAN.

"The Home Depot is proud to recognize Don Miller as the inaugural recipient of the NASCAR Home Depot Humanitarian Award," said John Ross, vice president of marketing, The Home Depot. "Don is an icon in NASCAR for his relentless drive and passion for the Stocks-for-Tots program. All three of the finalists exemplify the values of volunteerism and charitable giving of time and talent that are fundamental to both The Home Depot and NASCAR."

The other finalists for the award were Spencer Lueders, project creator, director and team member of 24 Hours of Booty; and Kyle Petty, driver for Petty Enterprises and co-founder of Victory Junction Gang Camp. They received a $25,000 donation each to their designated non-profit charities.

"NASCAR is proud to join with our valued partner, The Home Depot, to recognize an individual like Don Miller in our sport who has given back to the community in a special and meaningful way," said Jim O'Connell, vice president of corporate marketing at NASCAR. "The NASCAR Home Depot Humanitarian Award is an innovative way to recognize the efforts of those in the NASCAR industry who show extra dedication and service to their communities and those less fortunate."

All active employees within the NASCAR industry -- drivers, owners, team and track employees, licensees, media partners, sponsors, and motorsports media -- were eligible to receive the NASCAR Home Depot Humanitarian Award. Nominees were assessed based on their community commitment and dedication; impact on the community; and charitable giving of their time and talents. A blue-ribbon committee comprised of representatives from NASCAR, The Home Depot and motorsports media selected the three finalists.

ABOUT THE HOME DEPOT

The Home Depot is the Official Home Improvement Warehouse of NASCAR and sponsor of the #20 Home Depot Racing team with sponsorship contracts through 2009. The Home Depot first entered NASCAR in 1999 with a multi-year deal with Joe Gibbs Racing and then-rookie driver Tony Stewart. Driver Tony Stewart was honored as Rookie of the Year in 1999 and as the 2002 NASCAR Cup Series champion. Stewart has captured 19 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series point victories since 1999. HDG 

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DATASOURCE: The Home Depot



CONTACT:  Megan McGovern of Manning Selvage & Lee for The Home Depot,

[phone], [phone] (mobile), ; Andrew

Giangola of NASCAR, [phone], [phone] (Sprint Mobile),





Web site:  http://www.homedepot.com/

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