THE WORK WE DO

The Dale Jr. Foundation is committed to empowering underprivileged youth by providing them with the resources to boost confidence, enhance education, and provide opportunities to achieve extraordinary goals. We focus our efforts in five key areas: Empowerment, Education, Wellness, Hunger, and Hope – to provide children with safe homes, educational resources, holistic care, healthy food, and positive connections, helping them overcome adversity and thrive.

- Dale Jr.

This is an exciting time for The Dale Jr. Foundation. None of this would be possible without the support from the fans and followers. To have the opportunity to give back in this way is truly special.

5 areas of giving

The Dale Jr. Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the lives of children. By addressing critical areas such as empowerment, education, wellness, hunger, and hope, the foundation aims to provide comprehensive assistance and foster positive outcomes for young people in need.

Our Evolution

Empowerment

The Dale Jr. Foundation supports many organizations that provide safe homes for children who come from traumatic pasts to help them with their hurt and give them a new start. These children have been abused or neglected by no fault of their own and need the resources to overcome their adversities and regain their sense of self-confidence.

Education

Research has shown that children who grow up with strong, positive values are happier and do better in school. This is why we feel that providing grants for technology, reading incentives and help for teachers with out-of-pocket expenses is vital to the success of our community.

Wellness

Children need to be healthy to reach their full potential which is why we support organizations that provide child-friendly services. These organizations go beyond providing medical services and extending to all forms of holistic care.

Hunger

Food is an essential building block to a child’s physical, social, and educational development. Unfortunately, over 20+ million children face food insecurities each week. We partner with many different organizations that provide healthy food to children who might otherwise go hungry. 

Hope

We feel that creating a connection with a child, no matter how small it may be, is the greatest way to provide them with a sense of normalcy. This connection can be the positive experience that they need to overcome their obstacles. 

• EDUCATION • EMPOWERMENT • HOPE • HUNGER • WELLNESS • EDUCATION • EMPOWERMENT • HOPE • HUNGER • WELLNESS • EDUCATION • EMPOWERMENT • HOPE • HUNGER • WELLNESS • EDUCATION • EMPOWERMENT • HOPE • HUNGER • WELLNESS • EDUCATION • EMPOWERMENT • HOPE • HUNGER • WELLNESS • EDUCATION • EMPOWERMENT • HOPE • HUNGER • WELLNESS • EDUCATION • EMPOWERMENT • HOPE • HUNGER • WELLNESS • EDUCATION • EMPOWERMENT • HOPE • HUNGER • WELLNESS

2007
Dale Jr. Launches Foundation
In October 2007, Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced the launch of The Dale Jr. Foundation at an annual charity event. The organization is dedicated to giving underprivileged individuals the resources to improve confidence, education, and the opportunity to achieve extraordinary goals.
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2015
The Launch of the Driven to Give Glove Program
In February 2015, TDJF announced a new initiative around Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s racing gloves. The Driven to Give Gloves program was created to auction off Earnhardt Jr.’s race-worn gloves each month during the 10-month NASCAR season. The program has grown into an industry initiative. In 2024, the program saw 65 NASCAR drivers wear skeleton gloves, that were then signed by the driver, Dale, and auctioned off.
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2016
Make-A-Wish Names Award After Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller started The Dale Jr. Foundation (TDJF) with the primary mission of making the lives of children better, and to honor this conviction, the Central and Western North Carolina chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation has named an award after the champion racing driver.
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2017
Earnhardt Family Playground Dedicated at Rescue Ranch
The Earnhardt Family Playground is now an integral part of the landscape at Rescue Ranch, offering inclusive fun for all children at the venue. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller attended the dedication for the playground, which came about through a generous donation from The Dale Jr. Foundation and a like amount from an anonymous donor connected to the family.
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2017
Earnhardt Jr., Nationwide Announce Dale and Amy Earnhardt Fund
Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced the creation of the Dale and Amy Earnhardt Fund at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The fund, which was seeded with an $88,888 donation from The Dale Jr. Foundation, will champion the cause of pediatric injury rehabilitation, research and prevention at America’s largest pediatric hospital and research center. The fund launched on Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving.
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2020
The Dale Jr. Foundation Raises More than $1 Million in 2019
The Dale Jr. Foundation raised more than $1 million in 2019, spreading hope, cheer, and empowerment to a variety of organizations committed to the future of our society. Proceeds from TDJF’s efforts in 2019 were given to 74 charitable organizations, in the form of grant funding, and an additional 113 organizations benefitted from in-kind support.
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2021
Unilever, The Dale Jr. Foundation Donate to Help FeedNC Create Special Garden in Honor of Brenda Jackson
In May 2021, the Earnhardt family and The Dale Jr. Foundation combined with longtime partner Unilever to help establish Mimi’s Garden in honor of Brenda Jackson, mother of both Kelley Earnhardt Miller and Dale Earnhardt Jr., who passed away in 2019 following a battle with cancer. As part of the effort, a $300,000 donation to FeedNC, a food-focused resource that seeks to end the cycle of hunger and poverty with extensive programs and opportunities for those in need, was made earlier today by Earnhardt Jr. and wife Amy.
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2023
The Dale Jr. Foundation Raises $1.3 Million
Nearly 70 groups, organizations and charities benefitted from the $1.3 million The Dale Jr. Foundation raised in 2023, the charitable organization announced, with an additional 59 organizations receiving in-kind support. The donations will help fund the good works that these organizations do both regionally and nationally, spreading hope and empowering children toward a brighter future.
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2024
The Dale Jr. Foundation Announces $1 Million Grant Program
In May 2024, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced that he would donate $1 million to charities across the United States to celebrate reaching the one million follower mark on Instagram. The Dale Jr. Foundation has identified a charity located in each of the top 10 cities where Earnhardt’s Instagram followers reside, with each organization receiving $100,000.
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Board of Directors

headshot of Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
President
In addition to his role as President of The Dale Jr. Foundation, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is an American professional stock car racing driver, champion team owner, businessman, NASCAR analyst, and 2022 inductee into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He won a record 15 straight NASCAR Most Popular Driver awards from 2003 to 2017, consecutive NASCAR Busch Series Championships in 1998 and 1999 and the prestigious Daytona 500 in 2004 and 2014. He is a two-time New York Times bestselling author, most recently with his 2018 book Racing To The Finish. He also has a children’s book series consisting of Buster’s Trip to Victory Lane, Buster Gets Back on Track and Buster and the Christmas Parade. Earnhardt spearheads his own entertainment company, Dirty Mo Media, which creates, develops and publishes original programming, including Dale's own show, the Dale Jr. Download, and provides custom multimedia production services through its branded content studio. Dale resides in Mooresville, North Carolina, with his wife, Amy, and their two daughters, Isla and Nicole.
headshot of Kelley Earnhardt Miller
Kelley Earnhardt Miller
Vice President
Kelley Earnhardt serves as Vice President of The Dale Jr. Foundation. She is considered one of the most prominent businesswomen in NASCAR today and is co-owner and CEO of JR Motorsports. Following graduation from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, she helped pioneer the NASCAR collectibles industry with Action Performance as VP of sales and procurement before joining various boards of directors (Blueharbor Bank, The Dale Jr. Foundation, BRANDT Professional Agriculture). She authored Drive: 9 Lessons To Win In Business and In Life. Kelley is married to L.W. Miller and the mother of three children – Karsyn, Kennedy, and Wyatt.
headshot of Stoke Caldwell
Stoke Caldwell
Director
Stokely Gray Caldwell Jr., Esq., has practiced law with the Charlotte, NC firm of Robinson Bradshaw for over 39 years. He has had the pleasure of working with the Earnhardt family for decades and is a recognized legal service provider within the motorsports community. He has also worked with many top NASCAR (and other series) Hall of Fame members, drivers, teams, sponsors, sanctioning bodies, agencies, and others in all aspects of their legal needs.  In addition, he serves on the boards of other charitable foundations.  Stoke lives in Charlotte with his wife, Julie, and spends cherished time with his two children and four grandchildren.
headshot of Cathy Watkins
Cathy Watkins
Director
Cathy Earnhardt Watkins worked in the racing industry for more than 20 years and has been an active member of the board since inception.  During her tenure at JRM, Cathy’s involvement at each level of product development ensured JRM brought the best products available to the consumer and met the many fans that visited JR Nation on a daily basis; fulfilling her passion for racing and the people that love the sport.  Cathy is an older sister to Dale Earnhardt, seven-time Winston Cup Champion and Aunt to Kelley and Dale Jr.
headshot of Chris Nichols
Chris Nichols
Director
Chris Nichols is the Senior Vice President & Senior Commercial Lender with blueharbor bank. Mr. Nichols is a native to Mt. Airy, NC and has worked in the banking industry for over 25 years with over 20 years in Commercial Banking. Mr. Nichols is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the Virginia Bankers School of Bank management and the Graduate School of Banking at LSU. Mr. Nichols has served on several non-profit boards. He has been a member of Rotary for 17 years and currently serves as Director and Immediate Past President of Rotary Club of Top of the Lake-Mooresville.
headshot of Jackie Keller
Jackie Keller
Director
Jackie Keller joined the foundation board in 2024 as a director. She works at Wasserman, where her team excels in crafting unparalleled hospitality experiences, leveraging over a decade of leadership within the domain. Jackie’s stewardship in the Hospitality vertical is characterized by a strategic approach to customer service and engagement, where she prioritizes the art of white-glove experiences to drive substantial business impact. Having led projects for prestigious clients like American Express, Delta Air Lines, Ferrari, and Goldman Sachs, her focus remains on delivering excellence that resonates with our partners' brands. Keller’s tenure at Wasserman has also been marked by an innate ability to manage high-stakes relationships and sophisticated marketing strategies. This skill set has been honed over years of dedicated service, including a pivotal role as the senior liaison at PNC Arena/Carolina Hurricanes Hockey Club. With a heartfelt commitment to customer satisfaction and impeccable service, our team’s initiatives consistently result in meaningful connections and enhanced brand loyalty for our clients.
headshot of Jenni Leibee
Jenni Leibee
Secretary
A veteran of nearly 20 years in non-profit work and seven with The Dale Jr. Foundation, Jenni Leibee oversees the charitable arm for the 15-time NASCAR Most Popular Driver. With The Dale Jr. Foundation, Leibee is responsible for organizing and implementing the various fundraising and benefit programs offered by TDJF, including the annual Driven to Give auction and events such as the Win Dale Jr.’s Ride raffle. All events raise funds to help the Foundation fulfill its core philosophy of giving underprivileged individuals, with a focus on youth, the resources to improve their confidence and education as well as the opportunity to achieve extraordinary goals.
headshot of Denise Sommers
Denise Sommers
Treasurer
As Treasurer, Denise oversees the financial aspects of the Dale Jr. Foundation. In her near-decade with JR Motorsports as a controller and manager for some of NASCAR’s biggest teams, she has experience in the sport at the highest levels. In her career at JR Motorsports, Denise has been intimately involved with The Dale Jr. Foundation from the financial side as well as the racing side in her duties as Controller, which include accounting, financial analysis, human resources management budgeting, reporting and cost containment
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