Have you started Christmas Shopping yet?  I have. I know its going to sound weird but I like to get my Christmas shopping out of the way as early into the season as possible. I started last Saturday and already have my nephew done.  One person down a bunch to go for me.

I know that a lot of people like to give memorial gifts to charity during the season and I think that is a great idea!  If you have a NASCAR fan that you are shopping for this season- you may want to consider giving a donation to that driver’s foundation or favorite charity as a gift to your NASCAR fan who has everything. Several drivers have their very own charitable foundations and you will see a wide variety of causes supported from chronically ill children, injured motorsports drivers, spay/neuter programs or very specific causes such as Autism and cystic fibrosis.  Here is a short list of some of the more popular driver foundations:

The Tony Stewart Foundation- The mission of the Tony Stewart Foundation is to raise and donate funds to help care for chronically ill children, drivers injured in motorsports activities and to support other charitable organizations in the protection of various animal species.

The Kyle Busch Foundation- The Kyle Busch Foundation is dedicated to providing essential tools for less fortunate children throughout the country. KBF will concentrate its efforts on assisting organizations in fostering a safe environment for children to live, learn and challenge themselves as well as seeing that day to day needs are met

The Ryan Newman Foundation- To educate and encourage people to spay/neuter their pets and to adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters; to educate children and adults about the importance of conservation so the beauty of the great outdoors can be appreciated by future generations; and to provide college scholarship funding through the Rich Vogler Scholarship program to students interested in auto racing careers.

The Hermie and Elliot Sadler Foundation- The Hermie and Elliott Sadler Charitable Foundation is dedicated to raising autism awareness and promoting research for a cure while also supporting initiatives that improve educational opportunities for children and their families. The Foundation provides support to projects that share the ideals and concerns of the Sadler family.

The Denny Hamlin Foundation-The Denny Hamlin Foundation was founded by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin. Denny’s resolve to win on the track is second only to his dedication to support children and youth suffering from debilitating childhood illnesses, including cystic fibrosis and pediatric cancer.

The Jeff Gordon Foundation- The Jeff Gordon Foundation is privileged to be associated with six designated organizations dedicated to improving the lives of children, by providing for their physical and emotional health and well-being.  We are proud of our ongoing partnership with these organizations and what we have been able to accomplish together.

The Jimmie Johnson Foundation- The Jimmie Johnson Foundation is dedicated to assisting children, families and communities in need throughout the United States. The foundation strives to help everyone, particularly children, pursue their dreams.

Remember this is not an all inclusive list- just a bunch that I was able to pull off the web! You can always check for a driver’s foundation on their website.

If you are looking for a non-driver specific foundation you can always donate to one of these organizations as well:

The Victory Junction Gang Camp- Victory Junction Gang enriches the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun, and empowering, in a safe and medically-sound environment.

The Nascar Foundation- It was created to harness the power of the NASCAR Family and help a wide range of causes closest to our hearts. As fans. As friends. As family.

Henrick Marrow Program- Since 1997, the Hendrick Marrow Program has raised more than $7 million to recruit donors and help patients pay for transplant-related costs.