Earnhardt Jr. raises money for pediatric injuries
Nearly $900,000 has been donated to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus to establish a Dale and Amy Earnhardt Jr. Fund for the research, prevention and treatment of pediatric injury.
The creation of the fund continues a relationship between Dale Earnhardt and the hospital that began in 2015 when the NASCAR driver was introduced to the facility and its patients by sponsor Nationwide Insurance.
Pediatric injury is the leading cause of death among those who are 19 and younger, said Niki Shafer, senior vice president of outreach for the hospital. The fund, she said will allow researchers to immediately get to work on studies that will benefit children not just at Nationwide Children’s, but all around the country and the world.
“The field of pediatric injury is severely underfunded, and we are one of the leading research centers in the country,” Shafer said. “The information we find is able to help families right away — such as putting up baby gates or making sure babies sleep on their back.”
The new fund was announced on Tuesday, when “Appreci88ion, An Evening with Dale Jr. presented by Nationwide” was held in Las Vegas to celebrate the retiring Earnhardt, who drove the No. 88 Nationwide Insurance Chevrolet SS for Hendrick Motorsports. With proceeds from the event, donations from fans and an $88,888.88 donation from the Dale Jr. Foundation charity, the new fund began with $888,888.88 in its coffers.
Amy Earnhardt said she and her husband were touched after visiting Nationwide Children’s cancer ward, rehabilitation center and neonatal intensivecare unit, and she expects they will now have more time to visit to help promote the fund and bring joy to the patients.
“Once you start walking through and meeting the children, you understand how much time and energy is being put into research to help these children,” she said. “That makes you want to support it and further their cause.”
Over the past three years, Earnhardt has made four visits to hospital patients. The hospital has benefited from the proceeds of several “Driven to Give” glove auctions and from Earnhardt’s auction of two cars with Nationwide, Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports, Shafer said. Earnhardt also raised money by letting fans purchase the right to have their names on the hood of his No. 88 car.
The hospital unveiled in April a Dale and Amy Earnhardt Jr. Activity Room, where a jukebox donated by Kentucky Speedway and Crosley Radio entertains and provides therapy for patients.