Local Triad resident and philanthropist Parker White needs our help! She has been shortlisted for a national award.

The NASCAR Foundation has recognized Parker White as one of four finalists for the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award.  This award honors outstanding volunteers across the country who have dramatically impacted the lives of children in their community.

Parker founded Backpack Beginnings six years ago when she saw many children leave school each day knowing that they may not eat again until school lunch the next day.

For many children in our community, the only real meal they get is their school lunch.  On the weekends and during school breaks, children often go hungry. Backpack Beginnings fills backpacks with essentials and sends them home with the children at the end of the week and at the start of school vacations.

Backpack Beginnings now helps 6,000 children in need and is staffed by over 200 monthly volunteers. It is a 100% volunteer organization!

We are asking you to vote for Parker as many times as possible before the closing date this September 26th. You are allowed to vote once per day and every vote counts. The winner will be announced this September, so please vote for a fellow Triad resident and the only North Carolinian finalist at www.NASCAR.com/Award and share with your friends.

Sign up for a daily email reminding you to vote here. The $100,000 prize will go a very long way in ensuring many children gets the meals they need on the weekends.