Children’s Tumor Foundation’s Hanson is Finalist for NASCAR Humanitarian Award

Photo by Chris Trotman/NASCAR via Getty Images

Jeff Hanson, a visually impaired artist representing the Children’s Tumor Foundation, is one of four finalists for the 2015 NASCAR Foundation’s fifth annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented by Nationwide.

Hanson was at Daytona International Speedway in 2014 to help Park Place Motorsports unveil its season-long paint scheme prior to the Rolex 24 At 

Daytona in addition to the design on driver Patrick Dempsey’s helmet. Hanson was at the past two runnings of the Rolex 24, in addition to the 2014 event at his home track, Kansas Speedway. His paint schemes were also carried by the Compass360 Racing Hondas and Subaru in IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge competition for the past two seasons, with the “art cars” garnering four victories and six podium finishes in three IMSA classes.The Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award honors volunteers from across the country who dedicate themselves to children’s causes in their communities. The winner will be determined by balloting by race fans, who can vote daily at NASCAR.com/Award. Ballots will be accepted through Thursday, Dec. 3, at midnight ET. The winner will be announced on Friday, Dec. 4, during the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards at Wynn Las Vegas at 9 p.m. ET on NBCSN. “It is an amazing honor to receive this recognition from The NASCAR Foundation,” Hanson said. “But what is even more special about this Award is how many more people will be helped by the Children’s Tumor Foundation. On behalf of everyone living with NF and courageously facing significant challenges each day, I ask for your vote.”Hanson embodies the spirit of the Award. The 22-year-old philanthropic artist is visually impaired due to an optic nerve tumor related to neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic disorder that can cause tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body and affects one in 3,000 people. Though legally blind, the Kansas native has painted and donated more than $1 million dollars in acrylic canvases to over 100 charitable causes since 2006. The Children’s Tumor Foundation is a charity that is close to Jeff’s heart. He was diagnosed with NF at the age of six and has long supported the Foundation’s efforts to end NF by donating both money raised through the sale of his hand-painted note cards and paintings for the charity to auction. In 2014, Hanson began a partnership with the Foundation’s Racing4Research program to create a series of race car liveries featuring his artwork. The NASCAR Foundation will donate a total of $175,000 to the charities of the finalists – with the winner’s charity receiving $100,000 and remaining finalists’ charities receiving $25,000 each. The winner will also receive a 2016 Ford Fusion given by the Official Car Sponsor. If Hanson wins, his award will be matched by an anonymous donor, bringing the total to $200,000 for Children’s Tumor Foundation research.  The Award was established in 2011 to honor The NASCAR Foundation Founder and Chairwoman Emeritus Betty Jane France’s passion for service and volunteerism. Since its inception, the Award has donated $700,000 and impacted more than 52,000 children nationally.