FLORENCE, S.C. — Florence’s Carlos Washington is one of four finalists for NASCAR’s 14th annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. This award highlights the volunteers’ commitment to improving the lives of children across the country.
Award recipient Carlos Washington speaks during the 2023 Boys and Girls Club of the Pee Dee Champion of Youth Tribute held Tuesday at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing Technology.
“This year’s award finalists exemplify the generosity of our NASCAR community. Their volunteer efforts have significantly impacted the lives of children in our local racing communities, a passion for helping others which was championed by Betty Jane France,” said Mike Helton, The NASCAR Foundation Chairman. “Tammy, Judy, Carlos and Julie are inspirations to us all. We hope NASCAR fans everywhere will take time learn more about these incredible finalists’ stories and vote for this year’s award winner.”
The winner will be decided by an online vote, and you can click to vote here.
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The NASCAR Foundation’s Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award, named in honor of the foundation’s late founder and chairwoman Betty Jane France, recognizes NASCAR fans who volunteer for children’s causes in their local communities. Each finalist receives a minimum $25,000 donation for their organization with the overall winner receiving a $100,000 donation from The NASCAR Foundation to further their efforts.
Washington has dedicated 20 years of service to Boys and Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area, which offers programs that promote the childhood development by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, and influence.
In 2023, Washington was named the Boys and Girls Club of the Pee Dee Champion for Youth.
Washington is founder and chief executive officer of the Florence International Basketball Association.
“I appreciate this from the bottom of my heart,” Washington said in 2023 in a past Morning News article. “I’m truly blessed, I’m truly thankful, and I am humbled. I love each and every one of you, and I honestly believe that loves makes a difference. If we keep loving each other and if we keep loving our kids and working with them, this world will be a better place.”
Washington’s professional career has spanned 32 years with the city of Florence Fire Department. While there, he began his career mentoring and coaching youth in the recreation leagues throughout Florence.
In 2003, at the request of the City of Florence, Washington volunteered to establish FIBA to allow youth from the Florence community to participate in the 2004 Children’s International Games in Cleveland, Ohio. Serving as the chief executive officer of FIBA since, he has continued to grow the organization, which is now one of the premier travel basketball programs in eastern South Carolina. His teams have traveled the Southeast (Orlando, Miami, Atlanta), the U.S. (Las Vegas, .Washington, D.C., San Francisco) and the world (Thailand, Canada, Greece).
Every spring and summer, up to 80 boys and girls participate with FIBA and at last count, more than 90 of those youth have advanced to play college basketball. In 2012, he began “Function at the Junction,” which is the largest summer basketball tournament in northeast South Carolina with more than 80 teams traveling to Florence to participate.
Washington’s community activism goes far beyond basketball. His voice was one of the first to promote the establishment of Virtus Academy, a K-12 charter school in Florence. He continues his effort there as the remaining founding board member. He also serves on the boards of The School Foundation and the Salvation Army. His past services include the S.C. Dept. of Juvenile Justice Advisory Board and the Florence Junior Football League.
THE OTHER THREE FINALISTS:
Tammy Raulerson of College Station, Texas, a volunteer who has spent more than ten years organizing and overseeing family camp weekends and providing families facing pediatric cancer with support, community, and joy through the Periwinkle Foundation.
Judy Simmons of Axton, Virginia, a volunteer who has been a member of the God’s Pit Crew disaster response team of more than 1,500 volunteers for six years. In her role, Judy leads volunteer teams to provide essential needs to families and children in their time of crisis.
Julie Wooldridge of Mooresville, North Carolina, who co-founded Hope of Mooresville six years ago to arrange temporary safe shelter and support services for local homeless women and children and to provide long-term solutions to homelessness while breaking the cycle for the next generation of families.
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