Betty Jane France Passes Away
France Founded, Chaired The NASCAR Foundation
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 30, 2016)
– Betty Jane France, a philanthropist in support of children’s health
causes, passed away Monday evening. France is the mother of NASCAR
Chairman and CEO Brian France and International Speedway Corporation CEO
Lesa France Kennedy.
A
native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the former Betty Jane Zachary
was the widow of
the late NASCAR Chairman and CEO William C. France, who passed away in
2007. Betty Jane France was executive vice president and assistant
treasurer of NASCAR and the chairwoman emeritus of the NASCAR
Foundation.
“Last
night, the NASCAR family lost a mother, a grandmother, a friend and the
light that
guided the sport’s charitable arm,” said Brian France. “My mother
taught us incredible values, that of love, patience, compassion and joy.
She embraced life every day, and nothing fueled her passion more than
children. Her unmatched efforts in building The
NASCAR Foundation improved the lives of millions of children throughout
this country. And because of that, her legacy will live forever.
“My
father leaned on my mother throughout his life, relying on her wisdom
and calming demeanor
to help grow the sport of NASCAR. She was there, every step of the way.
When we lost my father, her positive presence remained, as she used her
immense skill to grow NASCAR’s heart and soul, The NASCAR Foundation.
“Our family thanks you for all of your thoughts, prayers and well wishes. My mother was
a special woman, and an impressive person, and she will be dearly missed.”
France
became chairwoman of The NASCAR Foundation upon the foundation’s
inception in 2004.
Headquartered in Daytona Beach, the foundation is an entity that
embodies the compassion of the NASCAR Family and its commitment to
serving communities.
The Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award Presented by Nationwide, recognizing outstanding charitable and volunteer
efforts of NASCAR fans, was created in her honor in 2011.
France
was a longtime community leader in Daytona Beach, Florida, and best
known as a steadfast
champion of health care for children. She assisted in the establishment
of “Speediatrics” children’s care unit at Halifax Health in Daytona
Beach and at Homestead Hospital in Homestead, Florida.
In
2003, France was presented the Halifax Medical Center Foundation’s
Humanitarian Award
in recognition of her advocacy, commitment, support and advancement of
numerous area community service organizations including the
Volusia/Flagler chapter of the American Red Cross.
She was a member of the Junior League of Daytona Beach serving on boards of numerous area
community service organizations.
In July 2008, she was named as an honorary co-chairperson for the Childress Institute for
Pediatric Trauma, a project headed by longtime NASCAR team owner Richard Childress in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Funeral arrangements will be forthcoming.
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