At an event to kick off NASCAR Championship Weekend in Miami on Thursday, Comcast announced Joey Logano as the winner of the fourth annual Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award. Comcast established the award in 2015 to honor NASCAR industry members for their philanthropic efforts, awarding $60,000 to the champion's selected charity and $30,000 to the respective charities of the two remaining finalists. With this year's contributions, Comcast has donated a total of $480,000 to charitable organizations in the NASCAR community through the Community Champion Award.

Since its inception in 2013, the Joey Logano Foundation has invested more than $2.7 million to hundreds of organizations through a multitude of charitable programs. The Foundation created the JL Kids Crew to help provide opportunities for children with serious illnesses to spend time at the race track and be part of the No. 22 race team. Through JLF's Grant Funding Program, the Foundation delivers grants to organizations dedicated to helping families that care for sick children, foster children and children of veterans.

"It is an honor to recognize Joey Logano as the 2018 Comcast Community Champion of the Year, as the work he does with the Joey Logano Foundation truly embodies the selfless and passionate spirit of giving back that this award represents," said Matt Lederer, Executive Director of Partnership Marketing at Comcast. "So many of those in the NASCAR industry have a passion for giving back to their communities, and we are proud to play a part in celebrating those passions with this award."

During the course of the NASCAR season, the Joey Logano Foundation also brings Comfort Care Backpacks to multiple race markets and has donated over 600 backpacks filled with essentials to underprivileged, foster and terminally ill children. The Joey Logano Foundation uses its powerful platform during NASCAR's Playoffs to aid 10 non-profit organizations in 10 different NASCAR markets, via their Chasing Second Chances program, an effort to help racing communities prosper.

The $60,000 donation from Comcast on behalf of Joey Logano will be provided to the Joey Logano Foundation, and will support the Foundation's efforts as they continue to provide aid to organizations that help children and young adults during times of crisis.

In accepting the award, Logano said that though his name was on the award, there were many more people within his foundation that make their charitable works happen.

"I feel like there's a team that goes behind it, just like with our race cars," Logano said. "It's not just the driver behind the wheel. It's a huge group that goes behind it. ... I may just be the face of this, but it's definitely an honor to be a part of it and to see the faces of these little kids and their families light up when we do a lot of great things."

Logano was chosen by a panel comprised of Comcast and NASCAR executives, as well as Mike Metcalf from the Chip Ganassi Racing Pit Crew Department, who won the award in 2017. Sonoma Raceway President, Steve Page, and NASCAR driver Ryan Newman were each awarded $30,000 toward the amazing work they do with Speedway Children's Charities and Rescue Ranch, respectively.

Page supported his community in Northern California after last year's devastating wildfires by opening the gates of Sonoma Raceway as a place of refuge for those evacuated, raising funds for the community to rebuild and honoring first-responders during the NASCAR race weekend. Newman co-founded Rescue Ranch in 2012 with his wife, Krissie, to promote respect for all animals, the earth and the environment through a wide variety of educational programs in the community. The Ranch is home to more than 85 animals that receive around-the clock care, and serves as host to various school curriculum-based field trips, Scout badge programs, summer camps and more. Each finalist's story can be viewed here.

Comcast has a long track record of community service, aiding in the advancement of local organizations, developing programs and partnerships, mobilizing resources to connect people and inspiring positive and substantive change. To learn more about the Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award, please visit ComcastCommunityChampion.com.