CAR HONORS: Clayton High School senior Jake Bernstein, 17, is among four finalists vying for a NASCAR humanitarian award and prizes of $100,000 and a new Ford Explorer in recognition of outstanding charitable and volunteer efforts.
Autumn has been good for Jake, who was last mentioned by this colyumnist on Sept. 28 when President Barack Obama cited him by name as a student who had achieved something extraordinary. The president's comment was made during Obama's third annual Back-to-School speech.
The NASCAR Foundation Board of Directors chose the finalists from a field of hundreds of applicants. They are competing for the inaugural Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award, named after the wife of the founder of NASCAR, Bill France Jr., and the mother of Brian France, chairman and CEO of NASCAR. Betty Jane is also chairwoman of the NASCAR Foundation.
Jake and the other finalists received expense-paid trips to Kansas Speedway last month and will receive free trips to Las Vegas in December to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion's Week in Las Vegas, where the winner of the humanitarian award will be announced.
The winner will receive a $100,000 donation to the children's charity of his or her choice, and a 2012 Ford Explorer. Each runner-up will receive a $25,000 donation to a children's charity of his or her choice.
The winner will be decided by popular vote here. Voting runs through Dec. 1 and the winner will be announced Dec. 2 at the event in Las Vegas. A two-minute video about Jake is available at the voting site. The video will also be broadcast on Sunday on Speed, a cable and satellite TV network that features mostly automotive-related programming.
Jake, who is a NASCAR fan of longstanding, is being recognized for his volunteer work in general, and specifically with Autism Speaks. He tutors, coaches, organizes and directs free summer tennis clinics for youth with autism, and has completed 100 volunteer hours per month. He also encourages other teens to get involved in volunteer work and, with his sister, Simone Bernstein, launched a website, St. Louis Volunteen, that helps match teen volunteers with available positions.
NASCAR says the Bernsteins' site has helped more than 3,000 area youth become involved in various service opportunities.
