On November 17, NASCAR Foundation named Ralph Maccarone of Who We Play For as the 2022 Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award winner.

Maccarone was presented with a $100,000 prize for Who We Play For – an organization that provides heart screenings for young people in order to help prevent the death of young people via a heart condition.

In a  live streamed event, Maccarone spoke on the announcement saying, “it’s a great honor to have won the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award.  The entire NASCAR organization and The NASCAR Foundation have been phenomenal to work with and we’re so excited to use these funds to help students and save lives.”

Over the past several years, there has been a number of teens and young adults – including athletes – that have died suddenly of what turned out to be a heart condition.  Maccarone founded Who We Play For after the sudden death due to cardiac arrest of his 15 year old son.

Maccarone beat out Dan Majetich of the Nick and Kelly Children’s Heart Fund, Tammy Garrett of the Rapahope Children’s Retreat Foundation of Alabama, and Tracy Williams of the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation in a fan voted online competition.   The losing volunteers all receive a $25,000 donation for their organizations in recognitions of their accomplishments.

Executive Director of the NASCAR Foundation Nichole Krieger spoke on Marricone receiving the award saying,  “Ralph has dedicated his life to ensuring young people receive the proper screenings that could one day save their lives.  He has spent countless hours volunteering at screenings, fundraising and advocating for change as Who We Play For has grown into a national organization that’s reaching more communities each year. His work and the work of all of our finalists exemplify the lasting legacy of Betty Jane France and the countless number of children The NASCAR Foundation continues to impact.”

More than just the founder of Who We Play For, Maccarone is a NASCAR fan; along with his wife Valerie and their son prior to his death.  The Maccarone’s followed Ryan Newman who shares a birthday with Maccarone’s son.