NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – Just days before competing in the DAYTONA 500, Erik Jones, driver of the No. 43 AdventHealth Toyota Camry XSE, visited Chisholm Elementary School in New Smyrna Beach.
After reading a short story to the students, Erik Jones and The Erik Jones Foundation partnered with AdventHealth to donate and unveil a "Bookworm" vending machine to the elementary school. This machine rewards kids for positive behaviors, as the students can earn special tokens to redeem for books they can keep.
"I want these machines to inspire kids to read and continue reading. That's the ultimate goal,” Jones said. “Being a strong reader is important to unlocking doors and helping young people live up to their full potential. I couldn’t be more excited to partner with AdventHealth to deliver another book vending machine for some well-deserving kids.”
When the racecar driver established his foundation in 2021, he made “igniting a passion for reading” part of its mission. Book vending machines have become a signature part of his community efforts after Jones purchased one for his former elementary school and the school saw a 300% increase in the number of kids who chose a book as their reward for being good students.
“Reading opens doors, fuels imagination, and builds confidence – there’s nothing better than seeing a child light up over a book. Seeing the excitement on these kids’ faces as they realize they will get to pick out their own book and keep it? That’s priceless," said David Weis, president and CEO AdventHealth’s operations in East Volusia, Flagler, and St. John’s counties. "We’re proud to partner with Erik and his foundation to bring this book vending machine to Chisholm Elementary, and we hope it fuels a lifelong love of reading.”
This is the third book vending machine donated to a Volusia County School through this partnership. The other recipients include Blue Lake Elementary in DeLand, donated in February 2024, and Discovery Elementary in Deltona, donated in December 2024.
On Feb. 16, Jones will pilot the No. 43 AdventHealth Toyota Camry XSE in the 67th running of the DAYTONA 500, marking the first of nine races he will drive in the AdventHealth-sponsored car. Jones's first victory in the NASCAR Cup Series came at Daytona International Speedway in 2018.
"We are incredibly grateful to Erik Jones and AdventHealth for their generous donation of a book vending machine to Chisholm Elementary,” stated VCS Superintendent Dr. Carmen Balgobin. “This contribution not only provides students with access to exciting books but also reinforces the importance of reading and literacy in their daily lives. Partnerships like this help us encourage a love of reading at a young age that sets the foundation for lifelong learning.”
AdventHealth serves as the Official Health Care Champion of Volusia County Schools, a first-of-its-kind partnership between a school district and major health care provider. Through this partnership, AdventHealth is committed to assisting the school district with reducing chronic absenteeism; streamlining and coordinating the care of student athletes; and creating more pathways for students to enter directly into health care related jobs following graduation.
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