Requested
Story
For
More Information:
Linda Mansfield, Restart Communications
Sprint PCS: (317) 201-0729
Email: [email protected]
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 6, 2004
Ticket
Reservations Now Being Accepted
for Indy 500's Biggest Social Event
INDIANAPOLIS,
April 11
- Ticket reservations are now being accepted for the
biggest social event surrounding the Indianapolis 500 - the fifth
annual "Racing
to Recovery Gala" to benefit the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation
and the
Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana on Sunday, May 16 from 6 p.m.
to 10 p.m. at
Eddie Merlot's restaurant, 3645 E. 96th St. in Indianapolis.
The title sponsors of the event are the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
and the
Indy Racing League. The affair, hosted by Eddie Merlot's, is presented
by Raymond James & Associates and Standard Management/U.S.
Health Services, with Bridgestone/Firestone and Toyota Motorsports/Toyota
Racing Development as contributing sponsors.
The gala attracts many of the drivers and team owners who will
participate in the Indy 500 later in the month, as well as many of the city and
state's most distinguished personalities. Patrons of the event can mingle with
the drivers and enjoy a lavish strolling dinner buffet complete with Eddie
Merlot's signature menus items from its extensive menu, renown for its
prime aged beef and seafood.
The evening
will include a live auction of an oil painting produced on-site
during the gala by noted artist Bill Patterson, as well as a live
auction of a deluxe spa from Royal Spa. A silent auction featuring
coveted sports memorabilia and other one-of-a-kind merchandise
will also be held, and a champagne promotion will be staged in
which one lucky attendee will go home with jewelry from Reis-Nichols
Jewelers.
The ticket
price is $125. All the proceeds go towards the Sam Schmidt Paralysis
Foundation (SSPF) and the Rehabilitation
Hospital of Indiana (RHI).
To purchase
tickets, contact RHI personnel by telephone at (317) 714-0340
or [email protected].
Reservations are limited.
The SSPF raises funds for medical research and rehabilitation
for people impacted by paralysis. The gala is its biggest fund-raiser of
the year.
Schmidt, an Indy car driver who was paralyzed in a racing accident
on Jan. 6, 2000, founded the 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. In addition
to guiding the foundation, he is currently an Indy Racing League Menards
Infiniti Pro Series team owner.
RHI is one of the few freestanding rehabilitation hospitals in
Indiana. It has the backing of two of the largest and most respected organizations
in the state: Clarian Health Partners and St. Vincent Hospitals &
Health Services. RHI provides care throughout rehabilitation, including in-patient
care (both acute and subacute), specialty outpatient services and vocation
education and training. Schmidt was a patient there, as well as several other
hospitals, during his rehabilitation program.
RHI has four convenient locations in the Indianapolis area. Its
main hospital is located at 4141 Shore Drive in Indianapolis.
The SSPF's address is 411 Dorman St., Indianapolis, Ind. 46202-3647.
For more information
on the two groups, see www.samschmidt.org and www.rhin.com.
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