¦ May 4, 2007
SAM SCHMIDT PARALYSIS FOUNDATION GEARS UP FOR GALA

Just 10 days remain before the eighth annual “Racing to Recovery Gala,” a benefit for the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, at Eddie Merlot’s in Indianapolis.

The annual event, with its founding sponsors Laura and Tony George, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the IndyCar Series, brings the racing community together to help raise funds for spinal cord research, rehabilitation, and recovery.

“This has been a great event for many years, and this year is shaping up to be even more exciting,” Sam Schmidt, the foundation’s founder and chairman, said. “The amount of support we receive every year from the motor sports community is tremendous, and certainly our gala has become one of the highly-anticipated parties leading up to the Indy 500.”

Among the highlights of this year’s live and silent auctions, featuring many one-of-a-kind racing memorabilia, are autographed items from Helio Castroneves, Mario, Michael and Marco Andretti, Scott Dixon, AJ Foyt IV, Dario Franchiti, Jeff Gordon, Danica Patrick, and many others. Also, there are vacations, jewelry, Indy 500 tickets, and the opportunity to bid on a Conseco suite.

One of the exciting moments of the evening is famed motor sports artist Bill Patterson creating a one-of-a-kind painting that will be auctioned at the conclusion of the event.

Also, two very special awards will be presented by Sam Schmidt.

Four-time Indianapolis 500 champion Al Unser Sr. will be awarded the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation’s Legendary Driver Award.

“This is a huge honor for me to present Al with this award,” Schmidt said. “He is only one of three drivers to have ever won the Indianapolis 500 four times. He’s among very few drivers that have won on paved ovals, road courses, and dirt tracks in a single season. He’s truly one of the greatest and continues to educate drivers in the Indy Racing League today.

“He’s an inspiration to many of us.”

Unser said, “I’ve admired Sam for many years. The work his foundation is doing to help people with paralysis is very important to me and my granddaughter Cody who has transverse myelitis and paralysis. Sam is a true role model for all of us and provides inspiration and hope for many people.”

Previous winners of the award include Michael Andretti and Rick Mears.

Bridgestone/Firestone will be awarded the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation’s Partner for a Cure Award. Al Speyer will accept the award.

The foundation’s President, Ida Cahill, said, “The work and support that Bridgestone/Firestone and Al have given us has been absolutely wonderful. This award is just a small token of our appreciation to thank them for the generosity they have shown to our foundation.”

Speyer said, “Personally, it is very rewarding to work for a company like Bridgestone that highly values supporting the communities we work in. I take great pleasure in working with Sam and his foundation to funnel the energy and passion of motor sports into the efforts to cure paralysis.”

Besides Schmidt, Unser, and Speyer, several IndyCar Series drivers, team owners, and other notables are expected to attend the event emceed by Indianapolis’ WTHR Sports Director and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Public Address Announcer, Dave Calabro.

Tickets for the event can still be purchased for $125 by calling Melanie Johnstone at (317) 236-9999. The event runs from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. Cocktails and a dinner buffet will be served.