¦ April 30, 2008
Annual Gala To Celebrate Accomplishments of the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation
PRESS RELEASE

What: The 9th Annual Racing to Recovery Gala hosted by the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation will be held Monday May 12th at 6:00pm.

This annual gala celebrates the achievments of the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to funding scientific research, medical treatment, rehabilitation and technological advances to help those who have been afflicted with chronic and acute paralysis, as well as other nuerological disorders such as ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

The event will include a silent auction from which proceeds will fund medical research benefitting spinal cord injury/disease, stroke victims and individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Auction items will include:

- Danica Patrick’s personally autographed racing suit
- OMP steering wheel autographed by Michael and Mario Andretti
- Several vacation packages (including France, Hawaii, Santa Barbara, and Vail)
- Elizabeth Taylor House of Taylor Collection Diamond Ring
- Autographed BB King guitar

At this year’s gala, Mario Andretti will receive the 2008 Legendary Driver Award. “It is fantastic to be honoring Mario this year,” says Sam Schmidt. “Speaking as a former driver, his accomplishments not only in an Indy Car, but also in stock cars, midgets, Formula 1 and Prototypes, are simply phenomenal. He defines ‘legend’ in motor sports.”

The Hulman-George Family will also be honored at the gala, presented with the “Partner for a Cure Award” for their passionate dedication to the foundation. The Hulman-George Family has worked tirelessly to support Sam Schmidt since his accident in 2000. They have also provided countless resources and encouragement to the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation.Shortly after Sam’s accident, Mari established endowment professorships at both Purdue University and Indiana University for their paralysis research efforts. Both programs resulted in clinical trials that strive to improve the quality of life for patients with paralysis. The Mari Hulman-George Lecture Series in Neurobiology unites world renowned researchers to further research throughout the world. The Hulman George family, along with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the IndyCar Series, has supported the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation by helping fund research, grants and the “Day at the Races” program. The SSPF is truly grateful to them for their belief in the Foundation’s mission.

“This year’s event has recieved such tremendous support from people in Indiana and the racing community that we are just humbled,” says Sam Schmidt.

The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation (SSPF) was founded in May 2000 by Sam Schmidt, who vowed after his own spinal chord injury, to dedicate the rest of his life to raising awareness of the impact such injuries have on individuals and their families.

In January 2000, while practicing for the season-opening Indy Racing League event at Walt Disney Wold Speedway in Orlando, Florida, Schmidt suffered from a C-3/4/5 spinal cord industry during a race testing accident. His time spent in a rehabilitation center in St. Louis, MO allowed him to observe under-privileged patients suffering from similar injuries/disorders. He vowed that once he left the facility, he would work to raise not only awareness, but also funds for medical research and effective therapeutic treatments.

The Sam Schmidt Foundation helps individuals overcome spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders by funding scientific research, medical treatment, rehabilitation and technological advances. This research benefits stroke victims and people diagnosed with ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. SSPF funds its national Day at the Races program and quality of life grants to organizations throughout the country benefiting people with paralysis and other life challenges. It also provides college scholarships for people with spinal cord injuries / paralysis. The Foundation works tirelessly in its advocacy efforts both locally and nationally on behalf of the disabled.

Where:
Ritz Charles
12156 North Meridian Street
Carmel, IN

When: May 12th, 2008, 6:00pm to 10:00pm

Price: Tickets are $125 each (include cocktails and dinner buffet)

Reservations: Please call 317-236-9999