¦ October 20, 2005
Meeting Highly Influential, Then Those With Little
Quadriplegic race team owner meets with Senators Tuesday, Kids At Baltimore’s Kennedy Kreiger Institute Wednesday

Highly Influential, Then Those With Little

Quadriplegic race team owner meets with Senators Tuesday,

Kids At Baltimore’s Kennedy Kreiger Institute Wednesday


WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sam Schmidt’s dream is to some day be able to walk the halls of the U.S. Capitol. . . though he has no plans to run for office.

Next week, he will ride instead – in his motorized wheelchair.

Schmidt, a former winning Indy car driver who is now an owner, has been a quadriplegic since a crash during practice in January, 2000, and is founder of the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, a non-profit organization which raises funds for research and quality of life for those in wheelchairs. On Tuesday, he is scheduled to meet with six U.S. Senators, including Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

“It’s important for our leaders in Washington to see someone in a wheelchair and to see the importance of two major bills in front of them right now,” said Schmidt, referring to the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Act, as well as a second bill to federally fund stem cell research.

“I’m excited these Senators are taking the time to listen to what we have to say,” he continued. “These are major issues for those with spinal cord injuries, and it just makes a greater impact to talk to them in person. When you have their undivided attention, it’s easier to help them understand the importance of these bills to millions of people, not just the spinal cord injured but also those with diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.”

Meetings besides Frist include Barack Obama of Illinois; Lamar Alexander of Tennessee; Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez of Florida; Kay Hutchison and John Cornyn of Texas; and John Ensign of Schmidt’s home state of Nevada.

Wednesday, Schmidt will visit children and teenagers at the Kennedy Kreiger Institute in Baltimore, Md. The institute serves children and adolescents with developmental disabilities, and Schmidt will be spending the bulk of his time with those in wheelchairs.

“Definitely a contrast, meeting those with tremendous international influence one day and those with little influence at all the next,” Schmidt said. “Still, the meetings Tuesday are all about those I am meeting with on Wednesday. For those kids to be able to overcome their adversity they need help, and that’s what this country is all about. The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Act is extremely important to quality of life issues. Federal funding of stem cell research is vital for getting people out of wheelchairs altogether, as well as helping cure the millions with other diseases.”

Schmidt of Las Vegas, Nev., is founder of the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation (www.samschmidt.org), which helps individuals overcome spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders by funding scientific research, medical treatment, rehabilitation and technological advances. This research also benefits stroke victims and people diagnosed with ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. SSPF also addresses quality of life issues benefiting people with paralysis and other disabilities through its Day At The Races program, and works tirelessly promoting advocacy concerns.

The 41-year-old was injured during a race car driving car in testing at Orlando, Fla., in January, 2000. A winning driver in the IRL circuit, Schmidt formed Sam Schmidt Motorsports, which fielded the #70 entry of driver Richie Hearn in this year’s Indianapolis 500. He also owns three full-time entries in the IRL’s developmental Menards Infiniti Pro Series. The team dominated the 2004 series championship with nine poles and six race victories, and placed all three teams in the top six of the final 2005 championship standings with 10 poles and five race wins.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Williams Company of America, Inc. (704) 660-0796 www.williamscompany.com

Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation (317) 236-9999 www.samschmidt.org

SAM SCHMIDT IS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS. PLEASE CONTACT LORI SMITH AT (704) 660-0796.

PHOTO OP WITH SEN. BILL FRIST AVAILABLE 9:00 A.M. TUESDAY, OCT. 25.

MEDIA, PHOTO OPS AVAILABLE AT KENNEDY KREIGER INSTITUTE, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 26.