¦ December 2, 2008
SAM SCHMIDT TO BE AWARDED VISIONARY LEADERSHIP AWARD BY THE CHRISTOPHER & DANA REEVE FOUNDATION
Recognized for "Enthusiastic Dedication, Loyal Support, Inspirational Example"

LOS ANGELES (December 2, 2008) - The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation is pleased to announce that Sam Schmidt will be the recipient of the 2008 Visionary Leadership Award from  The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation at the Making Magic Happen Gala in Los Angeles on December 2, 2008. 

Sam Schmidt will be recognized for his outstanding professional and philanthropic leadership.  Schmidt will be joining Jane Seymour, who will receive the 2008 Philanthropy Award, that evening.

"I am so touched and honored by this recognition from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation," said Sam Schmidt, founder of The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation.  "Not only was Chris a friend, but he inspired me and so many others to pull through challenging times and move forward with my
life."

Schmidt, who was an Indy Racing League driver, founded The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation shortly after a practice-run crash left him with a devastating spinal cord injury that paralyzed him from the chest down.
Schmidt has taken the passion and commitment that made him one of America's top race car drivers, and has focused that energy on creating a broader awareness of spinal cord injuries.

"Sam has demonstrated extraordinary generosity of time, talent and resources, and his efforts have touched many people," said Peter T. Wilderotter, President and CEO of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
"This award is presented with gratitude to Sam for his enthusiastic dedication, loyal support and inspirational example."  

The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation and The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation have been longtime partners, and have worked together for several years to fund cutting edge research. 

The Sam Schmidt's Paralysis Foundation's support of the Individual Research Grants program continues to have an impact on spinal cord research, funding some of the field's most talented researchers, who are dedicated to finding more effective treatments and eventually a cure for spinal cord injury.

"Schmidt has been the epitome of an individual who is healthy, active and independent, who just happens to live with quadriplegia," said Wilderotter. "He is an inspiration to us all."

About the Reeve Foundation
The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research, and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy.  For more information, and to review the entire list of Quality of Life grant recipients, visit www.christopherreeve.com or call 800-225-0292.  

About The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation
The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation (SSPF) was started in 2000 by Indy Racing League driver Sam Schmidt shortly after a practice-run crash left him paralyzed from the chest down.  SSPF helps individuals overcome spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders by funding scientific research,
medical treatment, rehabilitation and technological advances, benefiting stroke victims and people diagnosed with ALS, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.  In addition to initiating local and national advocacy efforts on behalf of those disabled, SSPF funds various quality of life grants to national organizations, provides college scholarships for people with spinal cord injuries/paralysis, and funds the national Day at the Races program.