¦ May 24, 2010
11th ANNUAL RACING TO RECOVERY GALA: HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE RAISE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FUND PARALYSIS RESEARCH AND QUALITY OF LIFE PROGRAMS
Sparkling, Vegas-Themed Evening Included Live Auction, Dinner, Drivers and a Memorable Award Ceremony

Each year the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation plays host for a “Racing to Recovery Gala” to celebrate and recognize the achievements of the Foundation, its partners and its supporters.  On a balmy night in May, hundreds of people came together to raise thousands of dollars to fund research to help discover a cure for paralysis and to help those with disabling spinal cord injuries. (To see photos of this year’s event, click here.)

Some of IndyCar's most well-known current drivers attended the SSPF Gala this year, including Townsend Bell, Alex Tagliani, Ryan Briscoe, Will Power, Alex Lloyd, Jay Howard, Ana Beatriz, Buddy Lazier, James Hinchcliff, Gustavo Yacaman, Wade Cunningham, J.K. Vernay, Pippa Mann, Philip Major, and Arie Luyendyck, Jr.  Guests also had a unique opportunity to chat with racing greats Parnelli Jones, Johnny Rutherford, Bobby Unser and Arie Luyendyck, Sr.

With due ceremony, this year’s Legendary Driver Award was presented to one of the true greats in racing, Parnelli Jones.  Said Sam, “This evening is very special to me and every racing fan in attendance.  Parnelli is one of the most recognizable names in auto racing and has won nearly every major auto race event in the U.S., including the Indy 500.  What makes Parnelli such a legend is the diversity of vehicles in which he won races and championships.”

Todd Davis, CEO of LifeLock, Board member of the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation and long-time friend of Schmidt, delivered an inspirational keynote address on the importance of making a difference in the lives of those with spinal cord injuries.  The program included a video featuring local spinal cord injury survivors and their families discussing the realities of living with paralysis and how it affects them on a daily basis.  Those featured in the video, VIP guests for the evening, were invited up on stage.  Through telling their stories, they highlighted the importance of the Foundation’s vision and mission, and how vital the contributions of the Foundation’s supporters are to fulfilling that vision – to find a permanent cure for paralysis.
 
Said Ida Cahill, President and CEO of the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, "It was wonderful to see an outpouring of support from the IZOD IndyCar family and the many individuals and families who support our event each year.  It is because of them that the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation continues to lead the way to find a cure for paralysis that impacts almost six million people in the United States.  Thank you to everyone."

Live and silent auctions at the event included vacations, jewelry, wines, framed artwork, sports and racing memorabilia signed by highly regarded sports figures,  IndyCar and NASCAR drivers. During the evening, renowned motorsports artist Bill Patterson created a live painting, which brought lots of excitement at the auction, especially after Indy Car drivers in attendance "put their mark” on it.

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 is leading the charge to cure paralysis 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 organizations, provides college scholarships for people with spinal cord injuries/paralysis, funds national Day at the Races and Run, Walk ‘N Wheelathon programs.  The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation is a member of the Spinal Cord Leaders Council.