¦ November 12, 2007
SAM SCHMIDT PARALYSIS FOUNDATION RAISES FUNDS WITH DINNER AND GOLF OUTING
Reprinted from Sam Schmidt Motorsports

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Many celebrities, race car drivers, and business people traveled to Las Vegas to help raise funds for the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation on October 28th and 29th.

On a beautiful Monday afternoon, the foundation held its second annual “Racing to Recovery Golf Tournament” at the exclusive South Shore Golf Course in Lake Las Vegas. The event, emceed by ESPN personality Jamie Little, had more than 130 golfers participate to support Schmidt and the work of his foundation.

As an added bonus to the event, three hole-in-one prizes were available – a 2007 Cadillac, an acre of land at the Mardian Ranch at White Hills in Arizona, and $10,000 cash. Unfortunately, nobody participating shot a hole-in-one.

The winning foursome including Indy Racing League stars P.J. Chesson, Logan Gomez, Jaques Lazier, Al Unser Jr., and lead singer of Smashmouth, Steve Harwell.

“There’s nothing better than having a fun-filled weekend with gorgeous weather in beautiful Lake Las Vegas while raising funds to benefit millions of people who are paralyzed,” Schmidt said. “We know people have many choices in the organizations they support, and when they give so generously to our foundation, we like to make certain they have a good time.

“Now our challenge is to plan for a bigger and better golf event next year!”

During the evening prior to the golf event, Raquel and Tom Heath hosted a reception to benefit the foundation and preview Heath Construction’s newest home in Lake Las Vegas, “Palazzo di Lago.”

Guests were transported aboard the “Lady of the Lake” for a champagne cruise to the home where they enjoyed food and a performance by operatic tenor “Ingvar.”

A silent auction was held, and in addition, guests bid actively and generously on vacation homes, art work, and a helmet signed by Lazier.

“Sam and I are fortunate to have so many kind and charitable supporters,” Ida Cahill, CEO of the foundation, said. “We raised more than $206,000 to help fund medical research. On top of that, we’re able to supply grants benefiting the disabled, including soldiers returning from war, our ‘Day at the Races’ programs, and college scholarships for people who are spinal cord injured. Without the generosity of the folks who attended the events, none of this would be possible.”

The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation was founded in 2000 while Schmidt was still in the rehabilitation hospital. Its mission is to raise funds to support spinal cord injury research which also benefits stroke victims, people with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, ALS, and other neurological disorders. The foundation is active in advocacy efforts benefiting the disabled and funds organizations throughout the world that directly benefit people with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities.