Danville d’Elegance Foundation’s 2012 “Cruisin’ Toward a Cure – Wouldn’t It Be Nice to Cure Parkinsons” Dinner/Auction at Blackhawk Museum Seeks to Go Higher
DANVILLE, Calif., August 29, 2012 – On Saturday September 15, 2012, the Blackhawk Auto Museum will rock to the sounds of David Martin’s House Party, as the Danville d’Elegance (DDE) Foundation gala kicks into high gear with its own race to top last year’s more than $330,000 raised for the Parkinson’s cause. Traditionally splitting its proceeds between The Parkinson’s Institute (TPI) in Sunnyvale, Calif., and the TEAM FOX arm of The Michael J. Fox Foundation, DDE has raised and contributed more than $1.3 million over the past 8 years toward Parkinson’s research and patient care.
Set in the historic town of Danville, Calif., the annual Danville program is one in which car collectors, automotive enthusiasts and the local community gather together to have fun, and support a great cause, all at the same time! The weekend will bring an unparalleled variety of activities to Danville, creating a superb gathering of street and racing cars, along with additional exciting vehicle surprises, and great wine tasting and food – all in the setting of a small town jewel.
“TEAM FOX is honored to benefit directly from the hard work, passion and commitment that the Danville d’Elegance Foundation exhibits year after year with this event,” said Katy Reitz, Director of TEAM FOX. “I have had the privilege to see first-hand that this event is top notch and deserves the recognition as being one of our most successful fundraisers. I hope Danville d’Elegance serves as a blueprint for others who have a passion to turn cool cars into a cause.”
This year’s event will be held the weekend of September 15-16, 2012 and can be viewed at: www.danville-delegance.org. The weekend includes:
Saturday September 15th — the backroads of Napa and Sonoma will thrill to the sounds of vintage, collectible and modern-day automobiles as “Thrill Ride” and “Tour d’Elegance” participants enjoy the ride, with lunch at the exclusive Cardinale Winery – the “Tour” begins at and returns to the Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa
Saturday evening, September 15th — the Blackhawk Museum will rock to the sounds of David Martins House Party, as everyone parties during the “Cruisin’ Toward a Cure: Wouldn’t It Be Nice …to Cure Parkinson” casually-themed dinner event, with silent and live auctions
Sunday, September 16th — the historic town center of Danville on Hartz Avenue transforms to the Danville Concours d’Elegance, with a large assembly of classic, vintage, and exotic pleasure and racing vehicles being displayed by their owners — a unique opportunity to see collectible and rare vehicles, wooden boats and other unique items up close, and chat with the folks who own, restore and maintain them.
Admission to the Sunday Danville d’Elegance Concours is free for visitors, though donations are encouraged, and registration is currently open for both the Saturday “Tour d’Elegance” and “Thrill Ride,” as well as to display vehicles at the Sunday Concours. Please check the website at www.danville-delegance.org and “like” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DDEFoundation.
Last year’s inaugural “Tour” and “Thrill Ride” program brought 34 vehicles on a scenic journey through some of the most spectacularly bucolic winding roads the Napa Valley offered and for 2012, the “Tour” enhances its driving fun and beauty, but will be limited to only 45 vehicles.
Sponsors for the 2012 “Tour” include Fiat of Concord; Porsche of Livermore; Audi of Livermore; McLaren of San Francisco; and Fisker of San Franicsco. The memorable day trip will begin at the Lafayette Park Hotel, includes a catered lunch stop, and will return in time for the Foundation’s annual dinner/auction at the famed Blackhawk Museum. Register for the “Tour”.
The Danville d’Elegance (DDE) Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, is entering its 8th year in support of Parkinson’s research and patient care. The 2011 weekend, raised more than $330,000 which benefitted both The Parkinson’s Institute in Sunnyvale, Calif., and the globally recognized Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF). This past spring at a reception in New York City, DDE earned the number three spot of fundraisers in MJFF’s “Top 10” and was acknowledged within the annual “TEAM FOX MVP Awards Honoring Highest 2011 Fundraisers.”
Since its inception in 2004, DDE has raised more than $1.3 million for Parkinson’s research and patient care.
About Danville d’Elegance Foundation
Danville d’Elegance Foundation is dedicated to supporting organizations in their pursuit to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease, while specifically raising funds to benefit the advancement of Parkinson’s research and patient care. Since 2004, and through the generous support of corporate and personal sponsors, the Foundation has raised in excess of $1.3 million for this debilitating cause. All of the annual weekend activities for Danville d’Elegance are planned, supported and completely run by a team of volunteers, a majority whose lives have been touched by Parkinson’s disease. The Foundation’s funding efforts are aligned with both The Michael J. Fox Foundation and The Parkinson’s Institute.
About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
As the world’s largest private funder of Parkinson’s research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson’s disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson’s patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding more than $250 million in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson’s research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson’s disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson’s awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of TEAM FOX members around the world. Now through December 31, 2012, all new, returning and increased giving to The Michael J. Fox Foundation will be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis with the $50-million Brin Wojcicki Challenge, launched by Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki.
To learn more, visit www.michaeljfox.org or www.facebook.org/michaeljfoxfoundation
About The Parkinson’s Institute
The Parkinson’s Institute (The PI), located in Sunnyvale, Calif., provides comprehensive patient care, while discovering new treatment options to improve the quality of life for all Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. As America’s only independent non-profit organization combining research and patient care for PD under one roof, we are committed to changing the landscape of movement disorder treatment and research. Since its founding in 1988, The PI has helped thousands of PD patients better manage their disease, developed new treatments for PD, and published groundbreaking research aimed to close the gap between science and practical care. By focusing on all three avenues of PD – cause, care and cure, The PI is a powerful force in PD research. To learn more about The Parkinson’s Institute, visit: http://www.thepi.org/