FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Deb Pollack, founder Drive Toward a Cure
(t) 805.320.9248 (e) deb@drivetowardacure.org
DRIVE TOWARD A CURE® ANNOUNCES NATIONAL WINNERS FOR ANNUAL 75 DAYS OF SUMMER PROGRAM FUELED BY HAGERTY
Total Summer Donations Raise Nearly $50K for Parkinson’s Disease – With Entrants Driving Close to 40,000 Miles Nationwide
LOS ANGELES, CA – October 4, 2022 – Nearly 100 like-minded driving enthusiasts were on the roads throughout North America this past summer helping non-profit foundation Drive Toward a Cure create nationwide awareness for Parkinson’s Disease, while raising nearly $50,000 for Parkinson’s research AND patient care. Together they logged nearly 40,000 miles during the program, running from the first day of Summer to Labor Day.
CLINTON QUAN of Encino, Calif., 1st PLACE/GRAND PRIZE WINNER in the Drive Toward a Cure® 75 Days of Summer annual fundraising/driving program fueled by Hagerty – will be receiving a set of Michelin North America tires PLUS a custom-built set of RSR Forged 20” Wheels having driven 7,500 miles collectively in his 2022 Alfa Romeo Giulia and Kia Optima.
STEVEN PODGURSKI, from Holland, Mich., drove 5,959 miles in his 2013 Alpina B7, 2010 BMW 528i and on his 2009 Suzuki Boulevard earning 2nd PLACE in the Drive Toward a Cure® 75 Days of Summer annual fundraising/driving program fueled by Hagerty – he will be receiving a full day program at the BMW Performance Driving School in Thermal, Calif.
KEVIN MURRAY of Cary, Illinois will be sporting new racing shoes and apparel from GrandPrix Originals USA for his 3rd PLACE finish in the Drive Toward a Cure® 75 Days of Summer annual fundraising/driving program fueled by Hagerty – after driving 3,916 miles.
JOHN WARD of Mentor, Ohio will be receiving a 1-day racing school at the Skip Barber Racing School location of his choice for Outstanding Social Media Outreach while driving his ’69 Mustang Mach 1 and ’09 Mustang GT throughout the Drive Toward a Cure® 75 Days of Summer annual fundraising/driving program fueled by Hagerty.
Congratulations to SUNIL JAMES (right), of San Carlos, Calif., for his Outstanding Fundraising efforts during the Drive Toward a Cure® 75 Days of Summer annual fundraising/driving program fueled by Hagerty – Sunil raised $3,525 supporting Parkinson’s Disease on behalf of his good friend Vikas Chinnan (left) who happens to be challenged by early-onset Parkinsons.
The annual 75 Days of Summer program was fueled by Hagerty and supported by Maserati USA with entrants vying to drive the most miles and raise the most funds to win weekly random drawing and grand prizes. Top winners will be receiving prizes from Michelin, RSR Wheels, BMW Performance Driving School, Skip Barber Racing School, Grand Prix Originals USA, and Harman Kardon.
According to Deb Pollack, founder of Drive Toward a Cure, the original program began at the height of the pandemic in 2020 and continued over the past three summers to further enhance the joy of Cars and Camaraderie™ while creating a community of enthusiasts to do some good. “What began as a way to get people out of isolation has turned into an interactive experience that encourages individual and group participation to raise some serious funds for Parkinson’s” said Pollack.
Over the past three years, the summer program has become an event that individuals look forward to all year, with this summer’s ongoing prize giveaways reaching a total value of more than $15,000. Random weekly prize winners received rewards ranging from $100 gift cards from sponsor Pennzoil to various automotive-related gear including ‘Steve McQueen casual driving shoes’ from Hunziker Automotive Design, high-end apparel from NY-based Duncan Quinn, JBL Bluetooth and audio equipment and event tickets to programs like Portland’s Taste of Motorsports. Additionally, Mothers® Polish provided an extra fundraising incentive by delivering each entrant $200 worth of detail products after raising their first $100 in donations for Parkinson’s – a wonderful win-win for all.
A total of three grand prize winners for 2022 were identified based on the total of miles driven AND dollars raised, in any combination – achieved through driving and individual fundraising pages. Additionally, two special prizes were provided in recognition of the most successful fundraiser combined with social media outreach. The five winners resided throughout the country, including California, Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois.
2022 DRIVE TOWARD A CURE 75 DAYS OF SUMMER GRAND PRIZE WINNERS:
- 1st PLACE – Clinton Quan, residing in Encino, Calif., driving 7,500 miles in his 2022 Alfa Romeo Giulia and Kia Optima, and will be receiving a set of Michelin North America tires (valued at $2,000) PLUS a custom-built set of RSR Forged 20” Wheels (valued up to $3,500).
- 2nd PLACE – Steven Podgurski, from Holland, Mich., driving 5,959 miles in his 2013 Alpina B7, 2010 BMW 528i, and on his 2009 Suzuki Boulevard will receive a full day program at the BMW Performance Driving School at Thermal, Calif. (valued at $849).
- 3rd PLACE – Kevin Murray, of Cary, Illinois, driving 3,916 miles and receiving racing shoes and apparel from GrandPrix Originals USA (valued at $400).
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS PRESENTED TO:
- John Ward, of Mentor, Ohio, based on miles driven AND outstanding ongoing social media outreach and awareness for Drive Toward a Cure will receive a 1 Day Racing School at the Skip Barber Racing School location of his choice (Valued at $2,500).
- Sunil James, from San Carlos, Calif., the greatest individual fundraiser, at $3,525, will receive a Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 6 wireless speaker (valued at $400).
Sponsors for 75 Days of Summer:
Sponsors for the 2022 Included: Hagerty; Maserati USA; Michelin North America; RSR Wheels; BMW Performance Driving School; AVANTS; Taste of Motorsports; Pennzoil; Carpe Viam; Hothouse Media; JBL/Harmann; Hunziker Automotive Design; Duncan Quinn; Vicarious Magazine; Magneto Magazine; Grand Prix Originals USA; Linkage Magazine; 000 Magazine; Mothers Polish; and Shell.
About Drive Toward a Cure:
Drive Toward a Cure raises funds and awareness for Parkinson’s Disease research AND patient care. Inspired by the camaraderie found within the automotive culture, the organization’s mission benefits equally from both enthusiast communities and industry professionals. Drive Toward a Cure events harness enthusiasm for cars and driving and turn that power into support for ongoing work to improve the lives of those living with Parkinson’s, as well as the research that will hopefully one day lead to a cure. Since 2016, Drive Toward a Cure has raised more than one million dollars to support BOTH research AND patient care.
Drive Toward a Cure is a 501(c)(3) non-profit supporting beneficiaries including The Michael J. Fox Foundation, the Parkinson’s Foundation, and numerous Centers of Excellence for Parkinson’s. For donations, sponsorship and event registration please visit www.drivetowardacure.org.
About Parkinson’s Disease
Affecting nearly one million Americans and 10 million worldwide, Parkinson’s disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s and is the 14th-leading cause of death in the United States. It is associated with a progressive loss of motor control (e.g., shaking or tremor at rest and lack of facial expression), as well as non-motor symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety). There is no cure for Parkinson’s and 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States alone.
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