SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The Darrell Gwynn Foundation auctioned two cars and made a wheelchair donation at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction on Friday, January 21. Proceeds from the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction totaled $490,000 which will primarily benefit the foundation’s Wheelchair Donation Program, but also the foundation’s Education & Prevention Program, Paralyzed Assistance Fund and Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week initiative. The Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s mission is to provide AWARENESS, PREVENTION, SUPPORT and ultimately a CURE for Paralysis.
The Darrell Gwynn Foundation presented a new custom-built wheelchair to Chandler, Ariz. 15 year-old Erasmo Portillo. Portillo is diagnosed with Spina Bifida and his family was not able to purchase a life-changing power wheelchair that will offer Erasmo more mobility and independence. The wheelchair was presented on stage on LIVE on SPEED Channel at the Barrett-Jackson Auction.
The Replica Coors Extra Gold Dragster that Darrell Gwynn drove during his racing career reached a milestone when it was purchased for $200,000 by foundation supporter Ron Pratte. It marked the fifth time the car was purchased and donated back to the foundation by Pratte alone, and eighth time overall it was purchased and donated for re-auction. With the sale to Ron Pratte in Scottsdale, Ariz., the car now has raised over $1 million for the Darrell Gwynn Foundation.
The Darrell Gwynn Foundation also sold a Replica Wood Brothers Mercury Montego street-version racecar that David Pearson drove in the famous 1976 Daytona 500 finish. Built by Gateway Classic Mustang and donated to the foundation, the car was purchased by foundation supporter Tom Day for $90,000. Day donated the car back to the foundation and it will be auctioned again at Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach in April 2011. In addition, foundation supporter Bill Gannon made a $100,000 donation by purchasing a Barrett-Jackson 40th Anniversary Poster with proceeds going to the Darrell Gwynn Foundation and William Barker matched the $100,000 poster purchase donation.
About the Darrell Gwynn Foundation
Founded in 2002 by Champion Drag Racer Darrell Gwynn and his wife Lisa, the Darrell Gwynn Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to provide AWARENESS, PREVENTION, SUPPORT and ultimately a CURE for paralysis. In an effort to create more awareness about spinal cord injuries, the Darrell Gwynn Foundation successfully lobbied for an established Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week with a resolution passed by the Florida Legislature in 2006. The foundation operates an Education & Prevention Program directed to high school students to educate them on the dangers of risky behavior that can lead to spinal cord injuries. This rapidly growing program reaches over 10,000 students annually at over 50 high schools. The foundation’s primary support program is its national Wheelchair Donation Program. With this program the Darrell Gwynn Foundation has donated custom built wheelchairs to hundreds of individuals in need. The foundation also maintains a model Paralyzed Assistance Fund offering support services and tools at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado with aspirations to expand this model to several hospitals nationwide. Additionally the foundation provides financial support through its Fast Track Laboratory with the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis aimed at finding a cure for paralysis. With tremendous fundraising partners such as Barrett-Jackson, the NHRA, NASCAR and many more generous sponsors, individual supporters and donors, the Darrell Gwynn Foundation continues to evolve as a leading foundation for those with spinal cord injuries. For more information please visit www.darrellgwynnfoundation.org or www.facebook.com/darrellgwynnfoundation.
