Honorees include Park Place Motorsports, Vess Energy, and Compass360 Racing, Jaishri Blakely, MD, and Jeffrey Owen Hanson
Sports Broadcaster and former IndyCar driver Brian Till serves as Master of Ceremonies
NEW YORK – The Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF) is pleased to announce that its annual event, The Benefit New York, will be held on October 30, 2014, at The Plaza hotel in New York City. Funds raised will support research into neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic disorder that can cause tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body and affects one in 3,000 births.
An evening of inspiration and celebration, this year’s event highlights the unique contributions of the competitive racing community for utilizing professional auto racing as a vehicle to amplify awareness and raise funds for NF research. The Racing4Research (R4R) program provides children and families living with NF a distinctively empowering at-track race experience, and has raised more than $3 million since its inception in 2008.
The Foundation recognizes individuals and groups dedicated to increasing awareness and raising funds for NF research. Auto racing teams Park Place Motorsports, Vess Energy and Compass360 Racing will be recognized with a Children’s Humanitarian Award for their commitment to the well-being of NF families and steadfast support of the Foundation; Jaishri Blakeley, MD, Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Neurofibromatosis Center Director, will be recognized with a medical Children’s Humanitarian Award for her contributions advancing the development of clinical trials and drug research for neurofibromatosis; and philanthropic artist Jeffrey Owen Hanson will be honored as the 2014-15 CTF Ambassador for creating original artwork that advances the mission of the Children’s Tumor Foundation and demonstrating great courage in dealing with obstacles when living with NF.
“The Children’s Tumor Foundation’s commitment to ending neurofibromatosis isn’t limited to the incredible advances made in research laboratories,” said Annette Bakker, CTF President and Chief Science Officer. “It’s also the determination and perseverance of people like Dr. Jaishri Blakeley and Jeffrey Owen Hanson, and our Racing4Research auto partners , that will improve the quality of life and fund the programs that will eventually fulfill our mission to end NF.”
Sports broadcaster and former IndyCar driver Brian Till will serve as Master of Ceremonies. In addition to dinner and dancing, the evening will feature a live auction, with items donated by McLaren, Pirelli, Honda Racing, and BRM Chronographs. Racing4Research will also display, outside The Plaza, two of their CTF “Art Cars,” a collection of eye-catching livery with original artwork by NF Hero and CTF Ambassador Jeffrey Owen Hanson.
For more information about The Benefit New York and the Children’s Tumor Foundation, please contact:
Simon Vukelj, Children’s Tumor Foundation, svukelj@ctf.org
Rebecca Silver, Children’s Tumor Foundation, rsilver@ctf.org
About Children’s Tumor Foundation
The Children’s Tumor Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to finding effective treatments for the millions of people worldwide living with neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body and can lead to cancer, blindness, deafness, bone abnormalities, learning disabilities, and disabling pain. NF affects one in 3,000 people, making it more prevalent than cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Huntington’s disease combined. The Children’s Tumor Foundation funds critical research, benefiting those who live with neurofibromatosis, as well as shedding new light on several forms of cancer, brain tumors, bone abnormalities, and learning disabilities, ultimately benefiting the broader community. For more information, please visit www.ctf.org
