-
- Posted Friday February 13, 2015
Barrett-Jackson classic car auction raises $140,000 for TGen cancer research
Actress Sharon Stone helps sell '79 Cutlass for TGen, raising hope for colon and prostate cancer patients
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Feb. 13, 2015 - What do a
classic '79 Cutlass, Best Actress nominee Sharon Stone and the Translational
Genomics Research Institute (TGen) all have in common?
They combined in January to raise $140,000 for TGen's colon and
prostate cancer research at the 44th annual Barrett-Jackson
Scottsdale Auction at WestWorld in Scottsdale.
Stone, a special guest at this year's Barrett-Jackson, took the
auction stage Jan. 15 with microphone in hand to urge ever-higher
bids on a 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Hurst Coupe once owned by Linda
Vaughn - known in racing circles as Miss Hurst Golden
Shifter.
Her calls to the bidding audience generated a $140,000 sale,
benefiting the Barrett-Jackson Cancer Research Fund at TGen, in
Memory of Russ and Brian Jackson. The fund, established in
2010, is a salute to auction Chairman and CEO Craig Jackson's
father, Russ, and brother, Brian, whose lives were cut short by
colon cancer.
This Cutlass previously raised $470,000 for TGen. It was sold at
the 43rd annual auction in Scottsdale and then was gifted back to
the auction. It was sold again - then gifted back, again - at
Barrett-Jackson's April event in Palm Beach, Fla. The third sale in
January brought to more than $600,000 the total amount that this
one classic car has raised for TGen research.
"Sharon Stone's star-power and charisma helped make the charity
sale for TGen this year a truly memorable occasion, and helped
raise the public's awareness of TGen and its groundbreaking
scientific discoveries," said Barrett-Jackson CEO Craig Jackson.
"The vehicles that cross the block to benefit charities continue
Barrett-Jackson's long tradition of making a difference."
Over the years, charity car sales at Barrett-Jackson events have
produced more than $1 million in total contributions to TGen
research. Total charitable giving for all causes by Barrett-Jackson
over the years has topped $77 million.
Craig Jackson has acted as a national spokesperson for TGen,
spreading the word about how the institute's research may lead to
better treatments for cancer patients, and with continued support
could one day lead to a cure.
"Craig Jackson's leadership brought award-winning actress Sharon
Stone and automotive icon Linda Vaughn to join his quest to advance
cancer research at TGen," said TGen Foundation President Michael
Bassoff. "We remain extremely grateful that Craig has chosen to
honor his father, Russ, and brother, Brian, in this special
way."
More than 93,000 Americans will be diagnosed in 2015 with colon
and rectal cancer, and nearly 50,000 patients will succumb to this
disease, which after lung cancer is the second-leading cause of
cancer-related deaths in the U.S.
An additional 220,000 American men this year will be diagnosed
with prostate cancer, which this year will kill more than 27,000
patients, the fourth-leading cause of cancer death among men in the
U.S.
For more information, please visithttp://www.Barrett-Jackson.com
and www.tgen.org.
# # #
About TGen
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. TGen is focused
on helping patients with cancer, neurological disorders and
diabetes, through cutting edge translational research (the process
of rapidly moving research towards patient benefit). TGen
physicians and scientists work to unravel the genetic components of
both common and rare complex diseases in adults and children.
Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical
communities literally worldwide, TGen makes a substantial
contribution to help our patients through efficiency and
effectiveness of the translational process. For more information,
visit:www.tgen.org.
Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]
About The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company
Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona,
Barrett-Jackson, The World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions™, is
the leader in collector car auctions and automotive lifestyle
events. The company produces auctions in Scottsdale, Arizona; Palm
Beach, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Reno-Tahoe, Nevada. With
broadcast partners Velocity and Discovery Channel, Barrett-Jackson
will feature 100 hours of live television coverage in 2015,
including broadcasts in over 100 countries internationally.
Barrett-Jackson also endorses a one-of-a-kind collector car
insurance for collector vehicles and other valued belongings. For
more information about Barrett-Jackson, visit http://www.Barrett-Jackson.com,
or call 480-421-6694.