Raffle to benefit Joslin High Hopes Fund offers special-edition car honoring the “Father of the Mustang”
BOSTON, Mass. – July 20, 2010 – The Mustang, the car that "changed everything" in the automotive industry, will now contribute to finding a cure for diabetes. Joslin Diabetes Center is raffling off a special edition of the famous "muscle" car – the Iacocca Silver 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang. Only 45 of the limited edition Mustangs were made last year to honor the anniversary of the classic car’s introduction at the 1964 World’s Fair.
The Iacocca Family Foundation, which was created to fund diabetes research, donated the vehicle to Joslin Diabetes Center to support the world-renowned institution’s work to improve the lives of people with diabetes and its complications through innovative care, education, and research. This "2009½" Iacocca Silver Edition Mustang will be raffled off to support Joslin’s High Hopes Fund. The Mustang fastback utilizes the latest in Ford performance technology, is painted a special Iacocca-chosen silver hue, and is valued at $70,000.
Raffle tickets can be purchased for $100 each starting today at www.joslin.org/iacocca. The drawing will take place live at the Joslin High Hopes Gala on November 20, 2010 where Joslin will honor members of the Iacocca family. Local car czar Herb Chambers has also joined in on this unique Joslin fundraising campaign and will be supporting the promotional efforts as well as showcasing the custom Mustang at his Ford dealership in Braintree, Mass.
About the Silver 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang
The limited edition Mustang was custom-built by a team of artists, using composite construction Laminates, a reinforced material that is primarily used in aerospace design. With its sunken headlights, slanted grill and low stance, the Mustang includes a 4.6-liter V8 engine with 320 horsepower. A Ford Racing Handling Package adds firmer springs and re-valved shock absorbers.
Inside the Iacocca Silver Mustang, luxurious touches highlight the car's special heritage, including Iacocca Diamond Design leather seats with embroidery stitching, an Iacocca signature dash plaque with serial number, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with "I" badge, and Iacocca-badged aluminum door sill plates. For more details on this remarkable car, see www.ilegacy.com/.
About The Iacocca Family Foundation
The Iacocca Family Foundation was created to fund diabetes research and has brought new hope and promise to everyone living with type 1 diabetes. With the proceeds of his best-selling autobiography Lee A. Iacocca established the Foundation in 1984 in honor of his late wife, Mary K. Iacocca, who died from complications of type 1 diabetes. Since its inception the foundation has funded more than $30 million in promising research projects. For more information on the foundation, visit www.iacoccafoundation.org.
About Joslin Diabetes Center
Joslin Diabetes Center is the world's preeminent diabetes research and clinical care organization. Joslin is dedicated to ensuring that people with diabetes live long, healthy lives and offers real hope and progress toward diabetes prevention and a cure. Founded in 1898 by Elliott P. Joslin, M.D., Joslin is an independent, nonprofit institution affiliated with Harvard Medical School. Joslin does not endorse products or services.
Joslin Diabetes Center’s High Hopes Fund supports the institutions efforts to improve the lives of people with diabetes—young and old—and to prevent and cure the disease. Every gift, whether great or small, helps improve the lives of millions of people who have diabetes and the millions more who are at risk for the disease. The High Hopes Fund gives them—and their families—hope of a world without this disease.