East Norriton, Pa., December 8, 2010 – The Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Philadelphia Auto Show, is proud to announce that the Center for Autism Research (CAR) at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has been named the beneficiary of its 2011 Black Tie Tailgate.
The Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation has supported the extraordinary work of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia since 1986 via proceeds from its annual Black Tie Tailgate and other philanthropic activities. It recently completed a $2 million six-year pledge to the Hospital this spring, which was used for construction and maintenance of the Foundation’s Patient Welcome Center in the Richard D. Wood Pediatric Ambulatory Care Center. Completion of this pledge brings the Auto Dealers’ cumulative giving to the Hospital to more than $4.3 million.
“As we completed the pledge for construction and maintenance of our Patient Welcome Center at the Hospital, moving forward, we wanted to align ourselves with specific departments at the Hospital that we could work hand in hand with each year to help maximize all fundraising, sponsorship and ticket-selling opportunities for our charitable Black Tie Tailgate. The more successful the event is, the more money that will be raised for that department. It’s a direct correlation,” said Scott Lustgarten, president of the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation. “We are truly looking forward to working with the CAR staff, as well as the Hospital’s Development Team, to get additional people excited about the Tailgate and take it to the next level when it comes to premier philanthropic events in the city.”
Tickets to the 2011 Black Tie Tailgate are now available for purchase at www.phillyautoshow.com/bttg. At this special event, guests are invited to take a first look at the hundreds of exotic cars, classic automobiles, new production vehicles, concept models and tuners on display at the Philadelphia Auto Show. The menu for the evening will be designed by Stephen STARR Events and entertainment will be provided by Jellyroll Dance Band. Tickets are $200.00 per person, and this event is open to the public.
About The Center for Autism Research
The Center for Autism Research (CAR) at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is one of the largest and most comprehensive autism research centers in the world. CAR’s goals are to identify the causes of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and develop effective treatments. Since its establishment in 2008, CAR has had multiple breakthrough discoveries in genetics and brain imaging, culminating in over 50 published scientific papers on autism. CAR also conducts innovative treatment research, including the largest autism intervention research study ever conducted for children with ASD, and is involved in community outreach and training programs designed to educate families and professionals about autism screening, diagnosis and treatment.