Custom 45th Anniversary Chevrolet Camaro auctioned for $150,000! All Proceeds Benefit the Karmanos Cancer Institute

DETROIT, April 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The first 45th Anniversary Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, VIN 001, was auctioned for $150,000 at the Barrett-Jackson 10th Annual Florida Auction on Friday, April 6. Chevrolet Motor Division donated the collectable car, with all proceeds from the sale benefitting the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute – one of only 41 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the country.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20071106/KARMANOSLOGO)

The 45th Anniversary Special Edition Camaro Convertible was the first of the 2012 model year production, with a 6.2L V8 engine paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, finished with a carbon flash metallic exterior with a unique hood stripe, and a jet black leather interior with white accents on the instrument panel and door inserts.

The Barrett-Jackson auction took place in Palm Beach at the South Florida fairgrounds. Those unable to attend were able to bid online at www.barrett-jackson.com. The auction is another example of General Motors outstanding commitment to the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and its celebration of the organization's 30th Annual Dinner this year, a milestone in fundraising for cancer patients and cutting-edge research.

"The very first production 2012 45th Anniversary Special Edition Camaro Convertible crossed the auction block last weekend at Barrett-Jackson's 10th Annual Palm Beach Auction and raised $150,000 for the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute," said Craig Jackson, Chairman and CEO, Barrett-Jackson Auctions LLC. "This vehicle not only represents GM's commitment to heritage, performance and style, but it's also a symbol for a very deserving cause. We are proud to have worked with both GM and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute to make this happen and we look forward to future opportunities with both organizations."

The Karmanos Cancer Institute's 30th Annual Dinner will be held Saturday, April 28, at the General Motors Vehicle Engineering Center in Warren, Mich. The GM Foundation has generously donated $400,000 to cancer research this year, bringing GM and the GM Foundation's total support of Karmanos to almost $6 million over the past 15 years.

"It's absolutely astounding the commitment that this one company has shown to Karmanos' patients and the brilliant work that our scientific researchers do each day to find a cure for this terrible disease," said Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Karmanos. "Thanks to all of our supporters, we are developing the next standard of cancer care that will be used around the world."

The Annual Dinner is one of two signature fundraising events hosted by Karmanos. The elegant April 28 event will feature a cocktail reception, seated dinner, live musical entertainment and a dazzling raffle presented by Tiffany & Co. There will also be an amazing live auction featuring a one-of-a-kind Corvette; a Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch driving experience in Pahrump, Nevada; an exciting Indy 500 experience; and VIP packages that include: a world movie premiere experience for four; a VIP Barrett-Jackson auction experience; and a Super Bowl XLVII experience for two in New Orleans.

-Chevrolet serves as the Host Sponsor for this year's event. Mary Barra, GM's senior vice president of Global Product Development, and her husband Tony, president of Filament Consulting, will serve as chairs of Annual Dinner. National Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame inductee Spanky Assiter will serve as auctioneer. 

Other major sponsors for the Karmanos Cancer Institute's 30th Annual Dinner are: Presenting Sponsor, Compuware Corporation; and Executive Sponsors, Lil and Alex Erdeljan and Johnson Controls. Dinner Sponsors include: AVL Americas, Becker Ventures, Credit Union ONE, The Delphi Foundation, Edw. C. Levy Co., The Ferrantino Foundation, Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, JMC Steel Group, Kenwal Steel Corp., Lear Corporation, and Trott & Trott.

Tickets for the Annual Dinner are $750 per person for benefactor level tickets, which includes priority seating and recognition in the program book. Patron level tickets are $525 per person and also include recognition in the program book.

For ticket information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Lisa Koltunchik at (313) 576-8106 or [email protected]. You can also visit www.karmanos.org/annualdinner for additional information or to make a reservation online.

About the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Located in mid-town Detroit, Michigan, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is one of 41 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Caring for nearly 6,000 new patients annually on a budget of $216 million, conducting more than 700 cancer-specific scientific investigation programs and clinical trials, Karmanos is among the nation's best cancer centers. Through the commitment of 1,000 staff, including nearly 300 physicians and researchers on faculty at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and supported by thousands of volunteer and financial donors, Karmanos strives to prevent, detect and eradicate all forms of cancer. Its long-term partnership with the WSU School of Medicine enhances the collaboration of critical research and academics related to cancer care. Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., is the Institute's president and chief executive officer. For more information call 1-800-KARMANOS or go to www.karmanos.org.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

About the GM Foundation
Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to deserving American charities, educational organizations and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on supporting Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Energy and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates.  Funding of the GM Foundation comes solely from GM.  The last contribution to the GM Foundation was made in 2000. For more information, visit www.gm.com/gmfoundation.

SOURCE Karmanos Cancer Institute