Custom 45th Anniversary Chevrolet Camaro to be Auctioned April 6

100% of Proceeds to Benefit the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute

DETROIT, March 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The first 45th Anniversary Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, VIN 001, will be auctioned at the Barrett-Jackson 10th Annual Florida Auction on Friday, April 6. Chevrolet Motor Division donated the collectable car and all proceeds will benefit the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute – one of only 40 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 is the first of the 2012 model year production and has a 6.2L V8 engine paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. It's beautifully 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 will take place in Palm Beach at the South Florida fairgrounds. Those unable to attend can bid on this exciting vehicle by visiting www.barrett-jackson.com.  

The Barrett-Jackson auction is an 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 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 Corvette customized by West Coast Customs, and VIP packages that include: two world movie premieres; a Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch driving experience in Pahrump, Nevada; a VIP Barrett-Jackson auction experience; and an exciting Indy 500 experience.

Chevrolet Motor Division 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. The Presenting Sponsor is Compuware Corporation and Executive Sponsors are Johnson Controls and Lil and Alex Erdeljan.

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 information on the Barrett-Jackson auction visit www.barrett-jackson.com.  For information on Karmanos' Annual Dinner 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 40 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.

SOURCE Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute