Danville d'Elegance (DDE) Foundation Enters 8th Year Earning National Recognition and Showcasing a Weekend Trifecta of Automotive Charity Events for Parkinson's

DANVILLE, Calif., Aug. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Currently ranked as the third largest national supporter of the Michael J. Fox Foundation "TEAM FOX" efforts, the Danville d'Elegance Foundation (DDE) and its quest to support Parkinson's Research & Patient Care is on a roll.  Since 2004, DDE and its staff of more than 200 volunteers, has raised more than $1.3 million to benefit the debilitating disease, while growing its annual weekend of events to include three separate car-related charity programs.

September 15-16, 2012, will mark DDE's eighth year of events and will include the Foundation's 2^nd annual "Tour d'Elegance" scenic rally program within the Napa region; a dinner/auction at the famed Blackhawk Museum; and Danville's own "Concours d'Elegance" set on the streets of historic downtown Danville and including a collection of more than $50mm worth of rare, vintage, collectible and modern-day vehicles, race cars and wooden boats.

According to Jim Edlund, DDE's co-founder, what started as a caring contribution has significantly grown to become a nationally recognized effort that embraces an entire community.  "Thanks to the ongoing efforts of our volunteers, we've become 'the little Concours that could,'" said Edlund.  "We now have a full weekend of events, and of equal importance, corporate sponsors that view our program as a worthwhile cause and credible outlet for their contributions.  The support of our sponsors, as well as our local community, is enriching our program and ability to annually keep surpassing our financial goals."

This year's funding for the DDE charity weekend comes from a multitude of sponsors including Elan Pharmaceuticals, Union Bank, Toshiba and TW Steele, as well as Fiat of Concord, Audi and Porsche of Livermore, McLaren and Fisker of San Francisco.

For more information and to register for the "Tour" or attend the dinner/auction, please view www.danville-delegance.org. The Danville Concours d'Elegance will be held on Sunday, September 16^th, on Hartz Avenue in downtown Danville and is free to the public, though donations are encouraged.  All proceeds are provided to both The Parkinson's Institute and The Michael J. Fox Foundation.

About Danville d'Elegance Foundation

Danville d'Elegance Foundation is dedicated to supporting organizations in their pursuit to find a cure for Parkinson's disease, while specifically raising funds to benefit the advancement of Parkinson's research and patient care.  Since 2004, and through the generous support of corporate and personal sponsors, the Foundation has raised in excess of $1.3 million for this debilitating cause.  All of the annual weekend activities for Danville d'Elegance are planned, supported and completely run by a team of volunteers, a majority whose lives have been touched by Parkinson's disease.  The Foundation's funding efforts are aligned with both The Michael J. Fox Foundation and The Parkinson's Institute.

For more information, please visit www.danville-delegance.org

About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research 

As the world's largest private funder of Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson's disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson's patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding more than $250 million in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson's research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson's disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson's awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world. Now through December 31, 2012, all new, returning and increased giving to The Michael J. Fox Foundation will be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis with the $50-million Brin Wojcicki Challenge, launched by Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki.

To learn more, visit www.michaeljfox.org or www.facebook.org/michaeljfoxfoundation

About The Parkinson's Institute

The Parkinson's Institute (The PI), located in Sunnyvale, Calif., provides comprehensive patient care, while discovering new treatment options to improve the quality of life for all Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.  As America's only independent non-profit organization combining research and patient care for PD under one roof, we are committed to changing the landscape of movement disorder treatment and research.  Since its founding in 1988, The PI has helped thousands of PD patients better manage their disease, developed new treatments for PD, and published groundbreaking research aimed to close the gap between science and practical care.  By focusing on all three avenues of PD – cause, care and cure, The PI is a powerful force in PD research.  To learn more about The Parkinson's Institute, visit: http://www.thepi.org/

Contact: Deb Pollack 805-320-9248
deb@danville-delegance.org

SOURCE Danville d’Elegance Foundation