At the 70th annual Grand National Roadster Show, held last weekend in Pomona, non-profit Drive Toward a Cure found exceptional fundraising success and capped off its latest fundraising efforts with a total of over $70,000 raised for Parkinson’s Disease research and patient care. A highlight of the event was the ‘Charity Pinstripers,’ who volunteered their artistry to earn more than $45,000 in auction proceeds and donations. Entertainment at the show included live music by famed blues rock guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, who at the conclusion of his performance donated the instrument he had just played, earning $5,000.
Sean Kiernan, custodian of the original 1968 “Bullitt” Mustang from the Hollywood movie, displayed his iconic car throughout the weekend to raise additional funds and mark the conclusion of the “BULLITT 50” BRM Chronograph/Hunziker-designed art watch raffle, celebrating the car and film’s 50th anniversary. The raffle ended on Sunday having reached 1,011 ticket entries and raising more than $25,000 in honor of Sean’s father, Robert E. Kiernan, Jr., with proceeds benefitting the Michael J. Fox Foundation from Drive Toward a Cure. The elder Kiernan, who purchased Bullitt in 1974, died of Parkinson’s in 2014.
The winning ticket, belonging to Dave Stone of Ketchum, Idaho, was announced on stage Sunday afternoon before the award ceremony. Mike Brewer, host of the car show ‘Wheeler Dealers,’ joined Sean Kiernan, automotive fine artist Nicolas Hunziker and Drive Toward a Cure founder Deb Pollack for the announcement. Mr. Stone will be awarded the 1-of-1 BRM Chronograph watch, which includes both a hand-painted dial by Hunziker depicting the legendary car and a paint fragment from the original vehicle. The one-of-a-kind timepiece is valued at $35,000.
Those who contributed to the success of the charity weekend include John Buck, owner of Rod Shows and the Grand National Roadster Show, who selected Drive Toward a Cure as the ‘charity of choice’ for 2019. He introduced the non-profit to Marshall Knapp, leader of the charity pinstripers – a skilled, award-winning group of artists from all over the USA who volunteer their time and labor to raise funds through six separate auctions during the weekend show.