May 12, 2008
9th Annual Racing to Recovery Gala
Benefiting the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation

Date: Monday, May 12, 2008; 6 pm to 10 pm. Tickets: $125 per personLocation: Ritz Charles, 12156 North Meridian St., Carmel IndianaProceeds benefit the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation. Meet current Indy Car drivers. Cocktails & lavish strolling dinner buffet; silent & life auctions including one-of-a-kind racing memorabilia....   more→

April 30, 2008
Annual Gala To Celebrate Accomplishments of the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation
PRESS RELEASE

What: The 9th Annual Racing to Recovery Gala hosted by the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation will be held Monday May 12th at 6:00pm. This annual gala celebrates the achievments of the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to funding scientific research, medical treatment, rehabilitation and technological advances to help those who have been afflicted with chronic and acute paralysis, as well as other nuerological disorders such as ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases....   more→

April 15, 2008
"Day at the Races"
SSPF Continues This Popular Program in 2008

In 2008, the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation is pleased to continue its tradition of hosting several “Day at the Races” events at racetracks around the country, including Florida, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois. See complete schedule of dates in the Events section of this website.At the various racetrack locations, SSPF collaborates with local rehabilitation centers and organizations for the disabled, including VA hospitals and veterans associations, inviting patients and members to attend a behind-the-scenes guided tour of the garage and pit areas, enjoy an opportunity to meet the drivers, and passes to view qualifications and actual races....   more→

April 1, 2008
Sam Schmidt Swims with the Fishes at Florida Aquarium
Also see photo gallery page on SSPF website

Tampa, FL- It was a mix of emotion for Sam Schmidt taking on an old passion for the first time.Sam Schmidt, former IRL driver: "It's really kind of that flashback to ten years ago, or something, which is really kind of a nice feeling."Leaving the wheelchair, he's been confined to since an IRL crash in 2000, Sam embarked on what's only been a diving dream: taking the plunge into a five hundred-thousand gallon tank....   more→

March 11, 2008
Michael J. Fox to Speak at SOSCA Conference
Press Release from Americans for Cures

The organization, Americans for Cures, announces that Michael J. Fox will be a featured speaker at SOSCA (State of Stem Cell Advocacy) 2008, this year's leading conference for grassroots advocates supporting stem cell research.The conference will be held on April 12-13 at UCSF Mission Bay Conference Center. Americans for Cures Foundation welcomes new and experienced advocates of all diseases and conditions to learn approaches that can further their advocacy for the facts and promise of stem cell research....   more→

February 14, 2008
Americans for Cures Foundation Announces Conference ro Stem Cell Advocates
Reprinted from Americans for Cures newsletter

Stem cell research advocates nationwide will gather at the State of Stem Cell Advocacy 2008 (SOSCA) conference on April 12-13, 2008. The conference is being presented by Americans for Cures Foundation (A4CF) at San Francisco's UCSF Mission Bay Conference Center.Patient advocates and veterans who want to bolster public support and funding for stem cell research at the local and national level are invited to attend....   more→

January 1, 2008
New Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation Scholarship Fund
Thomas Edison State College Now Accepting Applications for Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation Fund

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jennifer Avrhami Mindspace 480-941-8497 ext 119 Jennifer@mindspace.net TRENTON, NJ (January, 2008) – The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation is pleased to announce its initial $10,000 scholarship fund with the Thomas Edison State College, now available to enrolled students who are spinal cord injured....   more→

December 3, 2007
NEW STEM CELL RESEARCH DOCUMENTARY
Reprinted from American for Cures

"What would you do if your child became paralyzed from the waist down and you had access to the research that might allow them to walk again?" Follow a respected neurologist into the unknown territory of stem cell research in Mapping Stem Cell Research: Terra Incognita.Join ITVS Community Cinema and Americans for Cures Foundation as we view and discuss this new documentary on stem cell research....   more→

November 21, 2007
Research Updates
Reprinted from Americans for Cures

"Stem Cell Research Breakthrough; SCNT Technique Proves Successful in Primates"Scientists at the Oregon National Primate Research Center may have stepped into history: successfully cloning stem cells from a primate.Working with macaque monkeys, Dr. Shoukrat Mitalipov has apparently advanced the Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) technique to a near-human level....   more→

November 12, 2007
SAM SCHMIDT PARALYSIS FOUNDATION RAISES FUNDS WITH DINNER AND GOLF OUTING
Reprinted from Sam Schmidt Motorsports

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Many celebrities, race car drivers, and business people traveled to Las Vegas to help raise funds for the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation on October 28th and 29th.On a beautiful Monday afternoon, the foundation held its second annual “Racing to Recovery Golf Tournament” at the exclusive South Shore Golf Course in Lake Las Vegas....   more→

November 4, 2007
Mayor Declares Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman Honors Former Race Car Driver & Paralysis Advocate Sam Schmidt

LAS VEGAS, Nev.. – Sam Schmidt has a history of getting a crowd motivated. A former top Indy Racing League driver, Schmidt has burnt many miles weaving through tight turns and rushing toward the checkered flag, all to the roaring cheers of thousands of racing fans. When a high-speed crash into a wall during a 2000 race left him a quadriplegic, Schmidt decided to refocus his passion and inspire a new audience to take action....   more→

October 5, 2007
SAM SCHMIDT NOMINATED FOR NSCIA HALL OF FAME
Disability Activist category

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The National Spinal Cord Injury Association has announced its nomination of Sam Schmidt for its 2007 class of the SCI Hall of Fame. Schmidt is nominated under the Disability Activist category. Nominees in this category are those with a spinal cord injury or disease that has demonstrated activism towards change in support of greater equality, independence, and respect for persons living with a spinal cord injury....   more→

September 9, 2007
LOGAN GOMEZ WINS FIRST CAREER INDY PRO SERIES RACE
Press Release from Sam Schmidt Motorsports

JOLIET, Ill. – Sunday saw the closest finish in Indy Pro Series history as Sam Schmidt Motorsports driver Logan Gomez edged out teammate, 2007 Indy Pro Series Champion, Alex Lloyd, by 0.0005 seconds. No other race sanctioned by the Indy Racing League has had a closer margin of victory.The win is Gomez’s first in his Indy Pro Series career....   more→

September 8, 2007
SAM SCHMIDT TO RECEIVE 2007 CURE AWARD
A note from Ida Cahill, President & CEO of the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation

I want to share some very exciting news with you.On September 9th, Sam Schmidt will receive a very prestigious award in Chicago from “Rally for the Cure” honoring him for all his work on behalf of people with spinal cord injuries, paralysis and other disabilities. It’s a wonderful honor and Sam is so pleased, as am I.It is gratifying to see the persistent efforts of SSPF and Sam Schmidt acknowledged in this important way....   more→

September 7, 2007
SAM SCHMIDT PARALYSIS FOUNDATION TO HOST DAY AT RACES AT CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY

The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation and Sam SchmidtMotorsports will be hosting several guests as a part of its "Day at theRaces" program on Saturday, September 8th, at 12 p.m. in the PatronSpirits/Racing Hospitality Tent. The event, sponsored by the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, ChicagolandSpeedway, United Medical Providers, Quickie, and Patron Spirits and Racing,will include a catered lunch courtesy of Patron Racing Hospitality, speechesfrom the foundation's president, Ida Cahill, and founder, Sam Schmidt, and atour of the paddock area of the Chicagoland Speedway....   more→

September 5, 2007
Stem Cell Summit!
Reprinted from Americans for Cures newsletter

The Stem Cell Summit (on October 2-3, in Boston, Massachusetts) promises to be a veritable cornucopia of scientific and political information. Produced by great friend of the movement Bernard Siegel of the Genetics Policy Institute (GPI), the Summit brings together GPI, The Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and the same Burrill and Company who put on the outstanding Stem Cell Meeting earlier this year....   more→

September 5, 2007
State of Stem Cell Advocacy Forum
Reprinted from Americans for Cures newsletter

Americans for Cures Foundation is partnering with Michael J. Fox to create the first annual national forum on stem cell research issue advocacy. The State of Stem Cell Advocacy Forum 2007, to be held at the UCSF Mission Bay Community Center in San Francisco on November 10th & 11th, will provide stem cell research activists from around the country with the tools they need to make their voices heard....   more→

August 10, 2007
SAM SCHMIDT PARALYSIS FOUNDATION TO HOST DAY AT RACES AT KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY

The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation and Sam SchmidtMotorsports will be hosting several guests as a part of its "Day at theRaces" program on Friday, August 10th, at 1 p.m. in the Andretti GreenRacing hospitality tent at the Kentucky Speedway. The event, sponsored by United Medical Providers, Kentucky Speedway, andAndretti Green Racing, will include a catered lunch courtesy of AGR,speeches from the foundation's president, Ida Cahill, and founder, SamSchmidt, and a tour of the paddock area of the Kentucky Speedway....   more→

July 12, 2007
SAM SCHMIDT PARALYSIS FOUNDATION TO HOST DAY AT RACES IN NASHVILLE

The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation and Sam Schmidt Motorsports will be hosting several guests as a part of its “Day at the Races” program on Friday, July 13th, at 1 p.m. in the Andretti Green Racing hospitality tent at the Nashville Superspeedway.The one-hour event will include a catered lunch courtesy of Andretti Green Racing, speeches from the foundation’s president, Ida Cahill, and founder, Sam Schmidt, and a tour of the paddock area of the Nashville Superspeedway....   more→

July 3, 2007
BLOOD CLOTTING PROTEIN MAY INHIBIT SPINAL CORD REGENERATION
Research Update

A note from Ida Cahill, CEO, Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation: Following is a report from Katerina Akassoglou, Ph.D. who is one of the researchers SSPF has helped to support. New and exciting promises are occurring each and every day and Dr. Akassoglou’s work is an example of the progress being made in uncovering the mysteries surrounding spinal cord injuries....   more→