FULL SPEED AHEAD: Driven Hearts campaign accelerates into the final lap
September 13, 2018
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
This very special 2015 Ford Shelby GT350 50th Anniversary Edition (Lot #3003) – one of just 100 made – will be one of three vehicles crossing the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas auction block to benefit the Driven Hearts campaign for the American Heart Association.
Car enthusiasts in the Northeast became more heart-health conscious than ever when Barrett-Jackson roared into Connecticut at the end of June for the 3rd annual auction, bringing along all the elements of its yearlong charity initiative for the American Heart Association, Driven Hearts.
The gleaming #DrivenHearts Bugatti was on display in the concourse of The Shops at Mohegan Sun and all the auction cars wore the third in the series of Driven Hearts collector plates: “FAST,” to remind people of the warning signs of stroke (Facial drooping, Arm tingling, Speech impairment, Time to call 911).
Barrett-Jackson’s Driven Hearts charity initiative for the American Heart Association was evident at Mohegan Sun during the 2018 Northeast Auction, most prominently with this eye-catching display of the Driven Hearts Bugatti Veyron and a giant FAST sign – reminding people at the first signs of Face drooping, Arm tingling, Slurred speech – it’s Time to call 9-1-1.
A highlight for many auction-goers was seeing the incredible cars from the fabulous goldRush Rally race into the event as a stop on their 10th annual drive across the country, hosted by Barrett-Jackson, Shell and Pennzoil. GoldRush Rally participants added their support for the Driven Hearts effort, using #DrivenHearts during their rally and many of the cars featuring a #DrivenHearts decal.
The most rewarding moments for the AHA happened on the Northeast auction block. The exciting $1 million sale of the last-production 2018 Dodge Demon and last-production 2017 Dodge Viper for the United Way also benefited the Driven Hearts campaign, with the $100,000 buyer’s fee going to the cause. A sleek 35th Anniversary Edition Chevrolet Corvette generously donated by Darrell and Charmaigne Pullen, a Kentucky couple who were moved by the sale of an identical car for the Driven Hearts campaign at the 2018 Scottsdale Auction. The Pullen family joined and local AHA members on the auction block to watch the ’Vette bring in $60,000, another huge step in raising much-needed awareness and funds to battle heart disease, America’s #1 killer. Also onstage to witness the sale were two members of the Barrett-Jackson family who have a personal interest in heart health: Janie Davis – wife of Barrett-Jackson President Steve Davis – and their adult daughter Misty, who had a hole in her heart that required an operation at age 3.
The Driven Hearts effort was also very much in evidence at the August Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit, where collector plates saying DRIVEN and FAST were sold to benefit the AHA and thousands of postcards and #DrivenHearts stickers were distributed to raise more awareness.
Another of the vehicles to be sold at the Las Vegas Auction is this 1956 Ford Thunderbird (Lot #3002) from the Bryan Frank Collection, which will benefit both the AHA and Regional West Foundation.
The Driven Hearts campaign continues to pick up speed as it heads to the Entertainment Capital of the World at the end of September for the 11th Annual Las Vegas Auction, where two more special vehicles will be sold to benefit the AHA. One – generously donated by classic car enthusiast Ronald Evans – is a rare 50th Anniversary Edition 2015 Shelby GT350 (Lot #3003) that’s one of just 100 made, while the other is a beautiful 1956 Ford Thunderbird convertible (Lot #3002) from longtime Barrett-Jackson friend Bryan Frank.
Frank’s Thunderbird has special meaning to him, as he and his mother purchased it at a Barrett-Jackson auction in Reno, and then drove it at his mother’s insistence to Lake Tahoe on a lark. The memories of that trip are poignant for Frank, as his mother passed away recently from stroke complications. “My parents were always so giving, and I want to continue on with their legacy,” he says. “Being from a small community, it is so important to give back, so that’s why I have decided to give half the sale price of the Thunderbird to Driven Hearts and the other half to Regional West Foundation, to help purchase equipment for both the heart and cancer departments of my local hospital in Nebraska.”
The fourth and final Driven Hearts collector plate – reading “STRONG” – will be on all the Las Vegas auction cars and for sale on-site at the event (and later on ShopBarrettJackson.com).
As an added bonus, a striking framed poster from the 2018 Scottsdale Auction – signed by some pretty impressive celebrities, including former U.S. President George W. Bush, Michael Phelps, Alice Cooper, Arie Luyendyk and Arie Luyendyk Jr. (aka The Bachelor), Jay Leno, Tim Allen and Rusty Wallace – will be auctioned on the block during the event, with the entire sale price going to the AHA.
Look for the fourth and final Driven Hearts collector plate on the auction cars and for sale on-site (this one reading “STRONG”), as well as the #DrivenHearts Bugatti – perfect for selfies! There will also be a donation box at the event, or you can text DRIVENHEARTS to 41444 to make a donation.
While the Las Vegas Auction will be the last major stop of the year for the Driven Hearts campaign, the momentum and giving will continue right through the end of the year. Driven Hearts is the official charity of the 8th Annual Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championship: Horses and Horsepower – otherwise known as the Polo Party – on Nov. 10-11, and of course the biggest event of all will be the 59th Annual Phoenix Heart Ball on Nov. 17, a black-tie affair that brings together the most influential leaders from the corporate, philanthropic and medical communities to raise funds and promote the lifesaving work of the American Heart Association. (To become a donor or sponsor, or to reserve your tickets to this not-to-be-missed event, visit PhoenixHeartBall.ahaevents.org.)
Carolyn Jackson, Barrett-Jackson’s vice president of brand strategy, who has been leading the company’s Driven Hearts campaign, is also the chairman of this year’s Phoenix Heart Ball, and recently received the exciting news that AHA CEO Nancy Brown and her husband will be in attendance for the big event. “Hearing that Nancy Brown would be attending the Ball has provided the energy to grab another gear and drive this campaign across the finish line at full throttle,” says Carolyn.
We hope you will continue to join our efforts to slam the brakes on heart disease and stroke – even sharing #DrivenHearts on social media helps spread much-needed awareness. Thus far, an incredible 68 million social media users have been reached using the hashtag! If you would like to find out more about the Driven Hearts campaign and how you can help, visit DrivenHearts.org.
MORE CARS FOR A CAUSE
Lot #3000 – a 2018 Ford F-150 XLT Pickup – will be sold to benefit Paralyzed Veterans of America.
In addition to the 2015 Shelby GT350 (Lot #3003) selling on Saturday, Sept. 29, to benefit Barrett-Jackson’s Driven Hearts campaign for the American Heart Association and the 1956 Ford Thunderbird (Lot #3002) on Friday, Sept. 28, for Driven Hearts and the Regional West Foundation, a number of other vehicles are headed to the Las Vegas Auction block to help support some very worthy causes. As always, Barrett-Jackson waives all fees on these special vehicles, so 100 percent of the hammer price will go directly to the designated charity. Here’s a quick rundown:
Lot #3001 – a 2018 Can-Am Spyder F3-T 3-Wheel Motorcycle – will be sold to benefit Project Road Warrior Foundation.
Thursday, Sept. 27 – The first edition of the custom-built Petty’s Garage 2018 Ford Warrior F-150 Super Crew four-wheel-drive XLT (Lot #3000), designed in tribute to the U.S. military will be sold to benefit Paralyzed Veterans of America. This is the first of its kind made available to the general public; the truck is sold exclusively to the military through Military AutoSource. The well-equipped pickup is enhanced with a Whipple supercharger producing 750hp and 560 ft/lbs of torque.
Friday, Sept. 28 – Project Road Warrior Foundation, which takes 10 wounded veterans on a 2,000-mile cross-country adventure every year, will benefit from the sale of a brand-new, fully loaded 2018 Can-Am Spyder F3-T 3-wheel motorcycle (Lot #3001), decked out with custom military-themed paint, wheels and accessories. Some top paint and customization shops in the nation helped create this amazing vehicle.
Lot #3004 – a 2018 Ford Mustang GT Premium – will be sold to benefit Grant A Gift Autism Foundation.
Saturday, Sept. 29 – A 2018 Ford Mustang GT Premium Coupe (Lot #3004) with a one-off custom Las Vegas Golden Knights wrap will take to the stage to support the Las Vegas-based Grant a Gift Autism Foundation. Featuring the GT Performance Package, the car – which has less than 100 miles on the odometer – is equipped with a 5.0-liter V8 engine with custom intake and supercharger, a 10-speed automatic transmission and many other high-tech bells and whistles.
Lot #3005 – a 1995 Celebrity 310 Sport Cruiser Boat – will be sold to benefit the American Heart Association.
Saturday, Sept. 29 – Generous Barrett-Jackson Driven Hearts supporters Darrell and Charmaigne Pullen have stepped up once again (their donated 1988 Chevrolet Corvette 35th Anniversary Edition brought in $60,000 for the cause at the 2018 Northeast Auction) and donated a 1995 Celebrity 310 Sport Cruiser Boat (Lot #3005) to be sold for the American Heart Association. This 31-foot cabin cruiser has new twin 220hp engines, newly rebuilt lower units, newly covered seating, refurbished electrical and pumps and more – and comes with a triple-axle trailer with new tires.
The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company’s history runs deep with giving people the platform to help those in need and the 11th Annual Las Vegas Auction continues the tradition. Be sure to be in the auction arena when these “cars for a cause” cross the block to witness the remarkable generosity of our bidders and consignors.
For up-to-date information on all the charity vehicles at the 2018 Las Vegas Auction, click HERE.