Detroit Street Rods Raises $200,000 For Type 1 Diabetes Research

DETROIT, Mich. Aug. 27, 2007 – The Detroit Street Rods raised $200,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the world’s largest charitable funder of type 1 diabetes research, during the 75th Anniversary celebration of the 1932 Ford Deuce and Ford Flathead, held in Dearborn, Mich., on Aug. 9-12, 2007. A ceremony was held at the historic Edsel and Eleanor Ford House on Aug. 12 where Edsel B. Ford II, the event’s host and long-time supporter of JDRF, received a check on behalf of JDRF for $200,000 to the organization’s mission to find a cure for diabetes.

Detroit Street Rods built Edsel Signature Series roadsters to commemorate the anniversary for Ford Motor Company, and worked with the vehicle owners to make the generous donation of $200,000 to JDRF in conjunction with their vehicle purchases.

“This is truly an amazing amount of support, and it wouldn’t be possible without the leadership and vision of people like Edsel Ford and support from Ford business partners,” said Robin Harding, JDRF Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President during the ceremony.

At the ceremony were Robert Smith, President of Detroit Street Rods; Keith Crain, Executive Advisor of the event; and Vaughn Koshkarian, Chairman of the Deuce at 75 committee. Also at the ceremony were Jim Slaughter, Executive Director, and Ron Dooley, President of the Metro Detroit/Southeastern Michigan JDRF Chapter, along with JDRF Youth Ambassadors seven-year-old Jack Dooley and 15-yearold Emily Whitehouse.

"All of us at Detroit Street Rods, LLC and our Edsel Signature Series owners have a tremendous passion for street rods and classic cars," commented DSR President Robert Smith. "The opportunity to be able to channel our passion to help juvenile diabetes in this way makes our involvement very special to each of us."