Drive Toward a Cure is a non-profit Foundation dedicated to raising much needed funds and awareness for Parkinson’s Disease research and patient care. While teaming cars and camaraderie with unique, premium lifestyle experiences, car enthusiasts can enjoy some of the most breathtaking scenery and racetracks in the U.S., while driving all types of cars, ranging from vintage to luxury and exotics, while contributing to Parkinson’s Disease.
Since 2016 Drive Toward a Cure has raised more than $400,000 dollars, and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt organization.
Founder Deb Pollack was personally affected by Parkinson’s Disease with the loss of her mother in 2006. As a longtime executive in the automotive industry, and a lifelong car enthusiast, she realized that by taking advantage of the emotional gratification gained through driving experiences, there was an enormous space within the automotive arena to further her cause for Parkinson’s Disease.
With events ranging from Drive Toward a Cure’s annual signature multi-day rallies, to unique regional getaway programs in areas from Monterey to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, all events seek to remain all-inclusive – from logistics and pricing to the camaraderie that ensues.
Over the past several years, coast-to-coast events have included drives along scenic byways and skyways in areas including Yosemite and the Blue Ridge Mountains and include tours of private car collections and museums, as well as touring laps on famed racetracks. Even car clubs throughout the country have been creating their own 1-day drives on behalf of the charity.
But driving events aren’t the only way Drive Toward a Cure raises funds. When the original 1968 Bullitt Mustang, famed for its feature role with Steve McQueen in the most iconic car chase in history, emerged from hiding to globally celebrate the film’s 50th anniversary – the owner of the car whose own father had also been lost to Parkinson’s — and, through the support of Warner Bros, Ford Motor Company and the McQueen Foundation – teamed with Drive Toward a Cure to raise significant funds.
A 1-of-1 hand-painted chronograph, containing actual paint chips from the car, was created for a global raffle earning entries from 34 states and 12 countries. The entire winnings were then matched by a fan to raise a total of $50,000, with the full net proceeds donated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation in honor of the Kiernan family, who had been the custodians of the Bullitt Mustang through the past decades.
Approximately one million Americans live with Parkinson’s disease with 60,000 people diagnosed yearly. The combined direct and indirect cost of Parkinson’’s Disease is nearly $25 billion dollars per year in the United States alone. Drive Toward a Cure brings the power of cars and camaraderie together to benefit Parkinson’s Disease research and patient care.
In 2018, Drive Toward A Cure established its own California Wildfire Grant Fund to give back to Californian’s with Parkinson’s Disease that had been affected by the devastation of ongoing wildfires.
Through the Parkinson’s Foundation, Drive Toward a Cure has created an ‘Access to Care’ program for various regional ‘Centers of Excellence’ for Parkinson’s at renowned medical centers throughout the country.
And most recently, Drive Toward a Cure renamed its funding to include a ‘Special Assistance Fund’ – a grant giving program that supports applicants with Parkinson’s Disease on a nationwide basis, following catastrophic events.
To make a donation or learn more, please visit drivetowardacure.org
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