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Celebrity Philanthropy News
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Black Tie
International:
Jay Leno's
"Lil Tug" Celebrity Tractor Fetches $535,000
Benefiting The Fisher House Foundation
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Jay Leno drives “Lil Tug” onto the auction floor in
Scottsdale,AZ just before the bidding begins.
Photo by: New Holland Tractor
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JAY LENO’S “LIL
TUG” CELEBRITY TRACTOR FETCHES $535,000
AT
Barrett-Jackson AUCTION TO BENEFIT FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION
***
Tractor Also Signed by President George W. Bush;
Proceeds Help Military Families
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Scottsdale, AZ (January 24, 2012) – Jay Leno’s
beloved “Lil Tug” Celebrity Tractor, which for the last four
years has been the steward of its fellow vehicles in the
Leno Garage in California, fetched $535,000 at the 41st
Annual
Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction over the weekend.
The proceeds will benefit
Fisher
House Foundation, which
constructs comfort homes to provide free, temporary housing
to the families of service members receiving medical care at
VA and military hospitals around the world.
“Sometimes it’s not the injury
that you see. We’ve all seen the burn victims, but a lot of
guys come back psychologically scarred and they need our
help,” said Jay Leno at the auction, just moments
before the winning bid. “100% of this money will go to
Fisher House.”
The New Holland tractor was
signed by
George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United
States of America, a staunch and vocal supporter of
America’s military and their families.
“We’re so grateful to Jay Leno
for donating his prized tractor, and to President Bush for
his support, to benefit the men and women who serve our
great nation selflessly, as well as their families who
support them and give them the strength to do a terrifically
difficult job,” said Ken Fisher, Chairman & CEO of
Fisher House. “Lil’ Tug was part of the Jay Leno family –
and we know how important family is, especially when a loved
one is recovering from injuries suffered on the battlefield.
We salute Jay, Barrett-Jackson and all those who support our
military families.”
“Charity work is part of our business philosophy and helping
the Fisher House Foundation to raise funds for their charity
is something we are happy to do,” said Craig Jackson,
Chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson Auction Company.
“Barrett-Jackson offers a unique platform for the Fisher
House Foundation to spread the word about their efforts. We
are so proud to support the many men and women that protect
our country,” said Steve Davis, President of
Barrett-Jackson.
About Fisher House
Fisher House Foundation is best known for the network of
comfort homes built on the grounds of major military and VA
medical centers. The Fisher Houses are 5,000 to 16,800
square-foot homes, donated to the military and Department of
Veterans Affairs, where families can stay while a loved one
is receiving treatment. Additionally, the Foundation ensures
that families of service men and women wounded in Iraq or
Afghanistan are not burdened with unnecessary expense during
a time of crisis.
Located in close proximity to the medical center or hospital
it serves, each Fisher House consists of between 8 and 21
suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a
common kitchen, laundry facilities, spacious dining room and
an inviting living room with a library and toys for
children. Fisher House Foundation ensures that there is no
fee to stay in a Fisher House. Since inception, the program
has saved military and veteran families an estimated $182
million in out of pocket costs for lodging and
transportation.
Fisher House Foundation operates the Hero Miles Program,
using donated frequent flyer miles to bring family members
to the bedside of injured service members. To date, Hero
Miles has provided over 26,000 airline tickets to our
military and their families. The Foundation also manages a
grant program that supports other military charities and
scholarship funds for military children, spouses and
children of fallen and disabled veterans.
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