Press Release
The Carroll Shelby Foundation (CSF) is revving up the spirit of giving this season by hosting a holiday celebration on Saturday, Dec. 14 at its headquarters in Gardena, Calif., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free event will feature an incredible display of cars from Carroll Shelby’s personal collection, a raffle drawing and much more. CSF is encouraging people to bring an unwrapped toy for the Miller Children’s Hospital in Southern California. Also, the limited edition Christmas tree ornament benefitting Eli’s House will be available at the event.
“Carroll Shelby touched millions of lives through his racing, his companies and most of all, his charity,” said Jenni Shreeves, executive director of the Foundation. “Before passing away last year, he challenged us to continue what he considered his most important work, helping take care of kids.”
The event will directly benefit two important children-focused causes. The Foundation will offer the first annual limited edition ornament in Shelby blue for $20 at the new Carroll Shelby Store. Sales of the ornament will benefit the Eli Home, which is a shelter for victims of child abuse and neglect. Anyone who brings an unwrapped toy for the Miller Children’s Hospital anytime from Dec. 1 through the day of the event on Dec. 14 will receive $10 off the price of the Shelby tree ornament.
Event gates open at 10 a.m. (PST) and there is no charge for admission. For the first time, the public will have the opportunity to feast their eyes on some of the rarest Shelby cars from Carroll’s personal collection including the first Cobra, CSX2000. Several So Cal car clubs have already indicated support for the event.
“While there may be other toy drives around the country, this will certainly be one of the most unique and engaging,” added Shreeves. “From a tour of some of Mr. Shelby’s cars to an impromptu car show in the parking lot by some of the local clubs, it will be a great event. Our goal is to help Eli Home through the sale of the Shelby ornament and to bring loads of toys to the Miller Children’s Hospital to raise the spirits of kids spending their holiday season there.”
The week of December 16, the Foundation will load up several Shelby cars and support vehicles with toys for delivery at the hospital. The public will be invited to join the caravan from the Gardena location to the hospital to deliver the gifts; the time and day will be posted on the Carroll Shelby Foundation website.
Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach provides a wide range of primary and specialty care for children of all ages, from newborns to young adults, as well as expectant mothers. The Memorial Care Center for Women at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach welcomes 5,500 babies into the world each year and it is home to one of the largest neonatal intensive care units in California, treating more high-risk infants daily than any other hospital in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.
