Kelsey Grammer, Jane Seymour and Scott Wolf help raise half million dollars for Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation

Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation
Monday, 13 March 2000

VAIL, Colorado - Even though it was snowing, the stars were out in Colorado on Saturday night as celebrities from the worlds of entertainment, politics and sports came together in Beaver Creek for the second annual "Hope in Motion" dinner and auction to benefit the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.

Gloria Estefan, Robert Kennedy, Jr. and former president Gerald R. Ford were among the 400 guests in attendance for the gala event. Kelsey Grammer, Jane Seymour, Scott Wolf and Richard Kind all took to the stage to help raise the ante for bids during the live auction.

Christopher Reeve opened the evening with an impassioned call for more research dollars. He shared the tremendous progress that can be made in curing not only spinal cord injury paralysis, but other related central nervous system disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Explaining that money is the key to finding a cure, Reeve encouraged the audience to "dig deep" and help fund this important work.

And dig deep they did. A walk-on role in the comedy "Frasier," dinner in San Francisco with Robin and Marsha Williams and a visit to the set and walk-on role in Reeve's next directorial project topped the list of items up for sale. Together the live and silent auctions raised $506,000, with the proceeds going directly to the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation. This was more than double the $175,000 raised at the inaugural event last year.

The "Hope in Motion" benefit dinner and auction is part of the DLJdirect American Ski Classic, an event hosted by former president Gerald R. Ford and held annually in the Vail Valley since 1983. The Ski Classic brings together retired Olympic and World Cup ski racers, celebrities and amateur participants in a celebration of skiing. Christopher Reeve had participated in the American Ski Classic as a competitor prior to the 1995 accident that left him paralyzed, and it was in honor of his involvement that led to the partnership with the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.

For more information, or to contact Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, see their website at: www.christopherreeve.org