A charity worth awarding points to

The Cure Parkinson’s Program has joined forces with the World Team

Tennis Newport Beach franchise known as the Breakers. At a celebrity

match starring John McEnroe held at the Palisades Tennis Club in

Newport Beach, a formal announcement of this united front was made

public

The program, a national charitable organization based in Newport

Beach, was founded by sports marketing guru Jim Warsaw, who suffers

from Parkinson’s, and Hal Spielberg, a former executive with Gillette

and Levi Strauss. Spielberg, also of Newport Beach, is heading

fund-raising efforts for the program.

Both founders addressed the tennis crowd, creating a buzz of

excitement and support that was interrupted by applause on multiple

occasions. The organization has taken on the enormous challenge of

raising an estimated $230 million to support pharmaceutical- and

cell-based cures for Parkinson’s disease.

Warsaw and Spielberg plan to donate the funds to “bring at least

three drugs and cell-based therapies through phase two clinical

trials,” Spielberg said.

“CPP knows the Breakers will help expose the Parkinson’s story to

a target audience that will be a significant factor in meeting

financial goals,” Spielberg said. “We are working on innovative

promotions that will heighten awareness of Parkinson’s that will be

seen by all attending Breakers games throughout the year.”

Warsaw and Spielberg come from international marketing

backgrounds. They know the importance of getting the message across.

For Warsaw, it is a matter of urgency. Since contracting

Parkinson’s in 1993, he has devoted himself to finding a cure. Ever

the optimist, Warsaw insists the answer is just around the corner of

the next fund-raiser that may provide dollars to fund a scientific

breakthrough.

Spielberg is equally bullish, convinced that such a breakthrough

will change the lives of more than 1.5 million Americans suffering

from Parkinson’s today.

Palisades Tennis Club owner Ken Stuart was on hand to support the

event, along with a number of local tennis players who had come to

see McEnroe play and bid on auction items to start the Parkinson’s

fund-raising program.

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Local Orange County Special Olympians were welcomed last month at

Croke Park Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, for the Special Olympics World

Games 2003. Newport’s Peggy Goldwater Clay, an avid champion of

Special Olympics Orange County, proudly reported that our own

Stephanie Hardy took home three gold medals in equestrian

competition.

“Following the Dressage competition, the Italian team gave

Stephanie a standing ovation as she left the arena,” said Richard

Hardy, Stephanie’s father.

It was also reported that the Italian coach came up to Stephanie

after the competition to congratulate her with a kiss on both cheeks

and to tell her how graceful a rider she is.

Born with a mental disability called microcephaly that limits her

to a second-grade reading level, Stephanie may have trouble

comprehending concepts, but has learned to ride a horse with the

skill of a master. Riding for 14 years, Stephanie has won many medals

with Special Olympics. However, the World Games were a unique

opportunity for Stephanie and other local Special Olympians to

display their skills on the international arena.

“The games provided our local athletes with a unique opportunity

to experience personal accomplishment while interacting with

individuals from other countries,” said Pam Jones, regional director

of Special Olympics Orange County.

Special Olympics Orange County serves about 1,200 children and

adults, offering sports training and competition in 22 individual and

team sports on a year-round basis.

For more information on Special Olympics Orange County, please

call (714) 564-8374.

* THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.