LAcarGUY donates $16,500 to Pipeline To A Cure to fight Cystic Fibrosis
LAcarGUY has been working for many years to raise money for the fight against Cystic Fibrosis, a terrible decease that effects the respiratory system. LAcarGUY has been donating $300 for every touchdown USC has scored this year to the fight against CF, the prolific USC offense rang up 56 touchdowns this year bring the total LAcarGUY donation for 2011 to $16,500! Last year LAcarGUY donated $15,900, so we are happy to donate even more money this year.
For those that are not familiar with the disease, Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that affects the lungs, but can also target the pancreas, liver and intestines. It is characterized by abnormal transport of chloride and sodium across epithelium, leading to thick, viscous secretions.
CF is caused by a mutation in the gene for the protein cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). This gene is required to regulate the components of sweat, digestive juices, and mucus. Although most people without CF have two working copies of the CFTR gene, only one is needed to prevent cystic fibrosis. CF develops when neither gene works normally and therefore has autosomal recessive inheritance.
The Pipeline to a Cure Campaign was created to herald the discovery by Australian researchers who found that Cystic Fibrosis children that surfed had significantly healthier lungs. Doctors determined that inhaling saltwater mist has a powerful effect on rehydrating the lining of the lungs, which allows CF patients to more easily eliminate bacteria-contaminated mucus. This discovery led researchers to develop a hypertonic saline solution, which CF patients around the world now inhale every day. In essence, CF patients now mimic a “surf session” on a daily basis.
Because of this amazing discovery, the surfing community has adopted the Pipeline To A Cure Campaign to help raise money and awareness to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. Legendary Waterman Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama have stamped their names on Pipeline and for the last three years have been dedicated to the fight. Included with Laird and Dave are Rob Machado, Lisa Anderson, Tom Curren and PT Townsend. They have all lent their time and talents to promotePipeline to a Cure and help find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. Since its creation in 2008, Pipeline To A Cure has raised over 1.3 million dollars to fight Cystic Fibrosis.
Toyota of Hollywood partners with EMA on School Garden Project
Toyota of Hollywood (an LAcarGUY dealership) is proud to announce our sponsorship of Environmental Media Association’s (EMA) School Garden Program at Helen Bernstein High School. This program is an innovative initiative between the EMA and the LAUSD to support gardens and greenery in urban schools across Los Angeles.
Community and environmental causes have always been a priority for LAcarGUY dealerships so we were excited to provide a hands-on educational opportunity through the Helen Bernstein school garden. This “living classroom” will enrich the learning experience for all students at Helen Bernstein and will help develop healthier food choices and eating patterns that can last a lifetime.
EMA launched an ongoing partnership with LAUSD to support gardens and greenery in urban schools across Los Angeles. The school garden will be a great opportunity for the children take their learning beyond the four walls, in a more dynamic environment. Math, science, nutrition, health, and fitness can all be taught through the use of these gardens. In addition to the garden itself, EMA will also provide a celebrity mentoring program for students with a member of their Young Hollywood Board that includes Amy Smart, Nicole Richie, Maroon 5 and Rosario Dawson!
We will continue to bring you updates and pictures of our newly adopted garden. If you’re involved in growing your own fruits and vegetables in your backyard, tell us your story and send in pictures. We would love to see them! We’ll continue to bring you updates and pictures of our newly adopted garden. If you’re involved in growing your own fruits and vegetables in your backyard, tell us your story and send in pictures. We would love to see them!
Pacific Audi Joins In Support For The Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program
As the holiday seasons approaches, LAcarGUY is even more committed to helping those in our community during this special time of year. Here at Pacific Audi, we were inspired by our appointment coordinator, Elizabeth Weissman, to support the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation to bring toys and smiles to children in need. Elizabeth feels grateful for the kindness and generosity that her family received while she was growing up, with not just toys but also in food and clothing. She personally knows what an impact the program makes in helping make a child’s Christmas. Pacific Audi is an official toy drop-off center.
The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute these toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.
Pacific Volkswagen Blood Drive
Tis the Season of Giving so Drop By the Dealership to Donate!
Monday, December 5th
11 am – 4 pm on the Showroom Floor
All donors will receive a Pacific Movie Ticket!
call 310.531.9400 or email Andrea at andreagarcia@lacarguy.com to schedule your appointment!
Please remember to EAT WELL and INCREASE your FLUID INTAKE the day of your donation
We Require Identification
For more information, please visit the website: www.gotblood.ucla.edu
Lexus Santa Monica Joins In For “Truth Be Told-Stories of Hope, Healing & Courage”
Tickets are now on sale at www.truthbetold2011.org for “Truth Be Told-Stories of Hope, Healing & Courage” — the first fundraising event of its kind benefiting the Premiere Oncology Foundation.
The evening begins with a silent auction with more than 60 items, cocktail reception featuring Justin Timberlake’s 901 Tequila and catering by Citron, art and jewelry boutique. The show, hosted by Emmy Award winner Bradley Whitford of West Wing and The Mentalist fame, will include more than a dozen compelling and inspirational stories told by current patients, survivors, caregivers and health care providers. Musical, theatrical and comedic performances will also be woven throughout the evening. The vignettes will be uplifting, funny and moving. A sampling of those planning to share their stories include cancer survivor and Emmy award-winning comedy writer and comedian Monica Piper, Julie Carruthers, cancer survivor, motivational speaker and one-legged surfer; and performance artist and three-time cancer survivor Jonna Tamases. The evening’s performances also include a wide range of inspirational music from soul, to opera, jazz and even a knockout gospel choir.
Located in Santa Monica, the Premiere Oncology Foundation is a research and treatment center founded in 2004 by Dr. Lee Rosen, a world-renowned researcher and medical oncologist. Rosen sees this as “a poignant way to honor those who have fought and continue to fight with such courage” and notes “I am often asked how I cope daily with the lives and treatment of cancer patients and I feel the answer lies in these inspiring stories. It’s now time to share them.”
The gala will begin at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17th at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, located at 1310 11th Street. Parking is free.
The silent auction will feature one-of-a-kind items including a brand new Lexus from Lexus of Santa Monica, tickets to the 2012 Masters Final Round, a taping of 2 ½ Men on the Warner Brothers lot, Fighter Pilot For A Day, Astronaut For A Day, fun vacation getaways as local as Santa Monica and as far as New York and New Orleans, Indy Car Driver for A Day, golf at Pebble Beach, dinner for two at many of the best Santa Monica and West LA eateries and much more.
General Admission tickets cost $150 and reserved seating is $300. Proceeds from this event will make a difference in the lives of cancer patients through supportive services, integrative medicine, education and oncology research. To purchase tickets and get additional information, visit www.truthbetold2011.org or call 800-595-4849 to purchase your tickets by phone. For more information about the Premiere Oncology Foundation visit http://www.premiereoncology.com.
Heal The Bay Issues 2010-2011 Annual Beach Report Card
As many of you know that LAcarGUY expanded it’s relationship with Heal the Bay by sponsoring the Beach Report Cards. The latest report has just come out and it looks at the health of the water and beaches of the West Coast, from Washington to California.
Overall beach water quality at Los Angeles County beaches dipped in 2010-11, according to Heal the Bay’s 21st annual Beach Report Card , which the environmental group released yesterday.
Heal the Bay analysts assigned A-to-F letter grades to 92 beaches in the county for the dry-weather period from March 2010 through April 2011 based on levels of weekly bacterial pollution. Some 75% of sites earned A or B grades, compared to an 80% tally in last year’s report.
The decline can be attributed to a number of factors, most notably higher than usual rainfall totals during the reporting period. Notably, some chronically polluted L.A. County beaches that had seen marked improvement reverted to poor form this year despite millions of dollars being spent on water quality improvements.
The 75% figure for L.A. beaches receiving A or B grades is well below the statewide average of 90%. Despite significant improvements over the course of two decades, Los Angeles County continues to have the greatest number of beaches with poor water quality grades of any county in the state.
“Despite numerous individual beach success stories, this year demonstrated that there hasn’t been progress reducing major beach pollution sources like the Los Angeles River, Malibu Creek and Topanga Creek,” said Dr. Mark Gold, president of Heal the Bay.
The Beach Report Card is a comprehensive evaluation of coastal water quality based on daily and weekly samples taken from sites along the entire coast of California. A poor grade means beachgoers face a higher risk of contracting illnesses such as stomach flu, ear infections, upper respiratory infections and skin rashes than swimmers at cleaner beaches.
(Ocean goers can check updated grades for their local beach each Friday at beachreportcard.org. Later this summer, Heal the Bay will launch an application for mobile devices that will allow beachgoers to access the latest water grades instantly)
A handful of significantly polluted beaches helped drag down the county’s overall grades, including those in Avalon and Malibu. Long Beach also played a major role. After three years of improved water quality during summer dry weather, Long Beach water quality fell an alarming 40% from last year.
Eight beaches in the county received year-round F grades. And Los Angeles County leads Heal the Bay’s annual Top 10 Beach Bummer List, with four locations in the ranking of the state’s most polluted beaches.
Avalon Beach in Catalina continues its reign as the most polluted beach in Los Angeles County. However after several years of delay, the city of Avalon granted $5.1 million toward sewer improvements, which will hopefully get underway this summer.
Other county sites on the state’s top 10 Beach Bummer list: Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, Topanga State Beach and Colorado Lagoon in Long Beach.
On the positive side, seven beaches in Los Angeles County were placed on Heal the Bay’s Honor Roll, meaning they scored perfect A+ grades by not having any bacterial exceedances in year-round dry weather.
After spending more than $2 million and years of staff time to improve water quality at the Santa Monica Pier, city officials can take pride in a an annual A grade for the beach south of the pier. The dramatic swing removes the pier from its historical spot on the top 10 Beach Bummer list.
Meanwhile, Orange County beaches once again recorded excellent water quality grades, well above the state average. Some 96% of 84 locations monitored year-round during dry weather received an A or B during the summer, steady with last year’s report.
Despite the generally excellent water quality, Orange County had two historically troubled locales join the Top 10 Beach Bummer List: Poche Beach and Doheny Beach. A dry weather filtration-disinfection plant completed last year at Poche Beach has yet to meet performance specifications. County officials continue an ongoing effort to improve surf zone water quality, however, and are actively working to identify lingering causes of pollution.
Wet weather water quality in Orange County this past year was poor with 64% of monitoring locations receiving A or B grades. That figure compares with 42% in 2009-10, an improvement that benefits the county’s sizable population of year-round surfers.
Ventura County also enjoyed excellent water quality in 2010-11. All of the 40 beaches monitored during summer dry weather received A grades. There were no F grades during any reporting period. However, D grades were assigned to the following wet-weather locales: Surfer’s Point, Promenade Park, San Buenaventura Beach at San Jon Road, Surfer’s Knoll and Channel Islands Harbor Beach Park.
One of the reasons that Los Angeles County lags in water quality is the fact that its monitoring agencies – unlike most others in the state — collect samples directly in front of flowing storm drains and creeks. Orange and Ventura counties monitor 25 yards or more away from flowing drains and creeks.
Monitoring at “point zero” locations, where polluted runoff often pools, is the best way to ensure that health risks to swimmers are captured in water quality data.
However, not all water quality problems in Los Angeles County can be attributed to more stringent testing.
Year-round dry-weather water quality in Long Beach fell dramatically, with only 33% of its monitored beaches receiving A or B grades during the period. That rate lags significantly behind L.A. County’s 76% A or B total.
Long Beach’s water quality is poor overall because it sits at the terminus of the pollution-choked L.A. River. The nearly 1,000-square-mile drainage area is the predominant source of fecal bacteria to Long Beach waters.
The city is to be commended for investigating and fixing leaking or disconnected sewage pump lines and improperly working diversions. But ultimately the city’s water quality is directly tied to the rainfall amounts and enormous runoff volumes from the L.A. River.
Summertime water quality in Santa Monica Bay beaches was excellent, with 91% of the beaches from Palos Verdes to Leo Carillo receiving A or B grades. The figure is markedly better than the seven-year average of 82% and just edged out the statewide average of 80%.
On a more downbeat note, infrastructure improvements at Malibu’s Paradise Cove and Marie Canyon and Los Angeles’ Cabrillo Beach failed to yield similar results as Santa Monica Pier. These sites still earn D and F grades.
Wet weather water quality in L.A. County in 2010-11 fell significantly, with only 29% of beaches receiving A or B grades compared to 50% last year. Wet weather grades were 7% below the county’s seven-year average, with 40 out of 87 sites receiving an F grade.
Cities continue to grapple with storm water runoff and the harmful effects it has on year-round ocean users. Heal the Bay recommends that no one swim in the ocean during, and for at least three days after, a significant rainstorm.
State results
Statewide, most California beaches had very good water quality this past year during year-round dry weather, with 284 of 324 (88%) locations receiving A and B grades. That marks a 2% dip from the previous report.
Overall, 28 of the beaches (9%) monitored statewide received D or F grades during year-round dry weather. Eighteen beaches statewide received an overall F grade during the busy summer beach-going season for the 2010-11 Beach Report Card.
Numerous California beaches vied for the monitoring location with the consistently poorest dry-weather water quality.
Here are the Top 10 “Beach Bummers” in California (starting with the worst):
The Top 10 Beach Bummers
1. Cowell Beach – at the wharf (Santa Cruz County)
2. Avalon Harbor Beach on Catalina Island (L.A. County)
3. Cabrillo Beach harborside (Los Angeles County)
4. Topanga State Beach at creek mouth (L.A. County)
5. Poche Beach (Orange County)
6. North Beach/Doheny (Orange County)
7. Arroyo Burro Beach (Santa Barbara County)
8. Baker Beach at Lobos Creek (San Francisco County)
9. Colorado Lagoon (Los Angeles County)
10. Capitola Beach — west of the jetty (Santa Cruz County)
Honor Roll
Some 68 of the 324 (21%) beaches with year-round dry weather grades this year scored a perfect A+. These beaches had zero exceedances of state bacterial standards for ocean water quality throughout the entire time frame of this report. Heal the Bay proudly places these beaches on our Beach Report Card Honor Roll. A list of these locations in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties can be found in the full report.
Uncertain Funding Statewide for Beach Monitoring
County monitoring agencies continue to feel the effects of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2008 line-item veto of state beach monitoring funds. The governor axed funds that supported the collection and processing of ocean water samples as well as the posting of signs to notify swimmers of health risks.
Fortunately, some local governments have temporarily allocated additional funding to provide this invaluable service to the beach-going public. The State Water Resources Control Board also provided major stop-gap funding through 2011.
There is no secured state funding for ongoing testing of ocean water quality in 2012, placing public health at risk. If the situation does not improve, over half of the beach monitoring in the state will stop. Heal the Bay will continue to work with state and local governments to ensure that ongoing funding is secured.
For a detailed look at beach results for each county and report methodology, please refer to our complete report. A PDF version is available at www.healthebay.org.
About the Beach Report Card
All county health departments are required to test beach water quality samples for three types of indicator bacteria at least once a week. Heal the Bay compiles the complex shoreline data, analyzes it and assigns an easy-to-understand letter grade. We analyzed 445 beaches, from San Diego to Humboldt counties, based on levels of weekly bacterial pollution reported from April 2010 through March 2011.
The summary includes an analysis of water quality during four time periods: summer dry season (April through October), year-round dry weather, winter dry weather, and year-round wet weather. The grading methodology is endorsed by the State Water Resources Control Board.
An FAQ about the Beach Report Card is available at www.healthebay.org/brc/FAQs. Heal the Bay’s interactive microsite contains weekly updates as well as historical grades. www.healthebay.org/brc
Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card is made possible through the generous support of The Diller – von Furstenberg Family Foundation, simplehuman, LAcarGUY, SIMA, and Grousbeck Family Foundation
LAcarGUY Donates $15,900 to Pipeline To A Cure
LAcarGUY And USC Trojans Score With Touchdown To A Cure
After thirteen hard-fought games and 56 touchdowns, the Trojan/LAcarGUY partnership generated $15,900 toward fighting Cystic Fibrosis as a contribution to Pipeline To A Cure from the LA-area Family of Dealerships. The funds go toward education and research.
“Our involvement with Pipeline To A Cure, USC Trojans and the many proud people who are striving to eliminate Cystic Fibrosis, allowing children struck with the disease to live easier, is so important” announced Mike Sullivan, President of LAcarGUY. “The nearly $16,000 that was raised from Trojan touchdowns will go a long way to help. We need to bring more awareness and fund raising to help in the fight against what essentially takes the breath, and ultimately the lives, of many youth”.
Studies and real-life experience show that when people suffering from Cystic Fibrosis are at coastal areas, or even better in the water, their breathing eases when the salt-rich air and water help draw fluid from the tissue helping to eliminate the heavy mucus build-up in the lungs and digestive tract.
LAcarGUY thanks the USC Trojans for taking part in the important efforts…
LAcarGUY Dealerships’ Hit Dockweiller Beach With Heal The Bay
On Saturday, September 25th, 50+ LAcarGUY employees, friends and family braved the heat and cleaned Santa Monica’s Dockweiller Beach as part of Heal the Bay’s 21st Annual Coastal Cleanup Day. We joined a record-breaking number of volunteers that collected more than 50 tons of trash.
Some 14,131 volunteers made their way to the coast’s waterways from 9 a.m. to noon at 65 sites throughout the county, covering 101 miles and removing 103,524 pounds of debris.
Coastal Cleanup Day (CCD) began in 1985 and has grown into a huge annual event. Every state with a coastline participates, including the Great Lakes states, and even some inland states clean river and lake shores. The one-day cleanup is international—at last count, over 60 nations participated—and may be the largest volunteer day on the planet.
Heal the Bay and the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors are the Los Angeles County coordinators for the state of California’s Coastal Cleanup Day. We bring out over 10,000 volunteers to cleanup sites each year in L.A. County to over 50 sites along Santa Monica Bay and along inland creeks and waterways.
LAcarGUY’s commitment to the community and the water around the South Bay is personal. Our president, Mike Sullivan, has been surfing the waves in the area his entire life and many staff join in activities around the beaches and surf regularly.
Most people clean at the beach and on foot, but there are also special cleanups for inland creeks, boaters, kayakers, and divers. By far the most common item picked up are cigarette butts. Some of the more unusual items found in recent years were a chandelier, a briefcase full of graham crackers, and a bridal gown.
City crews, families, local businesses, faith-based organizations, schools and youth sports teams worked in tandem to gather and remove 103,524 pounds of debris.
Urban runoff from more than 200 storm drains flowing out to Santa Monica and San Pedro bays causes the vast majority of local ocean pollution. By removing tons of trash from beaches and inland neighborhoods, cleanup participants enhance quality of life, protect marine animals and bolster the regional economy.
“Code Red” locations in need of special attention this year included Dominguez Channel, Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park, the Los Angeles River and Encino’s Haskell Creek. These urban sites drain runoff from huge swaths of Los Angeles County and are overwhelmed by such litter as plastic bags and fast-food packaging.
Heal the Bay’s CCD campaigns have captured a cumulative 1.57 million pounds of trash since 1990. Cigarette butts, plastic bottle caps and Styrofoam fragments are the most frequently found items at cleanups.
Sites covered the entire county this year, from Tujunga to Long Beach, Compton to Malibu. SCUBA dive teams canvassed under the Santa Monica and Redondo Beach piers, while a flotilla of kayakers removed trash from Marina del Rey.
LAcarGUY is proud to be involved with such an important part of the health of our beaches and water. Thank you Heal The Bay!
See the press release from Heal The Bay here
See the LAcarGUY Flickr photos or on our Facebook page
Four Games Into The Season, USC And LAcarGUY Are Helping Touchdown To A Cure!
With four consecutive wins (and 21 touchdowns), LAcarGUY’s commitment to help fight Cystic Fibrosis has a staunch supporter: the USC Trojans. For every touchdown scored this season, $300 will be donated to Pipeline To A Cure’s efforts by our stores. The running total is now $6,300 and at the pace that USC is scoring, the fight against this tough disease will grow rapidly!
We’ll be updating here periodically and every week on our Facebook pages for each store. Want to know how to get involved yourself? Simply to go http://www.lacarguy.com/cure and click on the “Donate Now” button under the dollar thermometer
LAcarGUY Announces Sponsorship of USC Football’s “Touchdown To A Cure”
For every touchdown USC scores this year, LAcarGUY will donate $300 to Pipeline To A Cure, a charity focused on raising money to cure Cystic Fibrosis.
Hawthorne, CA – September 2, 2010 – LAcarGUY, Los Angeles’ premier family of auto dealerships and number one hybrid dealer in the world, is giving USC another reason to score this season. For every touchdown USC delivers, LAcarGUY will donate $300 to Pipeline To A Cure – an organization dedicated to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis (CF). CF is an inherited chronic disease that disables the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the U.S. (70,000 worldwide).
Based in Southern California, Pipeline To A Cure was created after Australian researchers discovered that children with CF who surfed had significantly healthier lungs. The study found that inhaling saltwater mist has a powerful effect on rehydrating the lining of the lungs. This discovery led researchers to develop a hypertonic saline solution, which CF patients around the world now inhale every day. In essence, CF patients now mimic a “surf session” on a daily basis.
LAcarGUY hopes to donate up to $15,000 at the end of the 13-game USC season. ESPN will be promoting the donation on their pre- and post- radio broadcasts on ESPN/710 via the program title “Touchdown to a Cure.”
LAcarGUY founder and avid surfer Mike Sullivan became a supporter of Pipeline To a Cure immediately after meeting ambassador and fellow surfer Emily Haager. Haager spent most of her young life raising awareness about the disease and helping other CF patients endure the grueling daily treatment regimens that keep them alive. Haager lost her battle with CF in May of 2010 but her spirit continues to inspire everyone to continue fighting the disease.
“We have been involved with Pipeline To A Cure since its inception and have always been a proud supporter of local sports teams,” says Mike Sullivan. “We hope this fundraiser with USC will help not only raise money but raise awareness on CF and Pipeline To A Cure’s overall mission. ”
About LAcarGUY
The LAcarGUY family of dealerships has been a Los Angeles fixture since “Sully” Sullivan opened its first dealership, Volkswagen Santa Monica in 1964. Today, LAcarGUY includes 10 award-winning dealerships throughout Los Angeles and a state-of-the-art body shop. As a local family-owned business, LAcarGUY is recognized as a prominent supporter of community events, charitable organizations and environmental causes. As the number one hybrid dealer in the world, LAcarGUY is proud to lead the industry into a greener automotive future. For more information, please visit www.lacarguy.com.
About Pipeline To A Cure
Since its creation in 2008, Pipeline To A Cure has raised over 1.3 million dollars to fight Cystic Fibrosis (CF) – an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). CF is a defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections, and obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.
The Pipeline to a Cure Campaign was created to herald the discovery by Australian researchers who found that CF children that surfed had significantly healthier lungs. Doctors determined that inhaling saltwater mist has a powerful effect on rehydrating the lining of the lungs, which allows CF patients to more easily eliminate bacteria-contaminated mucus. This discovery led researchers to develop a hypertonic saline solution, which CF patients around the world now inhale every day. In essence, CF patients now mimic a “surf session” on a daily basis.
The LA surfing community has adopted the Pipeline To a Cure Campaign to help raise money and awareness to find a cure for CF. Legendary Waterman Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama have stamped their names on Pipeline, and for the last three years have been dedicated to the fight. Included with Laird and Dave are Rob Machado, Lisa Anderson, Tom Curren and PT Townsend. They have all lent their time and talents to promote Pipeline to a Cure and help find a cure for CF. For more information, please visit www.pipelinetoacure.com.
Visit our website for more details http://www.lacarguy.com/cure/
