Sons of Italy News Bureau
Press Release For Immediate Release

SONS OF ITALY FOUNDATION HOPES DONATED CAR WILL BENEFIT NEEDED CHARITIES

 

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WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 20, 2013This past May, Chrysler Group LLC donated one of its iconic American-built supercars, a 2013 Street and Racing Technology (SRT) Viper GTS, to the Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF), a nationally recognized nonprofit based in Washington D.C. The SIF is the philanthropic arm of the 109-year-old Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA), the largest (500,000 family members) Italian American organization in the world, and a patriotic group which has been highly praised by every U.S. president since Woodrow Wilson.

The Viper GTS, built specifically for the SIF, contains unique features, including Italian inspired, one-of-a-kind, Avorio Perla custom paint; multi-spoke black vapor chrome wheels; a one-inch wide seat stripe in red, white and green; and an Italian flag themed GTS badge above the glove box.

Hand-built in Detroit, the fifth-generation flagship supercar for the SRT brand delivers 640 horsepower; has a top speed of 206 mph; a 0-100 mph elapsed time of less than 12 seconds; and a braking distance from 60-0 mph of 106 feet.

The color of this "bellissima beast," says Dutch Mandel of Autoweek, and "its reason for being are truly noteworthy."

Since 1959, the SIF has given more than $127 million to medical research, international and domestic relief efforts and veterans causes. The plan is to auction the car off with all proceeds being applied to its charitable benefactors.

The car will be auctioned by Russo and Steele Auctioneers on Friday, January 17, 2014, in Scottsdale, Ariz. The car will be the highlight of a week-long classic and luxury car extravaganza, and is scheduled to 'go on the block' between 7:30-9:30 p.m. that night. It will be offered "NO RESERVE." Potential buyers need not be present at the auction to bid; please contact Russo and Steele about bidding options, www.russoandsteele.com.

SIF leaders are excited about the prospects of raising money for their most worthy charities. "The SIF has given tens of millions of dollars to combat fatal and debilitating diseases that affect people of all ages, such as Cooley's anemia, Alzheimer's, autism and cancer," said SIF CEO Dr. Philip Piccigallo. "We have also taken on numerous causes supportive of our brave troops, veterans and their families," he added, "especially those affecting severely wounded warriors."

The SIF works closely with actors Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise to help bring vitally needed sustenance to the brave men and women who have given so much to their country.

"I have proudly served as the SIF's emcee at their springtime fundraiser in D.C. for more than a dozen years," said Mantegna, who will be doing a promotional video to highlight the SIF and help sell the Viper. Mantegna's and Sinise's patriotic charities both will benefit directly from the Viper's sale, as will the highly regarded Wounded Warrior Project. 

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Preview the Sons of Italy Foundation's
2013 SRT Viper GTS
 

See the SIF's Viper at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance 

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The SIF is the philanthropic arm of the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA), the largest and oldest organization for Italian Americans in the United States. Since its founding in 1959, the SIF has contributed more than $127 million to medical research, disaster relief, scholarships and cultural preservation, along with other special projects. The SRT Viper auction proceeds will help fund these philanthropic programs.

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Sons of Italy News Bureau
219 E St., NE � Washington, DC 20002
(202) 547-2900 �(202) 546-8168-fax 
www.osia.org
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