Heave Media

A Cause For Attention

The T.J. Martell Foundation and Panic At the Disco with a special giveaway.

The T.J. Martell Foundation is benefiting from the devotion of dedicated Panic at the Disco fans. An online auction skyrocketed an extra $500 in the last one minute of bidding this Tuesday, topping the final sale off at $1,275.00.

The item at stake: The opportunity for the winner and a friend to serve as roadies for a day.

The winner and guest will be presented with VIP working crew passes for Panic at the Disco’s May 9 show in Philadelphia as the band headlines the Honda Civic Tour. Along with the pass, winners are guaranteed time with band mates Brendon Urie, Ryan Ross, Jon Walker and Spencer Smith, and will get to watch the show from the soundboard platform.

Funniest perk yet? A guaranteed “pit stop on the band’s tour bus” is included.

The T.J. Martell Foundation is well-aware of the power of the music community. The foundation began in 1975 after the son of music industry executive Tony Martell asked his father to raise a million dollars to support the leukemia research that had made it possible for him to live beyond his original prognosis.

Although T.J. passed away later that year, the foundation named in his honor has to date, raised more than $225 million while funding eight flagship research centers for treatments and cures for leukemia, cancer and AIDS.

Because of their unique connections to the music industry, the fundraising activities of the foundation have a long history of thinking outside of the box. Auctions, both in-person and online, have become commonplace as the foundation raises money “leveraging the star power, celebrity and mass appeal of recognized music industry talent.”

The primary goal of the T.J. Martell Foundation is fundraising, and therefore supports a wealth of research organizations within the innovative scientific community. Every year applications are reviewed to determine which studies will receive funding. All grants are rewarded based on scientific merit, and help to fund “the brightest and most innovative work to support experimental research” that might not otherwise receive funding.

While a cure for cancers, leukemia and AIDS are beyond our reach as individuals, if providing a pit stop on a tour bus helps spread the possibilities, bring on the auctions.

Posted by Leen Morrissey on Mar 13, 2008 @ 12:00 am