BUONICONTI FUND HAS SUCCESSFUL EVENT - AND YEAR

PHILADELPHIA, November 16, 2007 - In the wake of the organization’s most widely publicized success, state Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione today extended thanks to everyone who attended or helped sponsor last night’s fundraising event for The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis.

     “We were reminded this year in a very tangible way that we are making dramatic progress,” Tartaglione said. “It was wonderful to see so many generous people who recognize the importance of this work for patients with spinal chord injuries.”

     On September 9, in the Buffalo Bills’ season opener, backup tight end Kevin Everett sustained a severe spinal chord injury during the second-half kickoff.

     “Just a few years ago it would have been a fatal or catastrophic injury,” Tartaglione said. “But a phone call to the right place made all the difference.”

     Even as Everett was being carted off the field, the Bills’ team physician placed a call to The Miami Project, the spinal cord injury research center at the University of Miami.  Dr. Barth Green suggested a cutting-edge procedure that called for injected ice-cold saline into Everett’s blood stream.  Within days, Everett was moving.  Last month he took his first steps with a walker.

     “I understand the pain and the joy of taking those steps,” Tartaglione said. “I’m grateful for the advances in research and the donors that make it possible.”

     Last night’s event was sponsored by The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis -- the fundraising arm of the Miami Project -- and Philadelphia’s Magee Rehabilitation hospital,     “It’s a great team, and I’m proud to be part of it,” Tartaglione said. “There is still so much more work to be done, but it was a great night and a great year.”

     Tartaglione sits on the board of both Magee and the local chapter of the Buoniconti Fund.  She suffered a severe spinal cord injury in a 2003 boating accident. Less than three years later she walked to her desk on the Senate floor with the aid of a walker.

     Last night’s fundraiser, called “Raise a Glass for a Cure” was held at Citizens’ Bank Park in South Philadelphia.  Guests included former Penn State football player Adam Taliaferro, who suffered a spinal chord injury in only his fifth game at Penn State.  Also at the event were current Eagles player William Thomas and former Eagles player Vince Papale.

     The Buoniconti Fund was started in 1985 after Hall-of-Fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti’s son, Marc, suffered an injury ironically similar to Everett’s.  Bills’ owner Ralph Wilson has been a major contributor to the Buoniconti Fund, which allowed team doctors to know exactly who to call at the right moment.

     “Every hour someone in the United States is paralyzed,” Tartaglione said. “Through events like this, there is more hope than ever for them.”