2016 GOLDEN GATE FERRARI FESTIVAL CANCELLED

July 11, 2016 by Ferrari Owners Group

• Charitable Allegiance to Make-A-Wish® Remains for 2016 through FOG Rally and Gala Initiative

SAN FRANCISCO, July 11, 2016 – After encountering unforeseen challenges related to the event, Ferrari Owners Group (FOG) and the Ferrari Owners Charitable Foundation (FOCF) have decided to cancel the upcoming Golden Gate Ferrari Festival, originally scheduled for Saturday, September 10th, organized to benefit Make-A-Wish® Greater Bay Area. As many as 400 Ferrari vehicles were to be slated for display during the event, and following a recent question over the structural integrity of the venue specifically in regard to the Festival's weight bearing load, it was determined a final resolution could not be reached without exploration by a structural engineering firm to ensure the overall safety of the event, and timing became an issue.

According to Joe Keon, FOCF founder, the difficult decision to cancel the Festival was reached when the possible delays and projected costs to mitigate any findings remained unclear with less than 90 days before the event. 'We deeply regret being unable to move forward to make our vision of Ferraris on the Plaza a reality at this time,' said Keon. 'We are committed to respecting the time and energy of our production team and that of the Make-A-Wish organization, the quality of the Ferrari brand, our ability to successfully fund the important work of Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area, and above all the safety, confidence and enjoyment of our participants, spectators and volunteers.'

In an effort to still raise a sizeable donation for the Make-A-Wish chapter, FOG and FOCF will hold its originally planned Gala and live auction, on Wednesday, September 14th at The City Club of San Francisco, along with a two-day, 60-Ferrari car rally, from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe. The FOG Rally has been held annually since 2011, traversing the State of California, and through the years has visited Carmel, Big Sur, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Lake Tahoe – raising more than $750,000 for San Francisco Bay Area charities since its inception.

Inspired by the mission of helping to make the wishes of children with life-threatening diseases become realities, FOG and FOCF have supported Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area since 2014, and look forward to harnessing the power of the Ferrari brand to further the cause. The FOG Gala will engage more than 200 guests, and will include a three-course dinner, live auction, paddle raise and live entertainment – as well as the opportunity to meet famed Formula One driver and Indy 500 champion, Alexander Rossi. To purchase tickets, please view: http://fogrally.com/

The 2016 FOG Rally, presented by Ferrari Silicon Valley, will be held September 16-18, traveling across the state's most iconic roads and landmarks between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe, bringing together more than 100 participants and 60 Ferrari vehicles, ranging from vintage to modern day exotic. For more information, please visit http://fogrally.com/

About the Ferrari Owners Group

The Ferrari Owners Group (FOG) was founded in 2009 with a desire to share Ferrari ownership with fellow enthusiasts, while harnessing the spectacle of these vehicles to draw attention to and support for worthy charitable causes that support disadvantaged youth. In seven short years, the organization has grown to more than 400 members, held beyond 150 organized drives and collectively driven more than 1 million miles. In 2013, Ferrari Owners Group founded the Ferrari Owners Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, to further support its charitable endeavors. Through 20 major events, the organization has raised more than $750,000 for charitable causes. For more information or membership, view www.ferrariownersgroup.org.

About Make-A-Wish® Greater Bay Area:

Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. In 2016 Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area celebrates 32 years fulfilling magical wishes. During its first year of operation, in 1984, the chapter granted 27 wishes. Now one of the largest chapters nationwide, the Greater Bay Area grants over 370 wishes per year and has granted over 7,200 wishes to date. The chapter covers 17 Northern California counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Marin, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Siskiyou, Solano and Sonoma. The goal of Make-A-Wish is to grant a wish to every eligible child in its territory. Anyone can suggest a child for a wish. For more information or to refer a child for a wish, please call 415/982-9474 or visit www.SF.Wish.org

Photo credit: Ferrari Owners Group
posted on conceptcarz.com