Thursday, November 8, 2007

Lucky fans drive away with Sopranos Porsche Cayenne

Lucky Bid Winners to Drive Away With Piece of TV History

ATLANTA – Two lucky Sopranos fans’ lives just got a lot spicier. Their winning bid at the the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation’s 12th Annual Grand Slam for Children landed the actual Porsche Cayenne SUV Carmela Soprano drove through the streets of her New Jersey suburb on the hit drama “The Sopranos.”

Last weekend in Las Vegas, the Cayenne was the must-have item up for auction during the Grand Slam, one of the city’s biggest entertainment and fundraising nights of the year. Tony Bennett, Kelly Clarkson, Hall & Oates, Matchbox Twenty, Carlos Santana and Jerry Seinfeld were among the A-list celebrities who performed at the event.

Richard and Theresa Beauchamp from Steamboat Springs, Colorado placed the winning bid on the Porsche Cayenne for $90,000. To round out the bidding, auctioneer Jack Williams added $10,000 of his own money bringing the total price to $100,000. The Beauchamps’ new SUV comes complete with a bronze plaque bearing the signatures of the show’s Emmy award-winning stars James Gandolfini and Edie Falco.

Richard and Theresa Beauchamp of Steamboat Springs, Colo. sported big smiles in front of the Porsche Cayenne S they purchased during the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation's annual auction and gala, the Grand Slam for Children event, on October 6. The SUV is the authentic Porsche showcased in "The Sopranos" and features a bronze plaque inside with the signatures of stars James Gandolfini and Edie Falco. Image Credit: Kevin Cannon

“I am grateful that there are so many people dedicated to helping kids,” Andre Agassi said. “I’m thrilled with the turnout from the public, the generosity of our sponsors, donors and bidders, and the commitment and talent of the performers who so graciously give their time to the Grand Slam. It was one of the greatest nights of the year.”

The coveted car, a 2005 Porsche Cayenne S* in Prosecco with Sand Beige interior, boasts a 4.5-liter V8 engine, as well as automatic climate control with dual front-passenger settings and a 350-watt, 14-speaker Bose stereo. It only has 6,758 miles on the odometer.
“We already own a Cayenne Turbo, which we love,” said Theresa Beauchamp. “In addition, we watched ‘The Sopranos’ for years when it was on television, so we were drawn to the novelty of the car.”

Founded in 1994 by former professional tennis player Andre Agassi, the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation (AACF) was created to provide recreational and educational opportunities for at-risk children in Southern Nevada.

Since its inception, the Foundation has supported more than 20 organizations and raised more than $60 million for programs designed to enhance a child's character, self-esteem and career possibilities. For more information, visit http://www.agassifoundation.org/.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga., and its subsidiary, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., are the exclusive importers of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne sport utility vehicles for the United States and Canada. A wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, PCNA employs approximately 250 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 214 U.S. and Canadian dealers. They, in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in-class service.

* Tony Soprano presented the Cayenne to Carmela in the series’ sixth season as a “Turbo”; in reality, the SUV is a Cayenne S model.

Source: Porsche