Subject: Drive Against Prostate Cancer Update
From: "Skip Lockwood" <[email-masked]>
To: "Mr. Jonathan Schwartz" <[email-masked]>, "Mr. Mitch Laurance" <[email-masked]>, "Mr. Robin Sparrow" <[email-masked]>, "Mr. Hunter Biden" <[email-masked]>, "Sherry Galloway" <[email-masked]>, "Jill O'Donnell-Tormey" <[email-masked]>, "Mr. Tom Quinn" <[email-masked]>, "Mr. Michael Milken" <[email-masked]>, "Sanford Siegel" <[email-masked]>, "Dr. Thomas Moody" <[email-masked]>, "Concepcion, Raoul S." <[email-masked]>, "Mike Smith" <[email-masked]>
Cc: "Sherry Wilson" <[email-masked]>, "Anne Marie Person" <[email-masked]>, "Mr. Michael Milken" <[email-masked]>, "Jamie Bearse" <[email-masked]>, "Betsy London" <[email-masked]>, "Kevin Johnson" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2011 14:29:48 -0400

All,

Much has happened with the Drive Against Prostate Cancer program in the last
month and it is time to bring you all up to date.

On a routine run to Atlanta in March, the newest vehicle, #2, suffered a
catastrophic engine failure in Chattanooga, TN.  On examination it was
learned that the engine must be replaced.  Yesterday, ZERO met with our
partners at Thor and we agreed to split the cost of replacing the engine.
Our portion of the bill will be approximately $18,000 and it will take 4
weeks to complete the installation of the new engine.  In the mean time we
are relying on the older vehicle, #1, to cover scheduled events.  The four
weeks needed to replace the engine on the newer vehicle will be slightly
stressful as we will be forced to use vehicle #1 (which is need of
refurbishment) to satisfy our contractual obligations.  As long as we have
no major mechanical problems with vehicle #1 we should be OK.  Needless to
say this is not our most comfortable arrangement but it is the only one that
we have.

The second and more important item is that Thor has told us that they are
ending their partnership with the program.  With the death of Wade Thompson
and the poor showing of the economy, the executive team at ZERO postulated
that Thor's continuing financial support would expire within the near
future.  For more than 10 years Thor has been a faithful supporter of the
Drive Against Prostate Cancer program providing drivers, fuel, maintenance
and repairs for the vehicles as well as two vehicles.  ZERO could not have
asked for a better partner and we are thankful for the support they have
given to this lifesaving program.  Our transition is generous and will be
seamless.

First, Thor has agreed to cover driver, fuel, and maintenance for 30 more
days of testing.  My goal is to have this completed by July 30, 2010.  After
those days are completed, ZERO will assume all costs for the vehicle.  If
the average costs hold, that means ZERO will pick-up less than $50,000 in
expenses this year related to the direct operation of the vehicles.

Second, Thor has agreed to provide, at near cost, a complete refurbishment
of both vehicles so that we will have vehicles that are in the best
mechanical shape possible for the next five years.  The cost of this
refurbishment will be about $75,000 for vehicle #1 and somewhat less for
Vehicle #2 ($50,000 est) since it is the newest vehicle.  This is actually a
boon to the organization since we no longer have to purchase a brand new
vehicle at an estimated cost of $300,000.  All told, the monies saved from
refurbishing the two vehicles will provide the additional operating funding
needed for the next 18 months.  A refurbishment includes wrapping the
outside of the vehicle, replacing significant systems (generator,
refrigeration, AC) and rebuilding the interiors among a long list of other
improvements and upgrades.  Vehicle #1 will go into refurbishment as soon as
#2 is returned to operation with a new engine.  We will schedule #2
refurbishment late in the year or early next year so as to avoid impacting
the existing schedule.

Third, we will still have access to our drivers and we will be allowed to
store the vehicles at the Airstream plant in Jackson Center, OH.

While we are sad to lose a long-standing and faithful partner, we applaud
Thor for their fine work and for helping us make the Drive the success it
has become.  Like Thor, we look forward to the day when this service is no
longer needed.

Below is the text for our new fundraising campaign for the Drive.  YOU are
ALL welcome to participate in this campaign and to solicit others to do so
as well.

*Double the Drive
*In celebration of saving lives for 10 years, we’re re-launching the *Drive
Against Prostate Cancer* with refurbished testing vehicles and a doubling of
the number of testing days. This effort is made possible by a matching grant
from a charitable foundation. We’d like to offer our partners the
opportunity to permanently put your name on the side of the RV for $2,000.
Here are the benefits:
·     Name on the side of the vehicle (up to 50 characters)

·     Named as a founder of Drive Against Prostate Cancer *if you commit by
JUNE 1
*
·     Join the Great Prostate Cancer Challenge Celebrity Golf Tournament in
Myrtle Beach, August 27 *if you commit by JUNE 1*.

Please feel free to contact Jamie Bearse at [email-masked] for more
info on the Double the Drive campaign.  We will be opening this program to
the public very shortly.

One final note, we are currently in the interview process for three new
employees:  a Director of Individual Giving, a Press Secretary and a graphic
designer.  If there are people that you believe should be considered for
these positions, please contact Kathy Costigan at [email-masked] and
she can send you the job listings.

Best,

--Skip

-- 
Skip Lockwood
President and CEO
ZERO -- The Project to End Prostate Cancer
10 G St., NE
Suite 601
Washington, DC 20002
202-463-9455 (main)
202-463-9456 (fax)

Virginia Office:
515 King St.
Suite 420
Alexandria, VA 22304

www.zerocancer.org
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/digitalskip
Facebook:  ZERO — The Project to End Prostate Cancer
Combined Federal Campaign #12161
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