INDIANAPOLIS, IN (July 28, 2011) – Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation celebrated 10 years of support for Riley Hospital for Children during a news conference in the hospital’s atrium this afternoon. The four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion was joined by 10 Riley Hospital cancer survivors from each of the years the bowling tournament has been held and by 7-year-old Emily Hampton of Simi Valley, Calif., whose life was saved because of research led by Riley physicians.

Since its first gift in 2001, The Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation has donated more than $1.58 million to Riley Hospital for Children. In addition, Gordon made a pledge of $1.5 million to Riley Children’s Foundation in 2010, establishing the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation Pediatric Cancer Research Fund. The fund provides vital resources for Riley Hospital/Indiana University School of Medicine researchers seeking to impact treatments, therapies and cures.

The 11 Riley Hospital patients participating in the event surprised Jeff with a personalize Riley bowling ball and bag during the news conference. Jeff returned the favor: all inpatients at Riley Hospital received an autographed Jeff Gordon Hero Card.

The 10th annual Jeff Gordon Bowling Ball raised more than $300,000 tonight. More than 25 celebrities participated including the Riley Hospital families.

Riley Hospital's Cancer Center, a national leader in providing clinical care and conducting research for pediatric cancer, treats 80 percent of all children with cancer in Indiana. Each year, approximately 250 to 300 children in Indiana are diagnosed. The Riley Cancer Center's achievements during the past decade include increasing survival rates by 10 percent for children with high risk neuroblastoma and acute myelogenous leukemia.

Funds from The Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation are creating a $1 million endowment for research conducted in partnership between Riley Hospital and the Wells Center for Pediatric Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine. The remaining $500,000 is addressing immediate research needs at Riley Hospital.

The Wells Center for Pediatric Research exists to push forward novel drugs and strategies for cancer prevention and treatment that are discovered. Focus is on developing programs that ultimately will have a clinical impact and create therapeutic advances that can be rapidly assimilated into the treatment of pediatric cancers. Research groups are developing a world class program to understand the molecular basis for tumor cell development, progression and eventual new and novel therapeutics.

Village Pantry convenience stores sold Jeff Gordon-themed paper icons in support of Jeff Gordon’s partnership with Riley Hospital, and has raised $100,000 for Gordon’s Bowling Ball.

Jeff Gordon honored 11 Riley patients during the news conference and bowling event: • Diagnosed in 2011: Leah Wasson, 5, Pittsboro

• Diagnosed in 2010: Tatum Gumpf, 5, South Bend

• Diagnosed in 2009: Rhea Roller, 20, Indianapolis

• Diagnosed in 2008: Adrianna Weber, 10, Columbus

• Diagnosed in 2007: A.J. Stinger, 11, Marion

• Diagnosed in 2006: Tatum Parker, 10, Indianapolis

• Diagnosed in 2005: Kate Madigan, 8, Columbus

• Diagnosed in 2004: John Montgomery, 20, Plymouth

• Diagnosed in 2003: Carly Chapman, 17, Zionsville

• Diagnosed in 2002: Will Shepler, 10, Greenfield

• Representing life-saving research: Emily Hampton, 7, Simi, Valley, Calif.

About Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation: Since its inception in 1999, The Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation has awarded nearly $10 million to the country's top childhood health organizations. These organizations are instrumental in helping tens of thousands of children facing serious illness. The partnerships developed over the years have brought much needed aid to patients and families with incredible financial burdens, provided life-saving medical treatment and help to fund promising new cancer research and treatment programs.

About Riley Children’s Foundation Riley Children’s Foundation supports Riley Hospital for Children, Camp Riley and the James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home. As Indiana’s only comprehensive hospital dedicated exclusively to the care of children, Riley Hospital has provided compassionate care, support and comfort to children and their families since 1924. Each year children from all 92 Indiana counties turn to Riley Hospital and its regional clinics throughout the state more than 250,000 times. Riley Hospital’s partnership with IU Health and its strong affiliation with the Indiana University School of Medicine make Riley Hospital for Children the leader in pediatric care in the state and the region. RileyKids.org