Taking a common object and turning it into
a work of art and pride!!!

Our Latest Recipient- Angelo Maus

We first had the honor of meeting Angelo Maus at the Fourth Annual Wheelchair Wash held on October 6, 2007 in Los Angeles, CA where he won our Pimp My Wheelchair raffle.
 
Angelo is a remarkable and extremely active boy and we were honored to create a special wheelchair for little Angelo.  Angelo has Spinal Bifida but you could not tell, this 7 year old boy has amazing determination.  Angelo is a very active little boy just like an any normal 7 year old boy, the secret to Angelo is his parents tell him nothing can stop you Angelo you can do anything you set your mind too.  Lilly, Angelo’s mother, is very active in advocating for all disabled people everywhere.  Angelo is one of the thousands of children that are treated by the Children hospital in Los Angeles.  We sponsored Angelo and brought him to the 26th Annual Miracle on 1ST Street in East Los Angeles on December 15, 2007.  There Angelo had the pleasure of meeting and receiving gifts from Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California, Kobe Bryant from the Los Angeles Lakers and celebrity hosts Tom Arnold and Zach Sheppard.  We want to take a minute and thank everybody at the Hollenbeck Youth Center for making it all possible and thanks to the organization, Famila Unida, for inviting us to their event.
 
On Friday, January 4, 2008 Angelo received his Pimped out wheelchair and he was completely amazed by what the guys at PMW were able to do on his wheelchair.  Alsa supplied the products needed to create Red Candy Finish for the frame and on the wheels they put their new Cobweb Paint, creating an effect that look like spider webs.  On the brakes and front wheel casters, PMW had famous airbrush artist, Cory Sinclair, lend his talents and airbrush an awesome flame job just for Angelo.
 
Just another satisfied customer , thanks to all our sponsor we have help brake the isolation for one more Individual that spends most of their life in a wheelchair. Thanks to our sponsors which none of this would be possible…….thanks  to ALSA Corporation, DUB, and Vip Customz.
 
Special thanks to Juan, Sam, Cory, Andrew and all the guys at VIP Customz………


Princess Vanessa
 
On Wednesday I received very sad news Vanessa Rodriquez had passed. You should remember Vanessa she was the little girl we made a special wheelchair for It was named the Princess , because she loved dressing up like a princess. This is the wheelchair PMW donated on the Charlie Tuna, Tuna–Thon and it was presented by the Mayor of Los Angeles. We at Pimp My Wheelchair are saddened by her passing but we are thankful  that her pain and suffering is over.
 
Vanessa lived with Cystic Fibrosis, she lived every day in pain and now her pain is gone. Vanessa will be missed by a lot of people, she touched the hearts and souls of many. We at Pimp My Wheelchair had the privilege of meeting this little Princess though it was only a short time. We feel honored to have spent even a short time in her presence and it was a privilege to have had her touch our lives, and remind us why Ike Banoun  started this program which is to end the isolation of these individuals like little Vanessa and bring smiles to their lives. We know that this is not good bye, it is a see ya later.
 
Will see you later Princess!
 
From everybody at Pimp My Wheelchair & Alsa Corp
We send our deepest condolences in your time of need.
 
- Andrew J. Yurcich

Pimp My Wheelchair on KBIG 104.3 for the Charlie Tunathon!!

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, The First Citizen of LA, presented for Pimp My Wheelchair. The "Princess Chair" was donated by ALSA, the world's leader in exotic paints. The Los Angeles Children Hospital became the first hospital in the world to launch this program. The presentation was held during their annual "Charlie Tunathon" hosted by KBIG 104.3. The event was a GIANT success and the first of many smiles delivered by The Banoun Foundation.

Click here to play Jerry Lewis 2007 MDA Telethon Video Presentation Click here to play Jerry Lewis 2007 MDA Telethon Photo Presentation

(click here to view more pictures)

KBIG sponsored a benefit for the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles & Children's Miracle Network and Pimp My Wheelchair was invited. It was a monumental event for the foundation - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa presented our Princess Chair to Vanessa Rodriguez.

Mission Statement:

We wish we could say we were
helping them by curing their condition. We cannot do that however, what we can do is bring a SPIRIT of LIFE which is stimulated by the creativity. To be excited and to look forward to something in LIFE. How Pimp My Wheelchair creates excitement is by involving organizations like Alsa as sponsors. Alsa has been featured on many of  MTV’s Pimp My Ride programs, many individuals watching these shows would LOVE to trick their wheelchair or “Ride” just like the celebrities do on MTV. This gives them a sense of pride, style, and immediate gratification.  Just going down the street or a trip to the store brings a new experience, any new story to tell about how the job was done, and all the while explaining it with glee and excitement. Pimp My Wheelchair can help break an individual from isolation giving them exciting new topics to discuss with new and old friends alike.

The program works something like this, the individual picks their own colors leathers and other custom accessories and Pimp My Wheelchair grants his wish at no charge, the only pay off being a smile. With the possibility of worldwide contests inviting participants to exchange ideas on a global level, also we will be creating  a blog on our website for idea exchanges. Each individual will be shown the progress of his RIDE piece-by-piece as they are completed. The beauty and uniqueness about the Pimp My Wheelchair program is the moment you announce it to the individual, let alone completing it he lights up with anticipation.  The joy starts for the individual the moment they are selected and doesn’t end, as they enjoy the RIDE for years to come. The bottom line……IMMEDIATE smiles!

For example, someone can donate millions and get a plaque on the wall although this money is highly needed, it doesn’t raise SPIRITS like Pimp My Wheelchair. Money raising programs are fine but there are very few SPIRIT raising programs!

Scott Storch's Charity of Choice: Pimp My Wheelchair Click here for more info