SANTA MONICA, California, July 26, 2012

Gooding & Company, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, is thrilled to announce that it will present Emmy Award-winning comedian and The Tonight Show host Jay Leno’s 2012 Fiat 500 Prima Edizione at its Pebble Beach Auction on Saturday, August 18. The sale of the Mr. Leno’s Fiat 500 provides an exciting opportunity to acquire an early collector’s edition of Fiat’s sensational new 500. In an effort to raise money for and awareness of an important cause close to his heart, Mr. Leno has selected Fisher House Foundation as the beneficiary of his sale proceeds.  Fisher House is a nationally praised, four-star, non-profit organization that provides a wide range of services and support to the families of wounded American soldiers. 

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“I’m thrilled to present our friend Jay Leno’s first edition Fiat 500, one of the most talked about modern cars in our automotive industry today,” says President and Founder David Gooding. “We have great admiration for Jay and hope that the sale of the 500 attracts a great deal of support for Fisher House, an extraordinary humanitarian organization that generously champions our soldiers and their families.” 

“We're grateful to Jay Leno for his exemplary and unwavering support of our military families, to help them when they need it the most,” said Ken Fisher, Chairman and CEO of Fisher House Foundation. “Knowing Jay's passion for cars, and what this one represents to him, we recognize that he is sacrificing something special for what he believes is a greater good. All of Fisher House and the families we serve thank him deeply.” 

Jay Leno and his 2012 Fiat 500 Prima Edizione
To celebrate Fiat’s return to the American market in 2011, 500 Prima Ediziones were built to honor Fiat’s most devoted enthusiasts in the American automotive community.  Delivered to Mr. Leno earlier this year, this particular example, car number 00002, is the second new 500 produced for American consumers and the first example ever delivered to a customer. As a Prima Edizione, this Bianco (white) car is distinguished by a black side stripe with “500” detail and a badge on the dash. During a feature segment on his Emmy Award-winning web series, “Jay Leno’s Garage,” Mr. Leno describes this car as “incredibly fun to drive.”  As a special offer to the winning bidder in Pebble Beach, Mr. Leno has extended an invitation for the new owner to visit his garage and car collection near Los Angeles, California. The Fiat’s estimate is $25,000–$35,000 and will be offered without reserve. 

Jay Leno Supports Fisher House Foundation
Founded in 1990, Fisher House is best known for its national network of 5,000 to 16,800 square-foot, multi-family comfort homes built on the grounds of major military medical centers to house families while their loved ones receive treatment during medical crises. Since its inception, the program has saved military and veteran families an estimated $192 million in out-of-pocket costs for lodging and transportation.