Ninth Annual Easter Seals 24-Hour Relay Raises Record-Breaking $588,000 to Help People with Disabilities.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 26, 1998--Easter Seals Monday announced that its Ninth Annual 24-Hour Relay raised a record-breaking $588,000 to support programs for adults and children with disabilities.

The 24-Hour Relay is an event that takes place at Easter Seals organizations throughout the nation. The previous fundraising record for a 24-Hour Relay was held by Easter Seals Bay Area in Northern California, which generated $407,000 in 1996.

Not only did the 1998 Easter Seals 24-Hour Relay surpass all fundraising goals, but it also drew its largest turnout in the history of the event. Nearly 3,000 people attended the tropical-style event, which took place Saturday, Oct. 24 through Sunday, Oct. 25, at California Polytechnic University, Pomona.

More than 100 corporate teams of 20 members each walked, ran or wheeled around the school's track for 24 hours to raise money to support Easter Seals programs that create solutions and change lives for local people with disabilities. The majority of teams were composed of Vons employees from Southern and Central California and Nevada.

Other participating companies included Century 21, Farmer's Insurance, Imperial Bank and Mervyn's California.

"Easter Seals is extremely thankful to Vons and the other corporate sponsors for making the 1998 24-Hour Relay such a phenomenal success," said Sylvia Wolf, Easter Seals vice president of corporate and event marketing.

"The record-breaking fundraising is truly an accomplishment. But the community's spirit and desire to make a difference for adults and children with disabilities who are given a chance for a better life through Easter Seals is just as valuable."

Easter Seals is a non-profit organization that offers innovative programs and services to help local adults and children live with equality, dignity and independence.