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Mid last week, our friends at Teddy Bear & Friends magazine published an excellent piece on their website blog about Annette and the recent grant and fundraising activities of her research foundation. We hope you will take a moment to read this look at Annette's life and legacy, as she is warmly remembered not only for her singing and acting accomplishments, but for her later career in the production of collectible teddy bears through The Annette Funicello Collectable Bear Company. READ HERE   The #1 "Dapper Dan" bear that Annette personally gifted to her stepdaughter is currently up for bid for the benefit of The Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases.  Number-one bears were reserved for Annette, herself, and never sold to the public, making this an extremely rare opportunity for Annette's fan's and artisan bear collectors to add one of these bears to their personal colle ction . BID NOW  

Today we celebrate the 86th birthday of Glen Holt; the devoted husband of Annette Funicello and Chairman of The Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases. Retired from a long career of breeding and training prize-winning race horses, Glen now devotes much of his time operating, promoting and raising funds for the continued work of the non-profit he and his wife established in 1993 - with the hope of supporting underfunded neurological research studies that hold promise of helping others.   We hope you will join all of Glen's family and friends in wishing this big-hearted guy the happiest of Birthdays. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GLEN!!

Thanks to the generosity of Annette's granddaughter, Emily Hanson, we are pleased to announce the extremely rare opportunity for you to acquire a  #1 Limited Edition teddy bear that originated from Annette's personal collection.  Since launching The Annette Funice llo Collectable Bear C ompany in 1992, #1's from each bear release were reserved for Annette, herself and never sold to the public. It is well known that Annette would often name the bears produced for her company after special friends and family.  In the mid 1990's a bear named "Emily" was released in an edition of 3000.   After receiving her #1 issue of the bear , Annette gifted it to her granddaughter , Emily Hanson - after whom the bear was named (pictured above).   Part of Annette's Victorian series, the bear is created from a beige mohair plush and measures approximately 11 1/2'' high.  It comes complete with it's original box and certificate of authentici...

Tomorrow, November 19, 2016 Van Eaton Galleries will host yet another of it's popular auctions featuring an incredible selection of historic Disneyana.   Within the mix of relics from Disneyland's past are four pieces from Annette's personal collection of career memorabilia; offered for the exclusive benefit of The Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases .  LARRY JASON SILK SCREEN PAINTING - This large (24''x31.25'') one-of-a-kind silk screen painting picturing Annette in front of the Disneyland Hotel and Monorail was presented to Annette in person by the artist.  It was prominently displayed above the fireplace at her ranch home in Bakersfield, CA. BID HERE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES BIRTHDAY GREETING - This document was presented to Annette in recognition of her 53rd Birthday and her long-time contributions to the Los Angeles community.  Housed in a blue folder with gold seal, this unique and highly decorative document ...

Available for your consideration is a very special piece from Annette's personal collection... This pair of "Mouseketeer Ears" was presented to Annette by an anonymous friend just weeks before her passing on April 8, 2013. Created from black felt with wire reinforcement in the ears; these accurate replicas of the iconic headpieces worn by Annette and her fellow Mouseketeers during the second season of the Mickey Mouse Club were offered exclusively at Disney theme parks in 2013. This set of "Ears" was prominently displayed in Annette's Bakersfield, California home and represent the final pair known to exist in her personal collection.   The above image show's Annette's final pair of "Mouseketeer Ears" on public display at the D23 Expo 2015, with Annette's "Mousecar" award in the foreground - which was presented to her posthumously at the event. Offered for the exclusive benefit of The Annette Funicello...

Dear friends,   In just a few days, we will pause for a moment to remember the 74 th anniversary of the birth of Annette Funicello on October 22, 1942.   In honor of Annette’s commitment to find “the cause, the treatments, and the cure” for Multiple Sclerosis and for diseases like MS, we are inviting Annette’s fans and friends worldwide to send a contribution, in any amount, that can support the ongoing work of the Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases.   Unlike so many other nonprofit organizations today, we are pleased to report that well over 90% of every dollar raised by Annette’s Research Fund is dedicated for the exclusive use of innovative research efforts at hospitals, universities and respected medical research centers throughout the globe.   Won’t you please join us in remembering Annette’s timeless contributions to television, film, concerts, personal appearances and to some of the most memorable music...

Annette's "Wom e n of Distinction" Displa y You m a y re call that earlier this year Annette - a native of Utica, New York - was inducted by the N ew York State Senate as one of their "Wom e n of Distinction" in recognition of her accomplishments within the entertainment industry and as a leading advocate for MS patients and neurological re search.  In conjunction with this honor, a display wa s created and exhibited at the Legislative Office Building in Albany.  Once the exhibit c losed, Annette's disp lay was given to one of her New York relatives - a cousin, Patrick Cardamone - who made sure it was delivered safely to Annette's husband , Glen Holt.    Glen and the members of the Annette Funice llo Research Fund for Neurological Diseases (AFRFND) Board of Directors understand the significance o f this honor, an d feel a tremendous sense of pride in seeing Annette named a mong the stat e's most prominent wo men . We a...

Captain Samantha Cristoforetti (Left) and Dr. Paolo Zamboni (Right) were selected to receive this years "Annette Funicello Award" for the "brain drain" experiments conducted on the International Space Station in 2015 The Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases (AFRFND) recently received a letter of thanks from Giorgio Zauli, on behalf of Dr. Zamboni and Captain Cristoforetti for their 2016 "Annette Funicello Award" recognition - which included a $10,000 grant for further development of of the Strain Gauge Plethysmography collar and tilting chair. We wanted to share an excerpt from this letter with you today, as none of this would have been possible without YOU and your generous financial support of the AFRFND.  We hope you understand the vital role you have played in aiding the development of this medical testing device that will soon benefit patients suffering with neurological diseases around the globe. Dear (Mr.) Holt, ...

The 2016 "Annette Funicello Award" FERRARA, Italy, July 1, 2016:  The Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases has announced the 2016 recipients of “The Annette Funicello Award.” The renowned research fund, founded in 1993 by the late entertainer and humanitarian Annette Funicello and her husband, Glen Holt, has awarded this year’s prize in recognition of the neurological research of Dr. Paolo Zamboni and as conducted aboard the International Space Station by Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.   Dr. Zamboni serves at the University of Ferrara (Italy) as a professor in the Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine and is director of the Vascular Diseases Center.    Dr. Zamboni’s experiments were conducted during 2015 aboard the International Space Station (Expedition 42 / 43) by Italian Space Agency Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.  As a result of this extended space mission, Captain Cristoforet...

Annette's "Bronzed" Mouse Ears: SOLD!! - $14,00 0 Annette's MMC Reunion Turtleneck (ca. 1980): SOLD!! $7,000 All of us at The Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases wish to extend a sincere and heart-felt THANK YOU to all who participated in the two lots offered on our behalf in today's "Collecting Disney" auction, presented by Van Eaton Galleries.  We are truly grateful and humbled by this show of support and trust that today's auction winners understand the importance their contributions have made in allowing us to move forward in helping others suffering from neurological disease through our various medical research projects.   We also wish to thank our friends at Van Eaton Galleries for the donation of their professional services. The time, attension and care they have provided in preparation of today's sale has been exceptional.  Again....we thank you all!!

A major Disney auction of archive-worthy Disneyana treasures has been announced for Sat. June 18 at Van Eaton Galleries in Sherman Oaks, California.  The exclusive auction will also include memorabilia from the personal collection of beloved Disney star and "Beach Party" favorite, Annette Funicello; keepsakes that she requested be offered to benefit t he continuing research efforts of The Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases. Pictured below are the items that are being offered from Annette's personal collection of career memorabilia in the upcoming " Collecting Disney" auction . 100% of the hammer price realized from both pieces will be forwarded directly to the Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases. ( click to enlarge )  Featured on-screen in her episode of the Disney Channel series: The Disney Family Album (Episode 16: Sept. 1985) and pictured within the book that accompanied her two-CD box...

We were very proud and pleased to learn that the New York State Senate has recognized Annette as a Historic Woman of Distinction in celebration of Woman's History Month.  Senator Joseph Griffo made the announcement yesterday, on March 16th. As many of you know Annette was born in Utica, New York on October 22, 1942.  She will be featured all month in an exhibit at the Legislative Office Building in Albany.  If you live in or are visiting the area be sure to stop by to see it. You can view the official press release regarding this announcement in it's entirety below. Actress Annet te Funicello of Utica h onored as NY Historic Woman of Distinction In celebration of Women’s History Month, State Senator Joseph Griffo announced that Utica-born actress Annette Funicello has been recognized by the New York State Senate as a Historic Woman of Distinction. Born in Utica on Oct. 22, 1942, Ms. Funicello was just 12 years old when her performing talents...