Skip to main content

Annette's "Women of Distinction" Display

Annette's "Women of Distinction" Display
You may recall that earlier this year Annette - a native of Utica, New York - was inducted by the New York State Senate as one of their "Women of Distinction" in recognition of her accomplishments within the entertainment industry and as a leading advocate for MS patients and neurological research.  In conjunction with this honor, a display was created and exhibited at the Legislative Office Building in Albany.  Once the exhibit closed, Annette's display 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 Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases (AFRFND) Board of Directors understand the significance of this honor, and feel a tremendous sense of pride in seeing Annette named among the state's most prominent women. We again wish to convey our sincere appreciation to those within the New York State Senate for remembering Annette's work and the positive impact she had on lives of people the world over.

The Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases carries forward Annette's philanthropic legacy and desire to help those suffering with neurological disease.  In 2016 we awarded five medical research grants to researchers in three different countries.  With your support, we hope to move forward and expand our presence in the world of neurological research next year and in the years ahead.  

Please consider making a tax deductible donation to the Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases today.  


Remember, nearly 100% of your contribution is forwarded on to medical research, allowing for your donated dollars to have their greatest impact in the fight against MS and similar disorders.  We thank you for your ongoing support.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Annette Funicello: Tributes from Fans and Friends

It's simply not often enough that I have the opportunity to alert our readers of a brand new Annette related product, but finally, the long dry spell between such releases has come to an end with the book, Annette Funicello: Tributes from Fans and Friends . Rita Rose, former president of Annette's international fan club, has compiled the personal memories and reflections of over forty individuals who are related to, have met, worked with or befriended this most likable star.  While Annette is famously remembered for being the same person in her daily life as she appears on screen, this book takes you deeper and reveals some of the lesser known dimensions of her character and personality.  Find out what it was like to encounter Annette as a fan, to be a guest in her home, to collaborate with her in the recording studio and attend to her on-set or on one of her early promotional tours in the '60s.  Some share how they first learned and reacted to the news of Annette...

NEWS: Bikini Beach and Pajama Party Debut on Blu Ray

Just in time for Christmas, MGM is releasing two of Annette's classic AIP films on Blu ray - a  wonderful gift to fans this Holiday season! BIKINI BEACH (1964) and PAJAMA PARTY (1964) are both currently available to order at major retailers online and are scheduled to ship by December 5th.   Those familiar with the MUSCLE BEACH PARTY, BEACH BLANKET BINGO and HOW TO STUFF A WILD BIKINI Blu Rays can attest to the beautifully enhanced image and sound quality revealed in those releases. It is assumed we can expect the same level of improvement over the old DVD's for these latest titles as well! 

A CLOSER LOOK: The Annette Cheerios Cereal Box

When it comes to Annette cut-out dolls, it's fair to say that among the rarest isn't one of the brightly colored doll books produced by Whitman Publishing for retail markets between 1956 and 1962...but rather an Annette doll offered for free on the back of a cereal box!  In 1958, General Mills included an Annette cut-out doll on the packaging of Cheerios breakfast cereal.  The doll, doll stand and a few outfits and accessories were printed directly on the back and left-hand side panel of the box, ready to test one's scissor skills and provide hours of playtime fun. While vintage, uncut cereal box panels with the Cheerios doll will surface from time-to-time on the collectors market, surprisingly, the front panel featuring unique and charming artwork of Annette promoting the doll included with purchase was rarely if ever preserved.  Even rarer are complete, fully assembled boxes which are nearly impossible to find today. Given it's scarcity, I feel especially f...