
If you weren‘t chosen to purchase a 2017 Ford GT, you have another chance at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.
We’re honored to sell the Ford GT in Scottsdale and bring some much-needed funding to the Autism Society. — Craig Jackson, Barrett-Jackson
“Barrett-Jackson raised nearly $1.6 million for charity during our Las Vegas auction last weekend,” Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson, said. “To date, we’ve helped bring over $95 million in donations to deserving people and organizations across the country. We’re honored to sell the Ford GT in Scottsdale and bring some much-needed funding to the Autism Society of North Carolina’s IGNITE community center. This will be another wonderful opportunity for Barrett-Jackson and the collector car community to give back to some incredibly deserving individuals.”
The IGNITE program helps provide training and education to assist with the “social, financial, educational and employment needs of young adults with high-functioning autism or Asperger’s Syndrome,” which is definitely a worthy cause. It also one that is near and dear to the heart of the namesake of the foundation to benefit from this generous donation.
“I would like to thank Ron Pratte for his generous donation and Barrett-Jackson and Ford Motor Company for the opportunity,” noted NASCAR crew chief Ray Evernham said. “My son, Ray J, has Asperger’s Syndrome and at 26, he is fortunate to have benefited from IGNITE and to have strong family support. However, many of his peers do not. These young adults may be the next Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr., or person who cures cancer but we will never know if they don’t get the help they so desperately need. IGNITE is a program that I started to meet this significant gap in support for young adults. We named the program IGNITE hoping it would be the spark to create more of these programs around the country. This donation very well could be what we have needed to make that happen.”

The first ever auction of the EcoBoost supercar will benefit the Autism Society of North Carolina’s IGNITE program.
Not only does this auction represent an opportunity to own a rare supercar, but it marks the first time one of these EcoBoost masterpieces have hit the auction block since the cars were delivered to owners. And, this auction also includes a GT Experience driving school with the Ford Performance Racing School, just like those original owners received.
“We created the Ford GT as a way to innovate across our company while inspiring people around the world,” says Dave Pericak, director of Ford Performance. “Over the years, Ford has worked closely with the Autism Alliance of Michigan who, along with IGNITE, supports the efforts to help improve the lives of those with autism. Mr. Pratte’s donation to the Autism Society of North Carolina inspired us to donate an exclusive Ford Performance Racing School GT Experience, giving the winning bidder the ultimate driver instruction in the ultimate Ford Performance supercar.”
For more on the Scottsdale auction, visit the event’s official site here.