July 31, 2007
Carving for a Cure
Master sculptor Sean Fitzpatrick to create Big Papi sand sculpture at Square One Mall to support Jimmy Fund
Saugus — A life-size sand sculpture of Red Sox slugger David Ortiz will be unveiled at the Square One Mall, a Simon property in Saugus, on Sunday, Sept. 30, to support the Jimmy Fund.
Starting Sept. 24, master sculptor Sean Fitzpatrick of Saugus, founder of Fitzy Snowman Sculpting, will be Carving for a Cure. With ten tons of sand and some water, Fitzpatrick will spend more than 100 hours inside the mall, behind closed curtains, to create Big Papi. Several special sneak peek viewings will be scheduled during the week.
Fitzpatrick's father lost his battle with cancer at the age of 39. Fitzpatrick, who just turned 40, feels an immediate sense of purpose to help rid the world of the disease. His inspiration to build Big Papi to benefit cancer research and care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund is in memory of his father. "My dad always provided me with an endless source of support for my artistic passion," said Fitzpatrick. "Using my gift to sculpt, I hope to help countless cancer patients. It is also my way to say thanks to my dad for his compassion."
Fitzpatrick is renowned in New England for his sand sculpting skills and has been featured in the national media. He recently organized the 4th annual New England Sand Sculpting Festival at Revere Beach in July, where 350 tons of sand was imported so sculptors from around the world could compete.
The Carving for a Cure unveiling party will take place on Sept. 30 from 7-9 p.m. at the Square One Mall, and will be a home run opportunity to be one of the first people to see Fitzpatrick's sand replica of Big Papi. Tickets cost $10 and are available at the mall guest services desk and online at www.fitzysnowman.com with a credit card or Pay Pal account. The party will be a family-friendly event with music, food, beverages and door prizes.
Fitzpatrick's sand sculpture of Ortiz will be on display at the Square One Mall until Oct. 15. Donations for the Jimmy Fund will be accepted near the artwork. For more information go to www.jimmyfund.org/carving.
Square One Mall – Simon Property Group, Inc., is an S&P 500 company and the largest public U.S. real estate company. Simon is a fully integrated real estate company which operates from five retail real estate platforms: regional malls, Premium Outlet Centers®, The Mills®, community/lifestyle centers and international properties. It currently owns or has an interest in 382 properties comprising 258 million square feet of gross leasable area in North America, Europe and Asia. The Company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employs more than 4,500 people worldwide. Simon Property Group, Inc., is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol SPG and has a current total market capitalization of approximately $50 billion. For further information, visit the Company's website at www.simon.com.
The Jimmy Fund supports the fight against cancer at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, helping to raise the chances of survival for children and adults with cancer around the world. Since 1948, the generosity of millions of people has helped the Jimmy Fund save countless lives by furthering cancer research and care. Unrestricted support from the Jimmy Fund is an integral part of Mission Possible: The Dana-Farber Campaign to Conquer Cancer, a $1 billion capital campaign to accelerate cancer research, speed development of life-saving therapies, and expand the Institute's signature patient- and family-centered care.
Contact
Elizabeth Chernack
Jimmy Fund
(617) 632-4687
elizabeth_chernack@dfci.harvard.edu
Arika Beaudry, Regan Communications Group
Representing Simon Property Group
(617) 488-2890
abeaudry@regancomm.com
