Celebrities coming out in force to support John Ratzenberger's Discovery and Invention weekend event at Limoneira Company

As the celebrity committee for John Ratzenberger's Discovery and Invention event continues to grow, so does the excitement that surrounds the weekend. Big names such as Apolo Anton Ohno, Olympic Speed Skating Gold Medalist and recent Dancing with the Stars Champion, and actors Courtney B. Vance, Patrick Warburton and Jim Colborn join the likes of Cheech Marin, Phyllis Diller, George Wendt, Lee Iacocca, Edyta Sliwinska and Greg Evigan as part of the host celebrity committee for John Ratzenberger's Discovery and Invention.

John Ratzenberger's Discovery and Invention is a three day event being held on November 1-3, 2007 in Santa Paula at Limoneira Company. The event will benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Santa Clara Valley and the Education for Children with Diabetes Foundation. The festivities will open with a VIP reception on Thursday, November 1st. Friday, November 2nd, celebrities will join teams of three and compete in what has become one of America’s fastest growing team sports... Bocce Ball! Set within the lemon and avocado orchards, twelve brand-new regulation-sized bocce ball courts have been newly constructed in Limoneira's orchards! The evening will close with an elegant and festive Dinner and Auction with the famous Chef Steff Tedeschi, the first American chef to become a member of the prestigious L'Orde International des Disciples d'Auguste.

The festivities will continue on Saturday, November 3rd, as John Ratzenberger will host the first annual Tinkering Day. Tinkering Day will feature interactive exhibitions designed to plant the seeds of discovery and invention. Participants will imagine, build, fix and create at various workstations that are sponsored by some of America’s best manufacturers, machinists, tradesmen, technical programs and more. They can visit the Deering Banjo booth and instead of simply learning to play the banjo, the children will also learn how to build one. Companies such as HAAS Automation, WET Design, Zamboni, Marble King, Agromin, The Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, Economic Alliance, Industrial Metal Supply, GibsonTechEd.com, LA Mission College, Clark Magnet High School and many more are all eagerly participating.

John Ratzenberger's Discovery and Invention is hosted by the Nuts, Bolts, and Thingamajigs Foundation. NBTF is a non-profit organization. The mission of Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs Foundation is to avert a growing crisis in America, one that is occurring because too few young people now develop the kind of manual skills required by industries, workshops, and engineering practices. Through mentoring programs, education, and media awareness, NBTF will once again introduce young people to the pleasures of tinkering. And in that way, we will create the next generation of artisans, inventors, engineers, repairmen and skilled workers—in short, a self-sufficient, self-sustaining society.

"Little hands build big dreams. Give children tools and watch them build America."