WALK NOW FOR AUTISM IN GREATER BOSTON

Greater Boston Walk Now for Autism
Sunday, October 19th, 2008
Suffolk Downs Race Track
Route 1A - East Boston
If you haven't already registered, please visit


A Fantastic Kick-Off

Thank you to all who attended the Greater Boston Walk Now for Autism Speaks Kick-off event at Cafe' Escadrille on August 7th. It was a phenomenal and truly inspiring evening. Special thanks go to our wonderful speakers: Mark Roithmayr, President of Autism Speaks; Congressman John Tierney, 6th District, Massachusetts; Dr. Timothy Buie, a pediatric gastroenterologist with the LADDERS Program at MassGeneral Hospital for Children and Jessica Wilson who is a mother, fundraiser and autism advocate. You can watch a video of Jessica's incredibly inspiring speech by clicking the link: HERE



Participant Information and Tools

If you have already registered for the Walk and have not yet received your Walker Welcome Packet, please visit HERE and click on the Fundraising Tools button. There you will find donation forms, participant and team captain guides, fundraising tips and more.

Have Fun with Your Fundraising - Raise $500 in just 5 days
Day 1:
Ask four family members to sponsor you with $25. Remind your brother of the time he drove your car and didn't fill up the gas tank.

Ask five friends to contribute $20 each. Promise never to drink red wine in their living room with new carpet again. Ever.

Day 2:
Ask five neighbors to contribute $10 each. Return the snow blower and tree trimmer you borrowed last year.

Day 3:
Ask five co-workers to contribute $10 each. If they refuse, jam the photocopier and volunteer to fix it… for a small fee.

Ask your boss for a $50 company contribution. (Or better yet, find out if your company will match what you raise!) Do nothing that will get you fired.

Day 4:
Ask five people from your hobby group or organization to pledge $10 each. You must be a part of this club/organization more than a week before asking for money. No hit and runs.

Day 5:
Ask four businesses that you frequent for a $25 donation each. Ask after your haircut, not before.

Congratulation to the TOP teams that have already raised $10,000 or more.

Teamsters Local 25 - captain Trish DiSilva
Katherine's Team - captain William Sansone
Courtney's Crew - captain Courtney Fredericks

Each of these team captains will receive 2 tickets to the game on the Red Sox Autism Awareness Day on September 9th AND participation in our on-field opening ceremony.

YOUR team can still win - We will select 2 more team captains to win the opportunity above. Just bring your team's fundraising total up to $10,000 or more by Friday, August 29th! The next TOP two team captains for the Greater Boston Walk will win. Check the Walk website to see who is in the lead:

We are proud to announce that Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) has partnered with Autism Speaks as a $50,000 Corporate Visionary Sponsor.
Visit DCU

Special offers below... please read on and please pass this e-mail along to your contacts / address book.

Raise your Fork to Help Families Affected by Autism

Uno Chicago Grill wants to curb your hunger and help Autism Speaks™ as they raise money August 30 - September 1. This Labor Day weekend, you are invited to dine in or out all day long at your area Uno Chicago Grill and have 20% of each bill (excluding tax and tip) donated to the Greater Boston Walk.

It’s simple, just print out the Uno Dough Rai$er™ voucher which can be found here: http://www.autismspeaks.org/docs/8103_AUTISM_ticket.pdf
and turn it in at the end of your meal.

Help spread the word - please pass this coupon along to friends and family by email. They can participate outside of Massachusetts as well. Participating markets include; Illinois, Massachusetts, Florida, Maryland, and the New York area.

Uno Chicago Grill Named "America's #1 Healthiest Chain Restaurant" by Health Magazine, and one of the ten "Best Family Restaurant Chains" by Parents Magazine. Uno Chicago Grill also offers a Gluten Free menu upon request.

Please click on the link below and print the voucher to take with you when you dine any time over Labor Day weekend. You can make copies and dine as often as you'd like and also share the vouchers with others.

VOUCHER

A complete listing of participating locations can be found HERE.

Another Red Sox Fundraising Incentive

This is a big one... The number one individual fundraiser for the 2008 Greater Boston Walk Now for Autism as of 9:00 am on September 19th (exactly one month before the Walk) will get to throw out the first pitch at the Monday, September 22nd Red Sox game at Fenway Park. The winner will receive the first pitch ball engraved with their name, their name on the scoreboard, announcement of their presence on the field and 4 tickets to the game that night.
Community Outreach

Walk brochures, cardboard stand-up holders and colorful posters are now available. Please
e-mail us at greaterboston@autismspeaks.org if you would like any to post in your community. It would be wonderful to have people in all of the Greater Boston areas put Walk posters up in their favorite local spots, town library and public bulletin boards. Ask your dry cleaner, salon, grocery store or doctor's office if you may put up a posters or display some brochures.

Need help with local publicity? The staff and planning committee members for the Walk are happy to help you. Write a letter to your local newspaper with a "Why we walk" personal story. Contact us if you need examples or additional help getting the word out in your community. Call 617-924-1225 or e-mail greaterboston@autismspeaks.org.

Autism Speaks Awards

e-Speaks || July 25, 2008
Autism Speaks Awards More than $4.5 Million in Basic and Clinical Grants
Autism Speaks has awarded 24 new grants in the fields of basic and clinical research dedicated to autism. Two types of grants were awarded: two-year Pilot grants that explore newer, particularly innovative lines of research, and three-year Basic and Clinical grants that build on more established research. The funded projects take a variety of approaches toward revealing the underlying biology and causes of autism. Read more about the newly funded grants here and see the complete list of Pilot and BASIC AND CLINICAL GRANTS

Olympian Joins Tacoma's 4th Annual Walk Now for Autism
850 participants raised over $76,000 at the 4th annual Tacoma Walk Now for Autism, which took place at Cheney Stadium. Walkers were treated to an inspirational speech by local Olympic weightlifter Melanie Roach. Read more and view photos here. Join us at one of our Walks across the United States, Canada or in the United Kingdom; find your local event here.


La. Governor Signs Autism Insurance Bill into Law
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal signed House Bill 958, the autism insurance reform bill, into law on July 2. The bill had passed the legislature unanimously in June. The new law requires health insurance coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders in patients under age seventeen. Covered treatments include: habilitative care, rehabilitative care, pharmacy care, psychiatric care, psychological care, and therapeutic care. Benefits are capped at $36,000 per year and $144,000 over the lifetime. Coverage will begin on January 1, 2009. For more information, visit HERE.


Family Services Committee Requests Grant Proposals
Autism Speaks is once again seeking proposals to fund projects that will enhance the lives of those affected by autism spectrum disorders. Proposals for these family services grants are sought in the following areas: Recreation/Community Activities; Education; Equipment/Support Technology; or Young Adult/Adult Services. Educators, trainers and services providers who work with individuals with autism are invited to apply. Applications are due by September 26, 2008 11:59 p.m. (EST). Since the inception of Autism Speaks' Family Services Community Grant program in December 2007, over $1 million has been awarded to 50 community programs across the nation. Read more.


Stars, Families Enjoy "Over the Top" Circus Performance
Neil Patrick Harris Autism Speaks and Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus teamed up on July 16 to welcome celebrities, families affected by autism and the general public to the opening night performance of the "Over the Top" show at Los Angeles' Staples Center, which promoted autism awareness while raising funds for Autism Speaks. Read more and see photos here.


"Autism: The Musical" Nominated for Five Emmy Awards
"Autism: The Musical," which premiered at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival, has been nominated for Emmys in five categories: outstanding nonfiction special; outstanding directing for nonfiction programming; outstanding cinematography for nonfiction programming; outstanding picture editing for nonfiction programming; and outstanding sound editing for nonfiction programming (single or multi-camera). The documentary tells the story of five children, their families and one acting coach as they heroically mount a full-length original stage production. Purchase "Autism: The Musical" on DVD here.


In Their Own Words: The Crucial String
In our latest "In Their Own Words" essay, a mother recounts her 15-year-old son with autism's upbringing, comparing it to beautifully playing an instrument that is missing a crucial string. Read more.
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WHAT WILL KIDS EAT THIS SUMMER?

Summer’s here.

America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network

Will the children in your community have enough to eat?

Listen to the NPR podcast!

Tell a Friend!

When summer vacation starts, more than 12 million children in America who live on the brink of hunger will lose the one place they can count on for a meal. The USDA’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) offers relief for hungry children when the school year ends. Unfortunately, it only reaches 2 million of America’s hungry children during the summer months. The Hunger Action Center supports the SFSP, and we’re pushing for expanded awareness and funding of this important program.

Under the SFSP, sponsors—such as food banks, schools, public agencies, camps, and other non-profits— receive reimbursement for the cost of providing two meals or snacks per day to children in need. You can learn more about the SFSP by listening to this NPR podcast. In it, Maura Daly of America’s Second Harvest joins Debbie Hammill, site director of Washington, D.C.’s Brooklyn Manor Housing Development, to talk about the issues driving seasonal child hunger.

Unfortunately, only 2 million children nationwide currently benefit from this program, which faces some key challenges:

Awareness. Many families simply don’t know the program exists in their communities.

Sponsorship. The SFSP needs more local organizations and volunteers to support summer food service locations in their communities.

Transportation. Many children who are eligible to participate have trouble getting to an SFSP location because they don’t have or can’t afford transportation.
Learn how the SFSP helps children in need.
Increasing awareness is the first important step.