| Arizona Walk Now for Autism Speaks Sunday, November 1, 2009 Tempe Beach Park www.walknowforautism.org/az
Registration and Resource Fair open at 8:00am - Walk starts at 9:30am Wow!
With only a few days until the annual Arizona Walk Now for Autism Speaks, we are just a breath away from raising $300,000! Congratulations and thank you for your fundraising and recruitment efforts—they are paying off! We are well on our way to reaching our goal of raising $500,000! If you have not yet registered for the walk, please click here to register online. For personal assistance registering for the walk, please contact the Arizona Autism Speaks office at (480) 293-4373. We will help make the process as easy for you as possible!
Way to go, Jack!
Jack Balter's mom and dad are the winners of our latest online fundraising incentive, by raising $3,575 in less then a week. Jack will be able to get a jump start on his holiday shopping for his mom with the sterling silver autism awareness charm valued at $50 courtesy of SARRC and Charity Charms.
Helpful hint: our latest winners have averaged raising over $1,000 in one week's time. Can you do it? Check out these helpful hints on how to raise $1,000, and take the challenge! Ladies and gentleman, start your engines! | Your Walk Day Questions Answered | Where do I park?
Free parking and shuttle service will be available at the ASU parking lot off of Rio Salado Pkwy and Rural. For a fee of $5 you can park at the Hayden Ferry garage on Mill and Rio Salado. There will also be plenty of signage to direct you on where to go. Click on the links for driving directions to Tempe Beach Park and parking locations!
Do I have to go to registrater/check-in?
Check-In will be located at the main entrance to the park at Mill Ave and Rio Salado Pkwy. Volunteers will be available to direct you. Plan to register/check-in if you fall into one of the categories below: - Pre-Registered AND Raised $150: If you have already registered and raised $150 or more, you will need to check-in to receive your t-shirt redemption ticket. From there you can proceed to the T-shirt Booth inside the event. If you pre-registered and did NOT raise a $150, you do not need to check-in. You may head straight into the park to enjoy the Walk festivities!
- Pre-Registered AND Have Donations to Turn-In: Proceed to registration/check-in if you have already registered online, and have donations left to turn in. There will be envelopes available there. You will be asked to ensure that a donation form accompanies each check -- make it easy and fill them out ahead of time by downloading the form here. If you have raised $150, you will be given a t-shirt redemption ticket from there you can proceed to the T-shirt Booth inside the event.
- Have NOT Pre-Registered: Proceed to registration/check-in if you or anyone in your family did not register online. Even if you do not have donations to turn in, you will be asked to complete an event waiver. If you have donations to turn in, envelopes and donation forms will be available.
It pays to register online and turn your donations in ahead of time...you can greatly reduce your check-in time at the event and get in sooner to enjoy all that we have to offer. What if my Team raised more than $150...do we each get a Walk Day t-shirt?
Walk Day t-shirts are only given as a prize to those individuals who have raised over $150 prior to or on Walk Day. There is currently no additional incentive for Team fundraising. Will there be refreshments at the Walk?
Yes. There will be free water, coffee, fruit and muffins in the festival area and additional water along the Walk route. Please note that all items have been donated, and unless everyone registers ahead of time, we cannot guarantee enough for everyone. You may also bring a snack or picnic lunch of your own.
Who will be at the event?
We anticipate an appearance by Geoffrey the Giraffe from Toys"R"Us, as well as Baxter and the Suns Gorilla. Local face painters and other entertainers will be on hand, too! We are also welcoming many local service providers and sponsors at the Resource Fair, and of course, hundreds of families and friends like you!
Are pets allowed at the Walk?
Sorry, but pets are not allowed. Many affected children have a fear of animals and even the sweetest pet could negatively affect another participant. Please be sensitive to this issue and leave your pets at home. Only service dogs are permitted at the walk.
Are strollers and wheelchairs allowed at the Walk?
Yes. Strollers, wheelchairs and even wagons for the little ones are all welcome.
Are bikes, rollerblades, scooters or skateboards allowed at the Walk?
For everyone's safety, we cannot allow any of these items.
What happens if it rains on the day of the Walk?
The Walk will be held rain or shine!
Congratulations to our Top Walk Teams!
1. Jack Balter - $21,505
2. David's Dream Team - $15,680
3. M*A*S*H - $10,580 Congratulations to our Top Corporate Teams!
1. SARRC Offices - $9,140
2. Mercy Care Plan - $3,831
3. Taylor Morrison - $3,035 | We want to specially recognizing those individuals who go above and beyond by raising $1,000 or more and invite them to join the Grand Club. See who has made it thus far - will YOU be next? |  | | Ellie Hoffman | Missy Fuller | Dawn Cohen | | Evan Danziger | Owen Waldman | Kelly Clark | | Maren Stuart | Trevor Flechsiq | Brian Eastman | | Lynn & Neil Balter | Nicole Goodwin | Patty & Phil Dion | | Sandie Stockwell | Jamee & Shaun Klein | Angela Vona | | Lisa Bradley | Jennifer Danziger | Karen & Anil Goud | | Rob Feidler | Anette McFall | Lori Polhemus | | Jennifer Steveson | Rose Guttman | Laura Ziff | | Daniel Kessler | Susan Cole | Kyla Danziger | | Viji Mukundan | Nathan & Andrea Barron | Brian Dessoy | | Janelle Wakefield | Karen Engel | John Schohl | | Danon Law | | |
You can now become a fan of Autism Speaks and the Arizona Walk Now for Autism on Facebook. Connect with other fans, find local events, and get the most up to date Autism Speaks
information. Come join us! (Note, must be logged into Facebook before clicking the link for full access.) Questions ?
Contact Autism Speaks at (480) 293-4373 or (866) 331-9001 or SARRC at (602) 340-8717
Thank you for your continued support of Autism Speaks and SARRC. Together, we will walk for autism. Together, we will find a cure. Together, anything is possible.
We look forward to seeing you on November 1 at Tempe Beach Park!
| Autism Speaks - Arizona is listening |
Sincerely,
The 2009 Arizona Walk Now for Autism Speaks Committee
A Unique Partnership:
Autism Speaks and the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center in Arizona
In a rare collaboration, Autism Speaks and SARRC partner to produce Walk Now for Autism Speaks to raise funds and awareness to support all those affected by autism. Together we are one strong voice and one united team. Combining, resources, skills and the talents of two organizations and hundreds of volunteers, we can make the greatest impact in Arizona. Our goal is to propel autism research to help uncover the causes, effective treatments and possible cures for this country's most common developmental disorder, autism.
As a national organization, Autism Speaks' goal is to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. It is dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cures for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder.
Establised in 1997, the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center's (SARRC) mission is to provide a lifetime of support for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and their families. As one of the nation's leading autism organization, SARRC offers early intervention programs and preschool for children birth to five; school programs that teach tolerance and acceptance of those who are different to children in kindergarten through 12th grade; education and training to medical and educational professionals; pre-vocational and vocational experiences for teens and young adults from 13-18 years of age; and employment services for adults. |
A Los Angeles County judge recently declared illegal a decision by an insurance company to deny coverage for behavioral therapy for children with autism because the provider was not licensed by California. The ruling is part of a larger lawsuit filed by Consumer Watchdog, a Santa Monica, Calif., advocacy group, against California's Department of Managed Health Care. The group argues that the state should provide more support to patients in their fight for better insurance coverage for people with autism. 
A study of 277 twin pairs found that among identical twins, if one developed autism, the other did in 88% of cases, compared with 31% among fraternal twins. Researchers said identical twins also had greater similarities in the type of autism they had and similar levels of daily functioning. The research validates the importance of genes in the development of autism, scientists said. 
Researchers at Northwestern University in Illinois are using life-sized, computer-animated virtual peers to learn more about how to help build communication skills in children with autism. Operated by video-game and touch-screen technology, virtual peers invite the children with autism to join in conversation or interact and play games. 
