COMMUNICATION SHUTDOWN!!!!! (November 1, 2010)

BIG NEWS in the Autism Awareness world!!

"Social communication is one of the biggest challenges for people with autism.

But on November 1, the world will have some idea of what this is like."

A Communication Shutdown will take place on Nov. 1, 2010!!

CLICK HERE: https://communicationshutdo
wn.org/

     This is the website where you can donate (even just $5!) to the Autism Awareness cause & you will receive special apps for your Facebook & Twitter to tell people you are taking part in the shutdown.

I donated & will be doing a complete Communication Shutdown on November 1. 

Will you????

It's Official - There Will Be NO Fundraiser on August 14th :(

It's offically decided that Raise Your Voice will no longer be hosting a fundraiser on August 14th :(

It's kinda frustrating that it could not work out this time but I greatly appreciate all the support that people have provided me.  From family and friends to co-workers and complete strangers I have been inspired to keep pushing forward and carry out the goals of this cause.

Rest assured, I still have big dreams and plans for this cause and just because this event didn't work out, does not mean I'm giving up! :)

I would like to thank all of those who helped me out and were planning on helping out at the event.  Your support means the world to me and I love you even more for it!

Please STAY TUNED b/c there will be a successful fundraiser in the future and I would love for all of you to be a part of it! <3

As always, THANKS FOR READING!
Love ya! And I'll be updating this blog again soon!

TRIPLE your generous donation to the Autism Society!!!

Yes, you heard right!  Any donation to the Autism Society you make from now until June 15th will be TRIPLED (up to a total of $50,000)!!!


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Families with autism face additional struggles everyday.  Your gift will help them gain some normalcy and comfort that they deserve. 

Children with  this disorder need help to achieve success and your donation will help provide some of this assistance.

PLEASE donate before this matching gift opportunity ends!

P.S. Your donation is tax-deductible!



Thank you everyone! <3 you all!

CLICK AND VOTE!!!!

PLEASE CLICK and VOTE to help the Autism Society win money from Pepsi to set up a 24/7 support line for familes and people with autism!!

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Don't forget, you can vote everyday and voting ends on May 31st!


Thanks for reading! <3 ya!

"The more reasons you have for achieving your goal, the more determined you will become." - Brian Tracy

   My excitement constantly grows and I continue to be inspired to put all my efforts into this fundraiser and achieve this huge goal whenever I talk to someone about it.  The increasing faith that people place in me drives me to reach new heights in this endeavor and help keep me focused.  I find that the more people I talk to the more people I find that are in some way connected to and affected by the autism disorder.  Many people I talk to either personally teach or have relatives who teach autistic children.  And a few others even have autistic people in their family, which when you look at the statistics is not at all surprising.

 * Here is (in my opinion) an amazing, really-makes-you-think quote about autism that I found:

"History suggests that many individuals whom we would today diagnose as autistic – some severely so – contributed profoundly to our art, our math, our science, and our literature."

  I think it helps put the viewpoint of autism into a different light and also exposes the prejudices faced by autistic people just for being "different." 

   That is why I am determined to bring more AWARENESS about autism to the world, especially to children.  I never really knew what autism was and when my relative was diagnosed, I had to do some research to understand it.  I hope that by increasing awareness we can increase EARLY DETECTION, which is crucial to improving the lives of autistic people. 

  Please keep SPREADING THE WORD about this cause and the fundraiser!  Above all else please educate others about autism or direct them to websites (such as Autism Society: http://www.autism-society.org/) where they can find out more information.

  Any ideas or suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated!
  If you don't want to leave a comment on this wall then feel free to send me an email at: raiseyourvoiceforautism@yahoo.com


 Thanks, as always, for reading! <3 ya!

P.S. Here's a lil something I made on my photoshop (since I've been in such an inspirational and creative mood lately LOL)

HAPPY APRIL!!!!!!!! AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH!!!

HAPPY APRIL, EVERYONE!!!!!

Please make sure you
WEAR BLUE
on APRIL 2ND
to SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!!!!
<3

Thanks for reading! <3 u all!

"Autism Speaks Celebrates Autism Awareness Month with a Series of National Awareness and Fundraising Initiatives" article

APRIL is Autism Awareness Month!!!!

BECOME A FAN of the Autism Speaks fan page on facebook to learn more about the events planned for next month!! :D

Link to the fan page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/autismspeaks?ref=mf

Retailers and restaurants including Toys"R"Us, T.J. Maxx, Lindt, White Castle and MORE wiil be supporting Autism Speaks in the month of April!


Link to the article on the Autism Speaks website: http://www.autismspeaks.org/press/autism_awareness_month_partners_2010.php


*Here's the full article about these companies that are contributing to the cause:

Autism Speaks Celebrates Autism Awareness Month with a Series of National Awareness and Fundraising Initiatives
Toys“R”Us, Inc., T.J.Maxx, Modell's Sporting Goods, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Lindt and Ask.com are Among Partners in April Activities NEW YORK, N.Y. (March 23, 2010) –
 Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, today announced a series of awareness and fundraising initiatives involving a range of corporate and philanthropic partners that will take place throughout Autism Awareness Month in April.
“We are very fortunate to have this remarkable group of partners who share our passion for making life better for individuals with autism and their families,” said Mark Roithmayr, president of Autism Speaks. “Our thanks go to the leadership of these companies, but also to their employees, who invest so much time and bring tremendous enthusiasm to the cause of autism advocacy.”
The 2010 Toys“R”Us fundraising campaign to benefit Autism Speaks launched on February 28 and continues through Friday, April 30. Since the partnership launched in 2007, Toys“R”Us, Inc., the Toys“R”Us Children's Fund and customer contributions have combined to provide Autism Speaks with more than $5.5 million. Throughout the nine-week effort, donations will be collected in all Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us stores in the U.S. and Canada and online at Toysrus.com/AutismSpeaks. Additionally, the company created the “Ten Toys That Speak To Autism,” a special subset of the annual Toys"R"Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids, to highlight toys that can help children with autism develop language, creativity and social skills, among others, while playing alongside siblings and friends. Information about the 2010 campaign – including the “Ten Toys That Speak To Autism” and a full list of Safe Play Tips, as well as a blog titled “Speaking About Autism” – is available at Toysrus.com/AutismSpeaks.
In addition to the fundraising campaign, Toys“R”Us is kicking off its national sponsorship of Walk Now for Autism Speaks, a year-long series of more than 80 walk events in communities throughout North America. All funds raised in Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us stores, online and through the Walk Now for Autism Speaks events will go directly to Autism Speaks to support research and advocacy efforts. In February, the Toys“R”Us Children's Fund kicked off the 2010 campaign by providing a $400,000 grant to Autism Speaks. Customers who donate $10 or more to Autism Speaks at any Toys“R”Us or Babies“R”Us store in the U.S. will receive a colorful floral-themed reusable shopping bag designed by a talented artist with autism, James Hogarth, while supplies last.
On Saturday, April 3, autism advocates Holly Robinson Peete (an Autism Speaks board member) and Rodney Peete will sign their new books at Toys“R”Us Times Square in Manhattan. The store's “GeoffreyTron” electronic billboard will display information about the fundraising campaign to support Autism Speaks throughout the month of April.
Autism Speaks and retailer T.J.Maxx will, once again, partner in April on a fundraising and awareness effort. For three weeks, beginning April 11 at 880 T.J.Maxx stores nationwide, customers will be invited to purchase an Autism Speaks puzzle piece at checkout for a donation of $1. All proceeds will benefit Autism Speaks and customers will be able to pick up information about autism.
For the second year, chocolatier Lindt & Sprüngli is donating 10 cents for every Lindt Gold Bunny sold in leading grocery stores and its own retail stores leading up to Easter for up to a $100,000 donation. As part of this promotion, Lindt is auctioning off special celebrity-autographed porcelain bunnies with all proceeds benefiting Autism Speaks. Additionally, the company is participating in Autism Speaks' Light It Up Blue campaign at many of its retail outlets, and will hold its second annual Unsung Heroes of Autism Awards on April 1 at the New York Palace hotel.
Modell's Sporting Goods stores will launch its fifth annual four-week in-store campaign in April to raise funds and awareness for Autism Speaks. Customers at 144 Modell's store locations throughout the Northeast will be able to purchase $1 Autism Speaks puzzle pieces at check-out, with all proceeds being directed towards autism research.
Build-A-Bear Workshop and Autism Speaks are also teaming up for the sixth consecutive year. During the month of April, customers at its stores in the U.S. and Canada will have the opportunity to make a donation to Autism Speaks at check-out. All stores will also offer customers printed information about autism.
All 8,800 Dollar General stores will give customers the opportunity to donate $1 to Autism Speaks at check-out. Dollar General's NASCAR and IRL cars will carry the Autism Speaks blue puzzle piece logo during April races. Dollar General also donated $50,000 and will make an additional $50,000 donation to Autism Speaks for every race won by either Dollar General car in April.
Once again, Ask.com will feature Autism Speaks on its home page throughout the month of April and will be entirely blue on April 1. Visitors to Ask.com will be able to participate in a Q&A that earns donations for Autism Speaks.
Casey's General Stores, for the first time, will sell puzzle pieces for $1 at its over 1,500 stores in nine mid-western states to benefit Autism Speaks.

NEST Home Fragrances has launched its Autism Speaks-branded Blue Garden candle in celebration of the 5th Anniversary of Autism Speaks. Sold through Nieman Marcus, Nieman Marcus.com, Bergdorf Goodman and many small boutiques across the country, this scented candle will also be used by retailers to participate in the Light It Up Blue campaign for World Autism Awareness Day and Autism Awareness Month. All net proceeds from sales of the candle will benefit Autism Speaks.
For the first time, all White Castle stores will participate in an in-store puzzle piece fundraising and awareness campaign. The campaign will roll out region-by-region beginning April 18.
Hy-Vee stores will distribute more than three million plastic grocery store bags with the Autism Speaks logo and awareness facts throughout April. With sales of more than $6.4 billion and more than 228 retail stores across eight Midwestern states, Hy-Vee ranks among the top 30 supermarket chains in the nation. Hy-Vee is also a sponsor of the Iowa Walk Now for Autism Speaks on June 19. During the week of April 19-25, a percentage of sales will be donated to the Walk.
Throughout the month of April, a group of 14 Panera Bread stores in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and in Memphis, Tenn. will be giving customers the opportunity to donate to Autism Speaks, and will also donate all proceeds from the sale of Blueberry bagels and a new Wildberry smoothie to the organization. Special blue bracelets will be available for $1. The participating stores have teamed up with local groups to support their fundraising efforts throughout March and April; the stores will also hold seminars about autism.


THANKS for reading!! <3

LIGHT IT UP BLUE for AUTISM AWARENESS!!!!

APRIL is AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH!!!!

APRIL 2nd is WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY!!!!!


Let's LIGHT IT UP BLUE for Autism Awareness by WEARING BLUE on April 2nd!!! :D




* Here's the link to the Light It Up Blue website:  http://www.lightitupblue.org/


THANKS FOR READING! <3

OFFICIAL DATE and VENUE for the FUNDRAISER!!!! :D

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!

The date for the Raise Your Voice - for Autism fundraiser is: AUGUST 14, 2010

And it will be held at the: MEADOWLANDS RACETRACK


Please MARK THE DATE on your calendar!!!

(The time of the event is TBA)

I'm extremely excited for this event and guarantee that you will have a great time! Hope you're looking forward to it too!!! :D


As always, THANKS for reading! <3 

Update! (3/14/2010)

Hi everyone!

  So there's an almost definate date for the Fundraiser and I'm super excited!  I've been coming up with lots of different ideas and continue to ask the neccessary people what I am allowed to do and not allowed to do.  As of now, there will be musical performances and raffles.  There may or may not be food (still working on those details) and there will be another form of entertainment to keep you busy, but I will not reveal it yet. 

Currently, I am working on getting musical performers (bands, solo acts, etc.) for the event.  If you know of anyone who may be interested, please email me at RaiseYourVoiceforAutism@yahoo.com. 

Hope everyone has a fantastic week and a fun-filled (and safe) St. Patrick's Day!! :)

I will update again as soon as I can.

As always, THANKS FOR READING! <3  

Autism Support in NJ... my reaction to an article about a special autism event in Cherry Hill, NJ

"Museum Opens Its Arms to Children With Autism"

By Bill Duhart
For the Courier-Post
February 22, 2010


Click on the link below to read the whole article.
Courierpostonline.com Article


     This article talks about a special event hosted by the Discovery Museum in Cherry Hill, NJ, for the Open Arms foundation.  The museum opened its doors one night for only autistic children and their families.  This provided the children a chance to play and explore in an environment where they felt they belonged.  The children were comfortable with their surroundings and each other, and were able to have fun.  This allowed the parents and families to relax as well. 

     In gratitude of the event, one mother who attended, Kim Marple, stated,"If he has a meltdown on a typical day it might be a tragedy for us and everyone else. Here, if he melts, he just blends in. He can be himself."  She also said, "I don't have to be embarrassed if [my son] is making a scene.  I don't have to feel like I'm alone. This is a night out for us, too." 

     I think that is fantastic and fully applaud the Discovery Museum and Open Arms for recognizing some of the everyday difficulties that autistic children face along with their continued efforts to relieve some of the pain and struggles faced by these children and their parents. 

     Early intervention is vital to improving the lives of autistic people and it is great to see that events like this are occuring to help aid that goal.

     I urge you to take a look at the article and definately to pass along this information to anyone you know who has autistic children and lives in the NJ area.  The article stated that these events at the museum are usually geared to kids up to the age of 10. 

Thanks for reading! <3 

My Cause :)

Hi everyone!! 

     I've been wanting to plan some sort of event for awhile now, and in my mind I always wanted it to be a fundraiser.  I found out not that long ago that someone very close to me has autism.  When I first heard this news it explained a lot of things, but I still didn't know what to make of it.  With further explaination (and then additional research on my part), I gained not only a better understanding of autism, but also a desire to help better the lives of autistic people.  I recently changed my tune from "I want to host a fundraiser for autism" to "I am going to host a fundraiser for autism", and here I am writing this blog as one of the steps to achieving my goal.  I've spent a few weeks coming up with ideas and possible methods, and have spoken to some people about what I need. 

     I decided to name my cause Raise Your Voice.  I chose that name because there is a need for more autism awareness and by raising your voice and speaking to others about the disorder that need can be met.  I plan to raise my voice and host various awareness events where I share knowledge and facts about autism. 

     I also created a logo.  The main image of the logo is a teddy bear.  I chose to use teddy bears because a teddy bear doesn't discriminate--it loves you for you.  I used different colors for the hearts on the teddy bears' stomachs because there are different types of autism and everyone is different with respect to their symptoms.  I chose to highlight the logo with the four words that highlight my goals for this cause.  Those words are: Awareness, Support, Research, and Early Detection. 

I feel very strongly about this cause and I hope you will too. :)

This is the Raise Your Voice Mission Statement:

     Autism affects an overwhelming number of people, and is steadily increasing. However, not many people are really aware of the disorder or understand it. It is my desire to increase AWARENESS about Autism and potentially more EARLY DETECTION, as well as, to raise funds for continued SUPPORT and future RESEARCH for a cure. With increased awareness, we can decrease some of the hardships faced by autistic people and their families. I've seen how cruel kids can be to someone who is "different", and it is my hope that through knowledge and understanding we can create more acceptance of autistic children in schools and social events.


Click on this link and check out the Raise Your Voice - for Autism page on Facebook:
     http://www.facebook.com/pages/Raise-Your-Voice-for-Autism/320846900982?ref=nf 
*If you would like to email any information, ideas, suggestions or support to Raise Your Voice, please send it to this email address:
RaiseYourVoiceforAutism@yahoo.com

     I plan on hosting various fundraisers and awareness events and could definately use any help you are willing to offer.
Please stay tuned! :)

I ♥ you all!!!