We Did It, Utah !
On Saturday, May 2nd, over 2,000 people braved the rain to attend the 2nd annual Utah Walk Now for Autism at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah and raised over $145,000 for Autism Speaks so far, funding work in research, family services, advocacy and awareness. Without each of you, this would not have been possible, and for that, we thank you. A special thank you to our newly inducted Grand Club Members, donors, sponsors, Team Captains, walkers, in-kind sponsors, committee, walk day volunteers, Resource Fair Vendors, entertainers, supporters and friends. Together, we made a difference in the lives of so many. THANK YOU to all of you for joining together to raise our voices for autism awareness in the Utah !
Congratulations go out to Walk Chair Tricia Nelson, all the Committee Chairs (listed below) and to their committees who have worked tirelessly to plan this very successful event:
Calleen Kenney, Community Outreach Chair, Shanda Ross – Logistics Chair, Laura DelRio – Publicity Chair, Raquel Smith & Heather Maier – Food and Beverage Chairs, Amanda Johnson – Volunteer Chair, Jenny Gunnell – Kickoff & Resource Fair Chair, Amanda Patten – Family Services Liason, Becky Brady – School Outreach Chair, Kristen Reynolds – Point of Purchase, Leeann Whiffen, Brittany Recalde, Steve Michalski – Advocacy Chairs, Melissa Christensen - Corporate Teams,
Jodie Smith – Sponsorship chair, and Geri Bohn – Entertainment Chair
Greg Wrubell, the famous "Voice of the BYU Cougars" on KSL Newsradio 102.7FM/1160AM, and anchor on " Utah 's Morning News with Grant and Amanda emceed the event and we thank Greg and everyone at KSL TV and KSL Newsradio for their tremendous support of Walk Now for Autism! Thanks also go out to Mrs. Utah America , Tiffany Nelson, for her support as well as to the One Voice Children's Choir led by Masa Fakuda who performed the National Anthem.
Thirty Resource Fair Vendors were on hand to offer information about their services to families affected by autism. Each Resource Fair Vendor also brought a child-friendly activity creating a fun festival that all the children enjoyed. Thank you to all that participated!
Huge thanks also go out to our current Utah Walk Now for Autism Local Sponsors:
Mountain America Credit Union, American United Credit Unions, KSL Newsradio and KSL Channel 5, West Rim Capitol Advisors, and Salt Lake Wound Care.
And big thanks also go out to the Orem Police Department for their support!
There is still time to donate and fundraise!
We will be accepting donations for this year's walk through December 2009. For those that were not able to make it out to the event due to the rain, we are offering donation drop off areas on Saturday May 16th and on Monday May 18th at the below Mountain America Credit Unions locations during business hours:
Orem Branch
1219 S 800 E
OREM , UT 84097
Draper Branch
12221 S Factory Outlet Dr .
DRAPER , UT 84020
Metro Branch
735 S State Street
SALT LAKE CITY , UT 84111
Please remember to bring a donation form with you for each donation. If you did not pick up your Walk Now for Autism T-shirt at the walk and you have raised $100 individually, you can also pick up your t-shirt at the donation drop off location at your local Mountain America Credit Union!
Due to the large volume of donations received on Walk Day, it will take us several weeks to enter all donations onto the website. Please be patient and know that we are working as quickly as possible to update walker totals.
Need ideas on how to reach your team goal by the end of the year? Contact us at utah@autismspeaks.org or check out the great wrap around ideas in your Walker Tools!
Also, please keep your eye out for an invitation to our Walk Appreciation Family Picnic. This will be an opportunity for us all to get together again soon (out of the rain!), to recognize the efforts of everyone that made Walk Now for Autism a success, and to celebrate our community! Again, thank you all for your continued support of the 2nd Annual Utah Walk Now for Autism. Without you, this Walk would not be possible.
Sincerely,
Utah Autism Speaks
utah@autismspeaks.org
www.walknowforautism.org/utah
888-Autism, Ext 17
No comments:
Post a Comment