On Saturday, May 6 2006, over 1600 people met at the “Home of the
Braves” under sunny skies for the second annual WALK NOW Atlanta!
Emceed by 99X dj Steve Craig, and cheered on by the Atlanta Falcons’
and University of Georgia Cheerleaders, you raised over $230,000 for
autism research. Thank you so much to those who walked, volunteered
and donated. The day was a huge success. Nearly 40 community
resource vendors entertained and informed families. Scott Mellanby,
Captain of the Atlanta Thrashers, and Spectrum Connections opened
and closed the festivities, with special appearances by Rapid Pulse
Band, Atlanta Spirit Hawks Dance Team, Rome Braves Mascot Romey,
University of Georgia Mascots Hairy Dawg & Spike, Atlanta Spirit
Mascot Thrash and The Marine Air Group 42 Color Guard. Over 100
volunteers helped to ensure the day ran smoothly. Presenting sponsor
Chevrolet raffled off mini Corvettes for participants.
WALK NOW participants turned in over $37,000 the day of WALK NOW.
Special thanks to our amazing WALK NOW Chair, Lisa Long, Co-Chair
Heidi Fernandez and the rest of the committee. Without their
leadership, WALK NOW Atlanta could not have been as successful as it
was. And thanks again to you for helping make Cure Autism Now’s
second annual WALK NOW Atlanta a memorable and successful day!
Honorary Committee:
Representative Glenn Richardson – Speaker, Georgia House of
Representatives
Sharon Cooper – State Representative, District 41
Steve Craig - 99X DJ
Byron Dafoe - Former Goalie, Atlanta Thrashers & founder of Athletes
Against Autism
Kim Dafoe
Senator John Douglas
Ashley Jenkins – Sandy Springs City Council Member
Matt Jones - 99X
Elizabeth “BJ” Mathis – Commissioner Henry County
Scott Mellanby - Team Captain, Atlanta Thrashers & founder of
Athletes Against Autism
Sheila J. Wagner
Planning Committee:
Lisa Long, Chair
Heidi Fernandez, Co-Chair
Dale Crissey, Chapter President
Andrea Braswell
Renee Clare-Kovacs
Nicole Patterson, Volunteer Chair
Nicole Glore
Lynn Higgins
Lisa
Long, Dale Crissey and Heidi Fernandez
2006 ASA Georgia convention.
CAN Leadership Conference a Success!
Chapters are an integral part of the success of Cure Autism Now.
Through their fundraising, advocacy and community outreach efforts,
local chapters provide individuals a way in which to have a direct
impact on the pace and progress of autism research. Leaders from 14
Cure Autism Now chapters attended the 2006 Leadership Conference
held in Santa Monica, Calif., on Jan. 13-15. This annual three-day
event provides us with an opportunity to gather together to reflect
on our previous year's accomplishments, express our gratitude for
the continued efforts of our volunteers, as well as roll out our
plans for 2006.
In addition to highlighting the achievements of all the chapters,
several were selected for their outstanding performance this year:
President's Cup - Outstanding National Chapter was presented to
Karen Beveridge, the Mid-Atlantic chapter president, for her
chapter's well-rounded involvement. This seven-year-old chapter
hosted several events in the Washington D.C./Baltimore area that not
only increased community involvement and autism awareness, they also
raised close to $1,000,000 for autism research. This chapter also
boasts the author of the Combating Autism Act currently in Congress,
which will allot nearly $1 billion of federal spending on autism in
the next five years.
Outstanding Rookie Chapter Award was presented to the Atlanta
chapter represented by Dale Crissey and Lisa Long. Founded in 2005,
the Atlanta chapter has already hosted a successful WALK NOW event
and advocated for autism legislation in the State of Georgia.
Founder's Award - Outstanding National Volunteers was awarded to
Stacie McManus and Eleni Schoenbeck from the Chicago chapter. Stacie
actively participated in the National Walk Advisory Committee and
has been instrumental in helping develop our national WALK NOW
guidelines and procedures. Eleni has been a tremendous help by
providing valuable data analysis for CAN. In addition, Eleni and
Stacie co-chaired WALK NOW Chicago in 2005 and again in 2006. They
hope to raise $1 million this year, which would bring the three-year
WALK NOW Chicago total to more than $2.5 million.
Outstanding Rookie Volunteer was presented to Joe and Shelly Galli
from the Mid-Atlantic chapter. Not only did they bring in $198,000
in corporate sponsorship for WALK NOW Baltimore/Washington D.C., but
their own Team Camille raised $25,000!
The Star Award for the Outstanding Special Event was awarded to the
"In Search of a Cure" Teamsters Golf Event. This event raised an
impressive $205,816.
Achievement Award for Outstanding Walk went to the Los Angeles
chapter. It was incredibly close this year. Chicago raised $931,576,
but Los Angeles raised just a little bit more, with a total of
$964,456. In addition, they hosted the largest Resource Fair with
107 vendors.
Outstanding First Year Walk went to the Mid-Atlantic chapter. This
inaugural walk took place on Oct. 15. 2005, at FedExField and raised
a total of $506,933 to benefit Cure Autism Now.
Thank you to all of our inspiring and tireless volunteers that
together make Cure Autism Now what it set out to be 10 years ago: an
organization of parents, clinicians and leading scientists committed
to accelerating the pace of autism research by raising funds for
research projects, education and outreach.
