Awareness is Key

Help us raise money so that we may continue to provide services and supports to families in our community who are affected by autism.

Url: http://cfaii.org

&nbsp;&nbsp;<font id="el-1363812745555-503" color="#0000CC"><b id="el-1363812745555-504">Autism</b>:&nbsp; </font><font id="el-1362852313507-483" color="#0000CC">A lifelong developmental disability affecting 1 in 50 that appears by the age of 3 and is characterized by impairment of the ability to form normal social relationships, by impairment of the ability to communicate with others, and by stereotyped behavior patterns.<br id="el-1363812745555-507"><br id="el-1361850363125-437"><font id="el-1363812745555-509" size="4"><b id="el-1361850363125-439">April is Autism Awareness Month</b></font>. <br id="el-1361850363125-440"><br id="el-1361850363125-441">Over the past few years, we have shared with you some of the challenges that our family has faced with our son with autism.&nbsp; Cory is now 20 years old and each year brings different successes and obstacles.<br id="el-1361850363125-442"><br id="el-1361850363125-443">Due to the generosity of so many, the awareness level has greatly increased and we now have services that have previously been unavailable in Polk County.&nbsp; Many of these services are the result of the tremendous efforts of the Central Florida Autism Institute, Inc. and its Center for Applied Behavior Analysis &amp; Therapy.&nbsp; Last year CFAII was able to offer 5 full scholarships to summer camp; train 82 local police officers about autism and how to respond to our children in an emergency; continue to offer quality behavior programming at significantly reduced rates; provide free monthly trainings for parents on everything from how to implement behavior strategies at home, to how to obtain guardianship of their child at the age of 18; relocate to a larger facility to meet our growing needs, and much more!<br id="el-1361850363125-444"><br id="el-1361850363126-445">I will be participating in the event and would appreciate your support to help me reach my fundraising goal.</font><br id="el-1361850363126-446"><br id="el-1361850363126-447"><font id="el-1362852313507-497" color="#009900" size="4"><b id="el-1362852313507-498"><u id="el-1361850363126-448">Here are some of the ways you can help</u>:</b></font><br id="el-1361850363126-449"><br id="el-1361850363126-450"><font id="el-1362852313507-502" color="#009900"><b id="el-1361850363126-451"><font id="el-1362852313507-504" size="4">Join our Team</font>/</b><b id="el-1362852313507-505"><font id="el-1362852313507-506" size="4">Start your own team</font></b><b id="el-1361850363126-451"> </b></font>-<font id="el-1362852313507-508" color="#0000CC">The 9th Annual Autism Awareness Walk/5K &amp; Family Fun Day will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM at Anchor Park on beautiful Lake Hollingsworth across from Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Some of us will be participating in the 5K which begins at 7 am and some of us will be participating in the walk and family activities which begin at &nbsp;&nbsp; 9 am. You may register online by going to their website at</font> <font id="el-1362853070470-510" color="#CC0000" size="4"><a id="el-1362851719622-481" target="" title="" href="http://www.cfaii.org">www.cfaii.org</a></font>. <br id="el-1361850363126-452"><br id="el-1361850363126-453"><font id="el-1362852313507-512" color="#009900" size="4"><b id="el-1361850363126-454">Spread the Word</b></font> - <font id="el-1362852313507-514" color="#0000CC">Please share about our event to friends, family members, co-workers, fellow church members, etc. The more people who participate, the more autism awareness we can spread and the more money we raise to support the families living with autism today!</font><br id="el-1361850363126-455"><br id="el-1361850363126-456"><font id="el-1362852313507-517" color="#009900" size="4"><b id="el-1361850363126-457">Make a One Time Donation</b></font><font id="el-1362852313508-519" size="4"> </font>- <font id="el-1362852313508-520" color="#0000CC">All donations are tax deductible and stay right here in Central Florida to support our families living with autism today. To make a donation is very easy. Simply click on the <font id="el-1362852488962-524" color="#009900" size="4"><b id="el-1362852488962-525">DONATE</b></font> button above and contribute.<br id="el-1361850363126-460"><br id="el-1361850363126-461">To learn more about CFAII, please visit their website at</font> <font id="el-1362853070470-530" color="#990000" size="4"><a id="el-1361851667014-468" target="_blank" title="CFAII" href="http://www.cfaii.org">www.cfaii.org</a></font>.<br id="el-1363812745555-553"><br id="el-1363812745555-554"><font id="el-1362714010186-447" color="#000099">Thanks for your help and support.<br><br>Much love,<br>The Van Meter Family<br>Dawn, John, Cory and Connor<br id="el-1363812745555-556"></font><br id="el-1363812745555-557"><font id="el-1362714010186-447" color="#000099"></font>