Dear family and friends,

I am reaching out to share an incredible opportunity for us to make a meaningful difference in the lives of autistic children and their families. As you may know, supporting autism awareness and advocacy has always been close to my heart, and I am thrilled to invite you to join me in a fundraising campaign for Community Autism Resources & Education Systems (CARES).

CARES is a beacon of hope for families like ours, providing essential support, resources, and educational programs for autistic individuals. They have been instrumental in shaping the lives of countless children, including our own, by fostering a community of understanding, acceptance, and empowerment.

On May 4th, CARES is hosting an event that promises to be both exhilarating and impactful - Au-some Family Fun Day at Valley Park in Hurricane, WV. This special day coincides with Star Wars Day, and the theme, "celebrate the force inside all of us," is a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience within every autistic child.

The highlight of the event is the Sensory Walk, paid participants get to enjoy a unique experience designed to engage our senses as we stroll through Valley Park. This walk symbolizes our journey alongside our children, embracing their unique sensory experiences and celebrating their individuality. It's a beautiful opportunity for us to come together as a community, raise awareness, and show our unwavering support for autism acceptance.

Following the Sensory Walk, everyone is invited to the “Jedi Training Field” to enjoy family-friendly games, activities, and music. Food, drinks, and merchandise will be available for purchase. It's a day filled with joy, laughter, and meaningful connections - an experience that our entire community will cherish.

This year’s team awards add an extra layer of excitement and motivation, to help inspire our team to go the extra mile in supporting a great cause.

Galactic Empire Award (Biggest Fundraising Team): Named after the formidable force in the Star Wars universe, the Galactic Empire Award celebrates the team that raises the highest amount of funds for CARES. This award acknowledges their dedication and determination in mobilizing resources to make a meaningful impact on the lives of autistic individuals and their families. The Galactic Empire team shall rise as the honored Grand Marshals, and lead the march of solitarily through the Sensory Walk. 

Jedi Master Award (Largest Walk Team): This award recognizes the team that gathers the most members to participate in the Sensory Walk. The winning team will be honored as Jedi Masters, leading the way with their strength in numbers and commitment to supporting CARES and the autism community.

Force of Friendship Award (Most Au-some Team Embracing Star Wars Theme): This award recognizes the team that fully embraces the Star Wars theme with creativity, enthusiasm, and camaraderie. Whether they dress up as iconic characters, decorate their team area with Star Wars motifs, or incorporate themed activities into their fundraising efforts, the Force of Friendship Award celebrates their spirit of inclusivity, fun, and imagination.

Millennium Falcon Award (Top Business Team): Named after the legendary starship known for its speed and resilience, the Millennium Falcon Award honors the business team that achieves the highest fundraising total for CARES. This award recognizes their exceptional efforts in navigating the fundraising galaxy, overcoming challenges, and propelling their mission forward at light speed. 

We need your help to make this special day a success!  Let's honor the incredible "force" within our autistic loved ones by building a team and raising funds together. Every dollar you raise will allow CARES to serve more families through their vital programs.

Purchase a sign to celebrate your Au-some loved ones!

As part of your registration, you have the option to purchase special "Celebration Signs" to honor the amazing autistic individuals, siblings, teachers, or supportive champions in your life.

These bright, colorful signs will be prominently displayed along the Sensory Walk path and at future CARES events throughout the year. They're the perfect way to make your loved ones feel celebrated, represented, and embraced by the community.

I invite you to join my fundraising team for this event. It's easy to get started – 

Click the “Donate” link to donate to CARES on behalf of my team.

To officially register for the CARES Au-some Family Fun Day Sensory Walk on May 4th, and/or to purchase one or more personalized Celebration Signs, you must complete the next step.

Please click on the "Register to Walk or Purchase a Sign" button on the top right hand side of this page. This will allow you to select your registration type, provide information about your walkers, and checkout securely.

If purchasing Celebration Sign(s), you can select that option and enter the quantity needed during this registration process. After completing registration, you'll receive instructions for submitting your photo(s) and custom messages.

The deadline for Celebration Signs is April 28^th.  All photos and custom messages much be received for printing purposes. 

Click "Register to Walk or Purchase a Sign" now to make it official. 

Multiply Your Impact - Expand the Team!

In addition to registering for the Sensory Walk itself, you also have the opportunity to amplify your support for CARES by expanding our fundraising team.

Consider rallying your friends, family, coworkers and community to either:

1) Register to walk with us on May 4th

2) Make a donation to the team's fundraising efforts

3) Ask businesses to sponsor the event or make a donation

4) Set up a Facebook fundraiser

5)Purchase a team t-shirt with proceeds going to CARES

6) Host an event like game night, or a bake sale

7) Sale raffle tickets for something special

As a team leader, you'll have access to tools and templates to help you spread the word through email, social media, or any outreach you'd like to do. You can even customize your team page with photos and stories

Thank you for considering this invitation. Your support means the world to me and to all the families touched by autism.  Together, we can use the power of the "force" inside all of us to create an accepting, supportive community for West Virginia's autistic kids and their families.

May the force be with us!