Added: Aug 19, 2008
From: AutismSpeaksVids
Duration: 2:29
Over 900 Walk with Autism Speaks in Nantucket The Second Annual Nantucket Walk Now for Autism held on Saturday, August 16th was an incredible event. Over 900 walkers in 45 teams joined Autism Speaks Co-Founders and Walk Chairs Suzanne and Bob Wright at Jetties Beach to raise over $316,000 for autism awareness and research. The Walk program was emceed by Jamie Ranney, host of "The Jamie Ranney Show" on Nantucket TV 17. Suzanne and Bob Wright welcomed the crowd along with Walk Co-Chairs Sydney Fee Barsanti, Shannon and James Broder, Lyle Howland and Jack Manning, and Stephen and Jill Karp. Special guests at the Walk included Senator John Kerry, journalist Maureen Orth (wife of the late Tim Russert), and actor John Shea. Maureen Orth cut the ceremonial ribbon to kick off the Walk. Patty Roggeveen of the Nantucket Board of Selectmen also presented Bob and Suzanne Wright with a proclamation declaring August 9-16 as Autism Awareness Week on Nantucket. Walkers enjoyed performances by Olivia Esposito, a teenager with autism who sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", and by the Theatre Workshop of Nantucket who performed "A New World." River Bennett, a teen from Nantucket, performed a cello solo. There were plenty of activities for the kids too: children played with children's book character Barnaby the Bear while puppeteer Joe Zito circulated through the crowd. Nantucket resident Marjory Trott led a "Music and Movement" therapeutic dance program, while Val Oliver and the Nantucket Junior Miss Girls did face painting and supervised a puzzle piece beanbag game. Oversized bubbles provided by Nantucket Island resorts floated overhead. Nantucket holds a special place in the hearts of Autism Speaks Co-Founders Suzanne and Bob Wright. As longtime summer residents, they are committed to raising awareness and giving back to Nantucket. The Nantucket Walk brought year-round and summer residents together as a united front in support of autism awareness, research, education and services. Local businesses participated in Autism Awareness Week by wearing Autism Speaks hats, selling paper puzzle pieces at the registers, collecting change in cans, displaying puzzle piece lapel pins on window mannequins, and distributing educational materials about autism throughout the week! The Walk organizers would like to extend heartfelt thanks to all the sponsors. Diamond level: Shannon and James Broder; Stephen and Jill Karp; Tim, Maureen and Luke Russert; Suzanne and Bob Wright. Platinum Sponsors: Nantucket Golf Club; Susan and Bill Vareschi; Shirley and Chris Kelly. Gold Sponsors: Hebe and John Murphy; Lyle Howland and Jack Manning; Kathleen and Chris Matthews; The Rock Run Nantucket -- Jim Storey and Hector MacDonald. Silver Sponsors: Jane Beasley; Elizabeth and Seth Brennan; Barbara J. Fife; Lesley King and Bart Grenier; A.B. Norton Construction; Diane and John Samuels; Maury People Sotheby's Intl Realty; Julie and Brian Simmons; Marion and Terry Martin. Thanks also to in-kind sponsors: Capron for sound; The Bachman Company, Nantucket Nectars, Hint Water, Nantucket Ice House, Something Natural, Bartlett Farm for refreshments; Cranberry Tours, Nantucket Golf Club and Don Allen Ford for transportation; Poets Corner Press and Louise Martling for printing services; Bob Hall at ACKPhoto for photography; and Billy Santos for logistics support.
Channel: Nonprofit
Tags: autism for fundraiser nantucket now speaks walk
Rating: ( ratings) Views: 903 Comments: 0
