COUNTDOWN: 31 DAYS LEFT TO MEET THE CHALLENGE!!

The pages on the calendar are turning & December 1st is almost here. As some of you know, The Mariposa School was challenged by the Sunshine Lady Foundation to raise $100,000 by December 1st, 2008. In return the Foundation would donate an additional $50,000. So, how are we doing? Well the good news is we're more than half way there with $60,000 raised to date. This is an outstanding achievement! A big THANK YOU to all of you who have helped us.

Now the bad news, we still need to raise $40,000 to meet the challenge & receive the grant money. Quite simply, we need help. Something like this takes a village!! No donation is too small to help these precious kids. And remember, your donation is tax-deductible.

I talked to Dr. Jacqueline Gottlieb, the head of the Mariposa school today to find out how the school was doing. Here is what she shared with me.

"Just the other day, I learned that a child may not be able to attend any more simply because there was not enough money to put gas in the car to transport him to and from school. Is the economy really that bad?

What is the true reality? For us here at Mariposa, the true reality is this. One in 150 children born each day is diagnosed with autism – that is one child every 20 minutes. To me as a parent, for every child with autism, it is a family that feels the impact. It is not only the same joy and heartache felt by every other parent, but it is much more than that. It is learning that there is not a cure, and not even an “official” cause for that matter. It is learning that programs are limited but the ones with the most supporting research cost more than an Ivy League tuition and that insurance rarely covers the expense. It is learning that the goal of providing the best for your child may be one that is beyond your reach.

The true reality is whether or not gas prices soar above $4.00 a gallon or the stock market hits a record low, those who are diagnosed with autism, need our help now."
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So please, if you can find it in your heart, help us meet the challenge before time runs out. No contribution is too small. Click here if you want to give to help this special school & these VERY special children. Both presidential candidates have talked about helping children with Autism, but that help seems like such a long way off. Please help us meet the challenge. Help those who face the challenges of autism now.

Visit our YouTube channel to learn more about these wonderful kids!

New Grant Students Start this Month!

Mariposa is excited to share some great news. This month, we started our 2nd round of grant students with 7 new students attending the school on scholarship. That is a total of 16 students enrolled through the state program now. They are all 48 months or younger.


Its wonderful that these kids are able to start getting special training & instruction so early in their lives. Early intervention is so important to these children and their families. The scholarship program is another way the school is helping children with autism take flight!

The Reviews are In: Maripolooza Rocked!

For those of you who attended Maripolooza, you know the event was a HUGE success. The fundraising estimate is currently at 6k!!! Please join me in thanking all the staff members who worked so hard to produce the event. Planning and executing an event like Maripolooza is a massive job. It takes many hours of detailed planning and a group of trusted individuals to see it through!. Special thanks go to the teachers! Mariposa's faculty produced a wonderful event. The event showed their unique dedication & love for the school. Well done!

Three BIG Events coming up!!!

This week we have some big events coming up in support of the school & the Take Flight Campaign. Put these on your calendar.

Oct, 11th, Saturday : Autism Society of NC is hosting the Ribbon Run. We have a team from Mariposa going. Look for the Mariposa School exhibit table there with information about the school. We'll also be selling raffle tickets.

This is an event you won't want to miss.

10/11/08 at Moore Square in Downtown Raleigh.

Oct. 12th, Sunday is Maripolooza - This is our first fundraising festival for the Mariposa School. Maripolooza is brought to you totally free of charge and is open to the public. Come and Get Your Groove On and make sure you bring the little ones too! Details: Sunday, October 12, 2008 12 noon – 6 pm

Koka Booth at Regency Park, Cary, NC.

Get all the details on the special Maripolooza website!'

Oct 13th, Monday is our special conference,
Using Behavior Analysis to Guide a Language Intervention Program for Children with Autism , click here to see the conference brochure.

Nationally recognized expert, Dr. Mark Sundberg, will be coming to Durham, NC to present. To date, 90 people are registered. It will be held at The Goodwill Center in Durham, NC. On Tuesday, Oct. 14, Dr. Sundberg will be visiting the school to provide consultation.

Delta Pilots Foundation Helps Mariposa Take Flight!

Thanks to the Delta Pilots Charitable Foundation, the students at the Mariposa School for Children with Autism will not only be able to hear a parade, they will have the opportunity to create their own parade! The Foundation has awarded a $3,000 grant to The Mariposa School. This grant will enable Mariposa to build a music hut and purchase instruments to enhance educational opportunities for the students.


The Delta Pilots Charitable Fund is supported by individual contributions from members of the Air Line Pilots Association at Delta Air Lines. The Fund is the first charitable fund established, managed and funded entirely by the pilots of a major U.S. airline; it focuses on children’s charities in cities where Delta pilots live and work.

Countdown to Maripolooza! Oct. 12: The Festival to Help Mariposa School

What Is Maripolooza?
It’s a “FESTICAUSE!”
A Family-Friendly musical and entertainment extravaganza!
Maripolooza is a Great Local Cause!

Great Local Music and Entertainment!Great Food!Fund Raising and Friend Finding for students of The Mariposa School!
Maripolooza is brought to you totally free of charge and is open to the public.Come and Get Your Groove On and make sure you bring the little ones too!

Join us Sunday, October 12, 2008

12 noon – 6 pm

Koka Booth at Regency Park

Cary, NC
Check out the Maripolooza website to learn more details about the launch of what is sure to become a rock’n annual event.

A BIG SHOUT OUT OF THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

We hope you’ll consider choosing these wonderful businesses that have been so wonderful in giving back to the community through this event.

Coalmarch Productions

CenterLine

DNJ Mortgage

Wings for Kids with Autism

Creative Consultants

Dennis Duke, P.A.
Howerton Services LLC

Luxury Movers LTD

MEM Construction

Randenn, Inc.

The Young Group of Fuquay

We would also like to acknowledge the following businesses who are supporting the Wings for Kid’s with Autism Campaign by inviting donations from customers at their stores. We encourage you to visit each retailer and THANK them personally for their invaluable service to the Mariposa students.

OUR THANKS GO OUT TO :
Snip-Its of Apex
Tirza’s Market Center
Trendy Toes Children’s Shoes of Cary (Hosted a “Special Needs Day” on September 21 --THANK YOU!)
Monkey Joe’s
Raffle Items for Maripolooza
Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina Mudcats

Jelly Beans of Cary

Rush Hour Carting

To see the complete list of sponsors and those who have made donations, click here.

News from Dr. Jacqueline Gottlieb

Thanks to all of you who have been reading this blog & supporting our efforts!
We really enjoyed seeing some of you at the yard sale & appreciate the support.

My name is Jacqueline Gottlieb, and I am the Head of School at The Mariposa School for Children with Autism in Cary, North Carolina. I have been with Mariposa just over a year now. The setting is quite different from the corporate office environment I was in for over 10 years. It is even much different than the public schools I taught in just after college. The instruction is all one-on-one and the majority of the learning is through play.

A Success Story
Just the other day, I was walking through the hall. I heard a commotion around the corner. I stopped and peaked around the corner. You never know what might be coming down the hall as the children, and sometimes teachers, are flying by on scooters or racing on plasma cars. The hallway was clear, so I walked to the next corner. As I turned the corner, I saw a group of staff standing around a two year old child. All at once, the adults would start to stomp their feet on the ground and then the little boy would giggle. The adults stopped moving their feet and ever so quietly, the little boy would say, "go, go, go" and the adults would being to stomp their feet again. I know for most this wouldn't seem like a big deal, but to the staff here at Mariposa and for a child with autism - it is an awesome event. This child has been here since January 2008 and had never spoken a word until that day!!!! As we continue to reinforce his attempts to communicate, his functional communication will grow, opening up a whole new world of opportunities for him.

Its great to see these kids blossoming. I'll keep sharing the success stories here with you! With the right help, these kids can blossom and take flight.