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!