We're Getting Close to our Goal: Thanks!

Just a big shout out to all our blog visitors & readers. The school is getting close to its goal! Our Chili's night was complete success. Thanks to the many who turned out and offered their support. We also raised close to $5,000 from our gas raffle. With 20 days, left, we're firing on all cylinders to get to the $100,000 goal. Many friends of the school have come forward and sent in donations and made donations via the Internet. This is the best Christmas gift we could possibly hope for. Remember, your donations are tax deductible :)

Gifts can be sent to the Mariposa School, or made by using the Google Checkout link on the blog. Our volunteers have been wrapping gifts at Borders and doing other things in the community to help us reach the goal. Thank you one & all!

Happy Thankgiving! The Fundraising Challenge Has Been Extended until 12/31

Oh Happy Day! Its the best Thanksgiving gift ever, Doris Buffett has extended our fundraising challenge until Dec. 31st. Hooray. This means the school has another 30 + days to meet the challenge. I knew that something was going to happen when Max Hall got involved and got out his fundraising thermometer. :) I mean, who can resist that boy ?

If you are looking for an end of year tax-deduction, consider giving a Tax-Deductible Contribution to help The Mariposa School for Children with Autism. Just use the Google checkout button here on the blog. There is still time to raise the 19k needed to meet the challenge & no donation is too small.

Also, please check out our new eBay Auctions page. We are auctioning two Yummi Glass Butterfly Pendants to help the kids. These pendants retail for close to $200.00. We are offering them for less on eBay to help the kids. They would make a great holiday gift. And everytime you wear it, you'd be helping children. Now, that's the best gift of all :)

Happy Thanksgiving from Max & all the children at Mariposa School.

MARIPOSA SCHOOL SEEKS SUPPORT--15 Days Left to Meet the Challenge

Cary, N.C. (November 14, 2008) -In August 2008, The Mariposa School for Children with Autism announced "Take Flight! The Campaign for The Mariposa School". The Cary school received an extremely exciting challenge grant from The Sunshine Lady Foundation. The Sunshine Lady Foundation is a charitable organization founded by Doris Buffett, the sister of billionaire Warren Buffett. Doris Buffett personally called Dr. Jacqueline Kilgus Gottlieb, Mariposa's Head of School, to communicate the challenge. The Sunshine Lady Foundation will donate $50,000 to the school if it can raise $100,000 by December 1, 2008. The funding will help support a much needed expansion of student programs including early intervention and social skills programs that are so vital for youngsters challenged by autism.
The Board of Directors, Staff, and Families have worked diligently to raise the money. In less than 4 months, The School has raised more than $70,000! One hundred percent of the Board and Staff have donated to the campaign. With just two weeks left in the challenge, the School is turning to the community for help. Gottlieb says the funding will help support a much needed expansion of programs and maintain the organization's stability in an unpredictable economy—ultimately continuing to provide high quality programming to children with autism. "We thank Ms. Buffett, her foundation and our local community for recognizing the value of this type of intensive instruction for children with autism."

To give online, click here.

If you and/or your organization are able to assist the school, please contact:
Dr. Jacqueline Gottlieb, Head of School
The Mariposa School
203 Gregson Drive
Cary, NC 27511
919-461-0600
info@mariposaschool.org

All donors will receive a letter documenting the contribution to be used for tax purposes.

The Mariposa School was founded in 2000 by a parent of a child with autism. It is a private non-profit school where all students receive one-on-one instruction based on the principles of verbal behavior. The mission of the school is to provide intensive instruction in a supportive environment designed to improve communication skills and therefore quality of life for children with autism and other developmental disabilities and their families. The Mariposa School is a regional leader in providing early intervention services and education to children with autism and other developmental disabilities. The school's goal is to build positive relationships among families, staff and the greater community to help each child achieve his/her maximum potential. For more information visit, http://www.mariposaschool.org/.

Related Links
http://www.mariposaschool.org/
http://www.youtube.com/AutismTakeFlight

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!