Dear Volunteers, family and friends; Friday, May 15, 2009
On behalf of Autism Speaks and “Nicks Team”, I cant appreciate you enough for your generous support. Your commitment to autism in our community is sincerely appreciated.
As most of you know, the goal of Autism Speaks is to increase awareness of autism spectrum disorders, to fund research into the causes, prevention and treatments for autism, and to advocate for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.
When we asked for your help we never could have imagined how much help we were getting. In selecting a co-team captain, I carefully considered the qualifications that would best promote the type of help that I would need to effectively carry out my goal in raising money and awareness for autism. It was my good fortune to select the very best people to help with these ambitions.
The key to our success rests in people like all of you, who embody the spirit of greatness by saying, "Yes I can, and so can you!" With gratitude in my heart for your contributions to our cause, I wanted to thank you with a personal round of applause. The credit for our good deeds firmly rests with you, our dedicated volunteers.
I would also like to highlight the efforts of those volunteers who went well beyond the call of duty in giving so generously of their time throughout the entire event process.
Jason and Tammy took on the responsibility for creating a fundraiser, planning, setting it up and helping to run it, making the event a complete success. The task was enormous. Both put in a great deal of time, effort and money to make it happen. They donated the tee-shirts that were used for the tournamentand for the walk but more importantly it unifies us all as one team for one special guy. Words could never adequately convey their remarkable contribution to this project. No one is more cherished in this world than someone who lightens the burden of another. Thank you.
Mike Zuborg whom I’d never even met put in many hours helping Tammy and Jason plan for the event, helping to set up, clean up and run it as well. Mike took time to post promotional materials and then would go around checking to see if anyway had taken the advertisements. I looked at him at the event and thanked him for helping us. I will never forget his “matter-of –fact” response. He said in the most sincere way, “Thank YOU for allowing me to help!” Unselfish and noble actions are the most radiant pages in the biography of souls. I am humbled by the unselfishness shown by him and everyone else who helped us.
Holy Family Catholic School were kind enough to let us use their school for the day without a place to have such an event, we may not have been able to pull it off. They were kind and gracious and patient with us. Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone so I thank them from the bottom of my heart.
My Husband and my children were fantastic. They too helped set up, clean up and keeping the event running smoothly. I thank them but they thank all of you for helping our family accomplish the goal we had set.
My mom was there with working with a bad heart and back problems but I couldn’t have kept her from it if I tried. She stood right there helping us for seven and half hours and never complained one single time. I admire her for that and every-time I looked over at her through the day, she looked unfazed by it all and I could not have been more proud of her. She and Nick share a rare bond that goes far beyond anything I ever could have imagined.
Shelly and Kevin were generous enough to make a donation and then come to the event and spend even more money. But a special thank you to Shelly for all the trips we took checking on our autism cards we put up and then by helping me go business to business asking for items to be donated. I can’t thank her enough.
Jeff, Sheri, Haley were there helping to set up and then to run the event. A special message goes out first to, Haley. She exemplifies the type of girl all mothers love. She is wise beyond her years. What stuck out to me that day was Haley’s unwavering hard work throughout the entire day. I never heard one complaint from her and she was truly one of our best helpers.
Words can’t express my gratitude to Sheri for helping at the event but also for the photographs she took that gave me a lifelong reminder of that day, the events and the look on my sons face as he gleamed with excitement. Those moments are few and far between but she captured them perfectly. Each of her photographs gave strong attention to detail and turned out beautifully. I’m grateful to have that record.
Jeff’s “guys” (Steve, Jay, Brian (and Ron for running the puzzle piece campaign for us)…To see them show up and show such support for Nicholas was very touching. Nick has grown up around these men and it was apparent how much he means to them. I will be forever grateful for that. I remember looking over at one time and Jay was sitting beside Nick and they were sharing ear pieces to hear what Nick was playing on his IPOD and Jay could not have looked more comfortable or compassionate with Nick and Nick looked the same way about him.
Michelle, Amanda, Jared, Mark and Tom were all there helping to set up, clean up and run the event. Everywhere I looked I saw a family member working without looking like they minded at all. (Not even Jared who was sick.) The key to our success rests in people like you, who embody the spirit of greatness and giving by saying, "Yes I can, and so can you!" With gratitude in my heart for your contributions and time, I thank you all so much for all of your hard work and for allowing me to bear witness to your passion was an unexpected perk. I never could have asked for a more dedicated group of volunteers and words cannot express how grateful I am to have had you all there. It was such a pleasure to work with all of you.
Special acknowledgment and extended thanks goes out to the venders that made contributions. To the local community and businesses who donated items for our event and last but not least to the donors. Their generous contributions were instrumental in making this event as successful as it was. We received contributions from Bourbon House in Burlington, Paris Nails also in Burlington, Woodie’s in Florence, O’Charley’s and Buffalo Bobs in Florence. I thank you all for helping to make this a successful event.
It is all about community spirit, teamwork, and a commitment to honor Nicholas and to not limit the possibilities of his future.
_____________________________________________________________________
One can pay back the loan of gold, but one dies forever in debt to those who are kind. Malayan Proverb
Volunteers don't get paid, not because they're worthless, but because they're priceless.
The purpose of life is not to be happy - but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, and to have it make some difference that you have lived at all. ~Leo Rosten~
I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart. My gratitude is endless and I hope to have the chance one day to pay it all forward.
Sincerely,
Melinda Delph
NKY Autism Speaks Rep.
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