Hello everyone!

Welcome to our 2007 Imagine Walk and Family Fun Day fundraising page. It's been an eventful year and we hope to see many of you at our fifth annual Walk!

It's also been a tough year for children and families with autism. The incidence rate is now 1:150 and 1:94 for boys.The Feds are beginning to listen, but we are a far cry from even beginning to meet the families' needs. At the same time, Medicaid and autism funding on local levels is slow to grow.

Things at the Quinn house continue on. Patrick will be 12 years old in May. He remains a happy, funny kid who is loved by all at home, in school and across our community. He's in the 6th grade and looking forward to going to Middle School next year. It's going to be a huge change for all of us. He continues to struggle with communication, conversation and anxiety. Tomorrow, May 30, I am flying to California to learn a new model for teaching children with autism on how to improve perspective taking and conversational skills. Patrick is lucky to have generous grandparents who are investing in his future. We are hoping this will help him interact better with his peers.

I invite you all to join our team. I will be ordering T-shirts again and if you'd like to get one, please email me sizes and quantities. I need to order them by April 15th. We will be meeting by the Gazebo on the field at 9:00 a.m. so you can get your shirt.

Thank you for your generous support. Not only Patrick benefits. Hundreds of children with autism and their parents get support, education and hope from my great staff and the many volunteers. Your donation has a direct impact on a child's life.

Thank you for another great year.

Love,

Joanne and John

Thank you to Sr./Aunt Kathleen and the Benedictine Sisters for a generous donation of $750!