Cincinnati Walk Now for Autism Speaks 2011 Video

Every year, a father of an autistic boy, puts together a video of the walk.  He trys to get everyone in and he does an amazing job!  On Sunday, at the Kickoff, we got to see the video for the first time!  It was my favorite part of the kickoff event.  If you want to get a feel what walk day is like, watch the video.  It makes me cry to know I am now part of an amazing group of amazing people.  I have met a lot of the people in the video.  A lot came up to me on Sunday night to talk.  It's nice to know I am not alone in this battle.  Look how many people support our awesome kids!

If you were part of the walk last year, try and look for yourself.  Parker's Puzzle Posse is in the video a lot!  Thanks to everyone who came out to support us, and I hope we have even more walkers with us this year!

God Gave Me You Parker David! I truly believe that! It took me awhile, but I see it so clearly now!

Enjoy the video!

Click here to watch the video

Katie

**Gift Certificates Still for Sale**

Susan Salon - Haircut with Kaitlyn - $15
Gameworks - 30 minute video game play - $5
(6) Hofbräuhaus - Free dinner entree (up to $10) - $5 each (Can not be used for the fundraiser!)
(4) Louisville Bats Game tickets - (Sunday through Wednesday games only) - Excluding opening night, Thunder over Louisville, Playoff games, July 3-4 and Concerts). $25
All money raised will go to Autism Speaks. Please let me know if interested.

Also still going on
*31 gifts fundraiser - 20% of sales - Visit www.mythirtyone.com/tammycrowder - Choose Parker Puzzle Posse Ends 2*28*12
*Cincinnati Skyline Posters - 20x30 posters - 3 to choose from - $5 from each sale to go to Autism Speaks - Sale going on until Feb 25 for $30
*Raffle Tickets - Win an iPad 2 - Tickets are $5 each.

Thank you so much to Sts. Peter and Paul students, teachers, staff, and parents!

Back Row: Parker's Grandpa Dan, cousin Abbie, Grandma Cindy, cousin Zack, me, Parker, cousin Billy, big brother Dylan, cousin Ali, and Uncle/Godfather Bill with the 6th grade class at Sts. Peter and Paul.

I wanted to give a BIG shout out to my niece and newphews school, Sts. Peter and Paul in California, KY. For catholic schools week, they hold a penny war. This year, Shelli Bezold, contacted me and told me they picked Autism Speaks as this years charity!!!

I was stunned. I thought a penny war would bring in $100, maybe $200. Well they blew that out of the water. They raised $784.29!!! That's amazing! I was so blown away.

Above is the picture of the winning class, 6th grade. My newphew Zack is in the class and is holding the check. They presented us with the check at their pep rally.

So Thank You to everyone who helped raise money for Autism Speaks. I LOVE when schools raise money for charity and the kids get to see it handed to someone! What a great school and a wonderful group of kids!

Katie

This is why we raise money for Autism Speaks!

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/46435214#46435214

Next dining out fundraiser - Hofbräuhaus!!!

Our next dining to donate is at Hofbräuhaus in Newport on Thursday March 8th.  This is an all day event.  This one also has a bonus.  Alcohol is included!!!  So get your drinking buddies and have a night out.  Warning - you might have to call into work the next morning! LOL! 

This event is similar to Applebee's.  You must present the flyer with your check for the money to go to Autism Speaks.  We will receive 10% of all sales!  So please share this on your Facebook page, tweet it, email it, and pass out the flyer.  With the alcohol included, this could be our biggest one yet.  Food and soda are also included. 

Hofbräuhaus is a great place to take the family for dinner.  We have a couple of times are it is really good.  They have a Pretzel Sandwich that is really good. 

So please continue to join us, as you have before, for lunch, dinner, or drinks.  Any questions, please let me know. 

Print the flyer here!
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/113640994/Hofbr�uhaus

Thanks so much for your continued support!


Katie

Raffle Tickets are IN!!!!

This years raffle is for an 32gb wi-fi iPad 2!!!  We are now selling tickets.  We will be selling them until we run out or until the drawing at the walk on May 19th.  Tickets are $5 each and all of the money raised will go to Autism Speaks.  Last year, we sold all of the tickets so this is our biggest fundraising event. 

If you are interested in buying some, please email me for my address.  You can pay with a check made out to Autism Speaks, drop cash off to me (you can mail it also if you want), or make a donation online here http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=994799&lis=1&kntae994799=8BE6909A3DEA432CB09CD88B1D117A44&supId=305799163

If you have any questions, please email me, or leave a comment below.

Thanks so much for all of your support!  Lets try and raise $12,000 this year!

Katie

Need new jewlery?

One of walkers last year, and a friend of mine, Kelly, is having a Silpada jewelry party this Sunday.  Some of the money raised will go to Autism Speaks.  So if you need jewelry, please check out the link below. 

If someone wants to order online, they can go to the website www.mysilpada.com/laurie.hartig

I think there is a link on the invitation.  Shop for the jewelry, then go to checkout and that leads you to enter their information. Then click the PLACE AND ORDER key and it asked if you want to associate this with a show. Click yes and Kelly Guidugli as a show that is upcoming.  You can do this through the 25th. If you would rather call her or email her your order, heres her email and phone number.   silverlah@sbcglobal.net. 314-267-3784. You will have to call to give her your credit card number.

Thanks so much for your support!  And a big thank you to Kelly for putting this fundraiser together!

Katie

New fundraising opportunity!

A friend of mine, Bill Bertke, contacted me today with a fundraising idea.  He has his own photography business and takes amazing pictures.  He has three pictures of the Cincinnati skyline and Ohio River that he can have made into a poster.  So if you are looking to get a picture of the beautiful skyline for your home or office, here's a way to help Autism Speaks as well. 

Cincinnati in Summer (Photo #1)



Bill will have these beautiful photos printed in a 20x30 poster size print and you can either pick them up at my house, or at your local Walgreen's.  If you are out of town, picking up at your local Walgreen's will save you money on shipping! 

Summertime Skyline (Photo #2)

When these posters are printed, the writing will be at the top but not on the side. 

Sunrise on the Ohio River (Photo #3)

From today until this Friday, Bill is offering these posters for $30 each.  After Friday, they will cost $40.  Bill is donating $5 from each poster to Autism Speaks! 

To place an order, please email me at katieruschman@hotmail.com with the subject Autism Poster.  Please include which picture you would like printed. Bill accepts credit cards, checks, or cash!  If you have any questions, please call Bill at 859-628-9229.

You can visit Bill's Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Photographic-Art-by-Bill-Bertke/245440952133777 or his webpage http://www.photoartbb.com. 

Thanks so much for your support!

Katie



You guys did it again!

You packed Skyline all day!  They were so packed for lunch, they called in 3 extra workers to help out with the dinner rush.  The employees were busting their butts too.  We had a packed house and a packed drive thru!  Thank you to everyone who came out!  It was a huge success! 

I do not wish anyone to have to go through what we are going through with Parker, but I do wish for everyone to someday feel the love and support we felt tonight.  I said this at the walk last year.  To see people coming out to help support your son and a cause that is so close to your heart, is AMAZING.  Its a rush of love that is so powerful.  To think that people will take time out of their busy day to come eat at a restaurant, wake up early on a Saturday morning to walk with you, to place an order for another fundraiser you are doing, purchase a raffle ticket, or just hand you money, it really makes me cry. 

I started this journey with a little voice that said, "I have to do something to help find a cure to help Parker."  I heard a commercial on Q102 for the Walk Now for Autism Speaks the week we were given the diagnoses.  I wasn't ready then, but promised God that I would help raise money for this organization if he would help me along this road I am now chosen to walk down.  God has shown me he is right there helping me.  He gave Parker is first word that he didn't loose.  Mom.  Not Dad.  Mom.  He knew I would need that to not give up hope.  He gave Parker the word, Amen, and turned it into folding his hands.  He now does the sign of the cross and knows when to say Amen. So I am keeping my promise of raising as much money as I can to help find a cure for Autism. 

So thank you all for helping me keep my promise to God.  I believe that if you give a little, you will receive a much greater reward.  God has given me so much and I have given very little.  I try my best to spread awareness of autism, but I know I can do more. 

I know I went on and on, but I really do pray you will all feel the love we feel at these fundraisers.  Again, thank you so very much for coming out tonight.  We have our next one planned already.  Hofbrauhaus in Newport is our next fundraiser.  March 8th, all day, and yes, alcohol is INCLUDED!!!  So get your drinking buddies, and drink for Autism.  More details to come. 

Thanks again for your support! 

Happy Valentines Day!

Katie

Skyline Fundraiser Tomorrow!!!!

Have you seen the sign?  Skyline is advertising for us too!  How awesome is that!

Don't forget the fundraiser is tomorrow from open to close (10:30 am to 10:00 pm)!  It is good in the the restrauant and through the drive thru!  All you have to do is tell the cashier that you are there for the fundraiser and we will get 10 - 15%!!!!  There will also be a bucket that you can drop your extra change (or dollars!) into!  Every penny helps!

Thank you so much for all of your support!  Also, while your there tomorrow, please thank Skyline for being such a wonderful place to help us in this fundraiser!  I can't thank Joan enough!

Parker does not like change.

This week has been very hard for Parker.  He was acting up in school and not wanting to work at therapy like he usually does.  I couldn't figure out what was wrong.  Temper tantrums every day, hitting at school, whining all day long, and those are just a few of things he was doing that he really never does.

Then it hit me.  We are redoing our office at our house and our entire house is messed up.  We are moving furniture into other rooms, all of the things that were in the office are now in our living room, and the office now has a new color, new carpet and new furniture.  To the average person, this is exciting to get a new office look and know the mess is temporary.  But to Parker, it is all different and he just can not function like he he usually does.  To him, if his house is out of whack, so is he.  So hopefully by this weekend, we will have everything out of the living room and the office will be put together like it should be. 

We also found out some bad news on Tuesday.  Parker Occupational Therapist at Children's Hospital he has been seeing for almost 2 years, has decided to leave and change jobs.  As I wish her the best and know its the best for her, this is going to be VERY hard on Parker.  As I just mentioned, he does not like change.  So we are going to have to change therapist and everything that she has been doing with him.  They don't have anyone to take her place yet so we might have to take a break until they find someone to replace her.  Its all still up in the air.  Please pray that the transition is an easy one for Parker and he does not regress with this switch in 3 weeks.

And when it rains it pours, right?  Parker's Speech Therapist is also leaving us, but this one is only temporary.  Krista is having a baby in May so we will be taking a break in  the summer.  This was a hard decision I had to make, to take a break for 12 weeks or switch to a temporary therapist and then switch back to Krista.  This is 2 transitions and I think it will be overwhelming for him.  So I think Parker and I both need a break.  It will be nice to have the summer to do more things and not think about what time therapy is.  I think it will do him good and I will continue to work with him.

So please keep Parker in your prayers as he is going to go through a lot of changes this year.  First with an OT therapist , then taking a break from speech, and then the big one, changing schools, teachers, therapist as he enters Kindergarten.  Did I really just say Parker in Kindergarten.  Where does the time go?  I will keep you updated on how things are going, but now to get the house back to normal and get my normal kid back!

Have a great weekend!

Katie

Sold! Thanks Lauren!

Are you doing a project around your house this year?  Home Depot has donated a coupon for $25.00 a purchase of $25.01.  Selling for $20.  Money raised will go to Autism Speaks.

Also still available is Hofbrauhaus coupons for a free entree left.  Selling for $7 each (Value up to $10!)

And don't forget about the 31 fundraiser going on this month.  Visit www.mythirtyone.com/tammycrowder and select Parkers Puzzle Posse! We will get 20% of all the sales! Thanks!

Please leave a comment below if your are interested in any of these items.

Thanks so much for your support!

Sold! Thanks Bobbi!

This would make the BEST valentines gift!  Treat your sweetheart (or yourself) to a massage while helping out a great cause!  Todays gift certificate is for 1 session of Massage Therapy with Ruth Lehmkuhl!  Selling the gift certificate for $35.  This one went fast last year!

I still have some Hofbrauhaus coupons for a free entree left.  Selling for $7 each (Value up to $10!)

And don't forget about the 31 fundraiser going on this month.  Visit www.mythirtyone.com/tammycrowder and select Parkers Puzzle Posse! We will get 20% of all the sales! Thanks!

Please leave a comment below if your are interested.

SOLD!!! Thanks Sarah and Paul!

Does a room in your house need a facelift?  Maybe all it needs is a new color.  But you don't have the time to paint or you are just not a painter.  Then you might be interested in our newest package to raise money for Autism.

Sherwin Williams in Cold Spring donated 2 gallons of interior paint.  They can be tinted to the color of your choice.  Also with the paint, my father-in-law is an awesome painter and will come and paint what the 2 gallons covers.  This went quick last year!  Paint and labor - Selling for $100 (Value is over $200 with labor) 

Thank you so much to Sherwin Williams and to Dave Ruschman for donating the paint and labor!

Please leave me a comment below if you would like to purchase this package.  All money raised will go to Autism Speaks!

31 Fundraiser

In the month of February, Parker's Puzzle Posse is holding a Thirty-One Gifts Fundraiser.  Tammy Crowder contacted me and offered to do an online fundraiser and she will donate 20% of the total sales back to Autism Speaks!  Also, if you book a party and mention Parkers Puzzle Posse, she will donate a flat $50 for each show that is booked!  How awesome is that!

I have several items from thirty-one.   My two favorite things are my Large Utility Tote which carries a TON of stuff.  I take it to the pool, an overnight trip, and it holds all of our things.  The other favorite item is the Organizing Utility Tote.  I use mine as a diaper bag as do a lot of my friends.  It really is THE BEST diaper bag.  It has pockets on the outside so you can easily grab a bottle/cup, tissues, snacks, etc.  After Parker is out of diapers (which I hope is this summer) I will use it as a toy/book bag to keep in the car so I know we have some entertainment for the kids anytime.  They really hold up well!

So if you are in need of a bag, lunch box, wallet, purse, umbrella, check out the online catalog at the link below.  February has a great special!  For every $31 you spend, you get 31% off any item!  You can have your items shipped to me (if you are local) and I will get them to you.  The sale runs until February 29th and orders will be in around March 15th.

www.mythirtyone.com/tammycrowder - Choose Parker Puzzle Posse

If you have any questions, or would like a catalog, please let me know in the comments below. 
Thanks so much for all of your support!

Katie