This summer (JULY) Paige will be turning sweet sixteen, and we figured several months ago we better get on the bandwagon and ask her what her idea was for her party ‘theme’ and when we should schedule the big event.
First she decided May, two months early because she wanted to include her friends from school before summer vacation, jobs & holidays took them on the road.
So, we tried to schedule as best as we could around racing, within two series, NASCAR, ARCA and upcoming last minute commercials, and one very important movie we had already been notified would begin filming in early June. Ok, DONE DEAL, May 24th, Saturday night at my husbands shop (Fast Track Racing on Moorehead Road) 7PM to Midnight,.
That was easy enough, it’s a great location for tons of kids, we can control the traffic and all they really want to do is have a great place to dance.
Then we were blindsided by this beautiful blonde as she continued her request… not for a shinny convertible ( was a thought ) nor the amount of food and party favors she would have but her idea was to turn this party into a fundraiser…You could have knocked me over.
She has always been a child who is a giver, within church and charity organizations and she has since a very early age been a Domestic Violence Awareness advocate, and secondly had a very giving heart with the needs of Autism after a teacher in the 4th grade explained it to her.
She had recently read about a family with SIX autistic children, way out in Utah. We found the article she had read by googling online People magazine, and any blog spot we could find., and found them.
After visiting their website, and deciding this was the family we needed to help, the process began. Their blog is www.autismbites.com and our party theme is “Take a Bite out of Autism”, we designed invites that serve as Tickets and requested a minimal donation to attend the party. She is going to have food, fun, photos, dancing and has prepared a presentation to explain to the kids the needs that this family has. She asked for no gifts, just big hearts that want to help. So far we have printed and distributed 250 invites/tickets…and she wants more – ugh I am praying for easy snacks and drinks!
First she decided May, two months early because she wanted to include her friends from school before summer vacation, jobs & holidays took them on the road.
So, we tried to schedule as best as we could around racing, within two series, NASCAR, ARCA and upcoming last minute commercials, and one very important movie we had already been notified would begin filming in early June. Ok, DONE DEAL, May 24th, Saturday night at my husbands shop (Fast Track Racing on Moorehead Road) 7PM to Midnight,.
That was easy enough, it’s a great location for tons of kids, we can control the traffic and all they really want to do is have a great place to dance.
Then we were blindsided by this beautiful blonde as she continued her request… not for a shinny convertible ( was a thought ) nor the amount of food and party favors she would have but her idea was to turn this party into a fundraiser…You could have knocked me over.
She has always been a child who is a giver, within church and charity organizations and she has since a very early age been a Domestic Violence Awareness advocate, and secondly had a very giving heart with the needs of Autism after a teacher in the 4th grade explained it to her.
She had recently read about a family with SIX autistic children, way out in Utah. We found the article she had read by googling online People magazine, and any blog spot we could find., and found them.
After visiting their website, and deciding this was the family we needed to help, the process began. Their blog is www.autismbites.com and our party theme is “Take a Bite out of Autism”, we designed invites that serve as Tickets and requested a minimal donation to attend the party. She is going to have food, fun, photos, dancing and has prepared a presentation to explain to the kids the needs that this family has. She asked for no gifts, just big hearts that want to help. So far we have printed and distributed 250 invites/tickets…and she wants more – ugh I am praying for easy snacks and drinks!
**updated....5/25/08 we had a very great party, and her surprise photo prop thanks to her dad, was a Car of Tomorrow painted just for her party....the kids got a huge kick out of the car, and each had their photo taken with it as a thank you gift card, which Paige will be mailing out to all of them on Tuesday. Pretty much everyone asked to hear it rumble and wondered if she could drive it throught the parking lot --- NOT A CHANCE kids it was just for looks. Anyway, going to prepare a photo gift book to send to the Kirton family tomorrow to let them know about Paige's party and let them know how much money she raised for their family!
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