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ANNUAL
PICNIC
AHA
Association
together
with
The
Cody Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities
in
honor of the
20
th Anniversary of AHA
announces
the
11th Annual Abby Irwin Family Recreation Day
Sunday,
June 8, 2008 - 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
West
Hills County Park – Group Picnic Area, Melville
West Hills County Park
98 Gwynne Road
Melville, NY 11747
REGISTER ONLINE!
In
celebration of the 20th Anniversary of AHA's founding
in the waiting room of the Cody Center, the two organizations
have collaborated on a terrific family recreation day
with activities for children, games, a hike, a picnic
barbeque, softball and volleyball. Please mark your
calendars.
| Picnic |
Barbeque |
| Softball |
Volleyball |
| Hiking |
Sibling Activity |
| Supervised Games |
Free Pony rides
for Children |
Socializing
for everyone!
You
must register in advance. Register online or fax
or
mail in the registrationform with your check or
credit
card information.
Deadline
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Suggested
Donation:
Children
12 and under: $8.00
All
others: $10.00
Additional
donations gratefully accepted to help defray costs.
Volunteers
Needed!
If
you can donate a few hours to help please phone
631-632-3744
or email Lisa Plantania at:
Lisa
Beth Platania
Horseback
riding: Available at nearby Sweet Hollow Stables
for a fee. Sweet Hollow Stables has a handicap riding
program. For information please phone 631-754-6092.
REGISTER ONLINE!
The
Annual Picnic
by Pat Long
A
number of years ago, Abby Irwin came to one of my support
meetings. I felt her energy and purpose right away.
She was so family oriented and dedicated to finding
every avenue that could lead to improving the life of
her son Jon, who was diagnosed with AS. Over the course
of time, Abby and I became close and she expressed the
desire to contribute whatever she could to further the
success of our group.
One of the things all parents want is the opportunity
to meet families and children like our own. Abby and
I thought it would be great if we could provide a format
where that could happen. Support meetings were GREAT
but we needed something more. That is where the inspiration
for our annual picnic came from. Abby loved the idea
and ran with it. She found a great park, and with her
former catering connections she created a most wonderful
experience for everyone who attended. In the beginning,
Abby would send me a list - and an endless one that
of all the local merchants who were willing to donate
food, snacks, veggies, seafood, toys, paper goods and
anything else you could imagine to make for a successful
picnic. I would run around all over Riverhead and local
towns to pick up the donations. It was quite overwhelming
to see the love and generosity that was generated by
Abby and her charisma.
The picnic became the most profound experience of the
families who attended and at the center of it all was
Abby. Everyone came to see and meet this incredibly
dynamic woman.
The picnic has become a hallmark of our group and we
owe it all to the phenomenal energy and family dedication
of our beloved Abby Irwin.
Through her efforts families have bonded, young people
on the spectrum have made lasting friendships, siblings
have found special connections and memories have been
created that will stay with all of us who have had the
special experience of being at those picnics with Abby
and her family.
I thought it important for you to
know where it all came from, and why we dedicate this
annual picnic to Abby.
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