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Mark your calendars for the 2008 Valley of Dreams Gala and Golf Tournament: |
| June 26th and 27th at the TPC Sawgrass |
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View the photo gallery of the 2007 Valley of Dreams Dinner Gala and Golf Tournament.
In June 2007, the PGA TOUR, TPC Sawgrass and the HEAL! Foundation (Healing Every Autistic Life) teamed up to host Northeast Florida’s most successful first year charity event ever, the Valley of Dreams Dinner Gala and Charity Golf Tournament – raising nearly $400,000 to provide therapy and support services for children in need who have autism.
Actress/model Jenny McCarthy, whose four year-old son has autism, served as the event’s special guest host, joining PGA TOUR Player and former THE PLAYERS Champion Calvin Peete, members of the Florida Jaguars, Long Drive Champion Gerry James, TOUR representatives, local media personalities and hundreds of local golfers and HEAL! Foundation supporters at the two-day event. An outpouring of donations from local businesses and sports personalities helped raise more than $115,000 during the 30-minute live auction alone, which included a membership to TPC Sawgrass – an item that raised more than $35,000.
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A non-profit organization based in Ponte Vedra Beach, the HEAL! Foundation was founded by local pediatrician Julie Buckley, MD, golf course architect Bobby Weed – who collaborated with Pete Dye to build TPC Sawgrass more than 25 years ago, and Weed’s wife, Leslie, all parents of children with autism. TPC Sawgrass adopted the HEAL! Foundation as its Adopt-A-Charity partner, and assembled a team comprised of TOUR and TPC Sawgrass employees and HEAL! Volunteers to plan and stage the event. Proceeds will directly support local families of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder – a condition that now affects one in 150 children, more than are diagnosed with childhood cancer, leukemia and pediatric AIDS combined. HEAL! hopes to one day build The HEAL House, a refuge providing resources and educational programs for children, their families and the community.
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“I can never begin to explain how wonderful the chemistry was among our “Team HEAL” group of volunteers, nor how extremely grateful we are to the PGA TOUR and TPC Sawgrass for so passionately and enthusiastically embracing this event,” said Leslie Weed. “We are indebted for their generosity as well as that of the many people in the community who supported this event. There are so many people who are affected by autism or who know someone close who is dealing with autism, that this has become a very personal issue to many. Children with autism give up their childhood in the hope of regaining their adulthood; they work, every day, all day, at achieving what the rest of us take for granted. Recovery is possible, and fundraising events like this one will not only help facilitate recovery, but also bring about awareness and education for the families of children with autism.”
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McCarthy echoed those sentiments, saying, “It is so fabulous to be with people who aren’t just talking about awareness; HEAL! is talking about recovery – that is the message. Our children can heal and the world needs to know it.”
PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties President David Pillsbury, who helped conceptualize the event along with PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties Director of Public Relations & Community Outreach John Flaschner, was overwhelmed by the success of the event. “Julie,” he said, addressing Dr. Buckley during the event, “this is the just the beginning. We will build HEAL House; we will walk through its doors; and the children are going to get better.” |
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| DISCLAIMER - HEAL provides general information regarding medical research, treatment options, therapies and nutrition to the autism community. The information comes from a variety of sources, and HEAL does not independently verify any of it. Nothing on this website / parent information binder should be construed as medical advice. Always consult your child's doctor regarding his or her individual needs. |
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