With a festive spirit and much to celebrate, the Howard County Autism Society welcomed 300 guests to the Third Annual Pieces of the Puzzle Gala on April 5.

Generously cosponsored by the Hussman Foundation, the event was held at the beautiful Ten Oaks Ballroom in Clarksville. The society’s largest fundraiser of the year netted $90,000 in funds to support the newly expanded Howard County Autism Resource Center and to offer programs and services to its membership.

In years past, the gala focused on building partnerships and establishing the society as a major resource for families and individuals with autism. After its award-winning year as the national Autism Society of America’s 2007 “Chapter of the Year,” the society turned the corner and made the annual event an evening of celebration. Attendees remarked at the festive and relaxed feel of this year’s new venue and design. 

The gala, coordinated by Cindy Wright, featured an array of nearly 130 silent auction items, a live auction, Harley Davidson motorcycle raffle, 50/50 raffle, dancing, open bar, and delicious food stations, which served steak, salmon, shrimp, sushi, pasta, salads and vegetables, and assorted desserts. Hot butlered hors d’oeuvres were also served as guests entered the ballroom.

Executive Director Kim Manning welcomed guests and applauded the sponsors in attendance, including the Hussman Foundation as title sponsor, and Howard County General Hospital and Ben Dorman and Catriona Johnson as gala partners.

Beth Benevides Hill and Stephanie Maric, co-presidents of the Board of Directors, presented Chief William McMahon and the Howard County Policy Department with the President’s Award and Marianne Ross with the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award.

The police department was recognized for bringing Project Lifesaver to the county. Its ongoing partnership with HCAS makes the state-of-the-art tracking system available to individuals with autism who may wander.

Ms. Ross was honored for her volunteerism. In the past year, she has developed a partnership with AMC Theatres in Columbia whereby children with special needs and their families can attend sensory-friendly movie events once a month. In addition to coordinating the program with AMC Theatre management, Ms. Ross helps advertise the events and enthusiastically greets families at the much-anticipated movie events.

Also, Ballet Royale of Maryland was recognized for hosting a beautiful production of the Nutcracker to benefit HCAS in December.

The award presentations were followed by a heartwarming photo montage of many of the membership’s children and families. The video was designed by Ben Dorman. Families cheered for their loved ones as pictures flashed across the screen choreographed to Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten.”

Site developed & maintained by
Howard County Autism Society:
10280 Old Columbia Rd Suite 215
Columbia MD 21046-2378
Tel: 410-290-3466
Fax: 410-290-5455
Last Modified: Thursday, July 31, 2008
e-mail: info@howard-autism.org
 

In his tribute speech, the Gala’s title sponsor, John Hussman Ph.D., director of the Hussman Foundation, challenged the crowd to see autism in a new light. He said many of the common assumptions about autism are the result of giving tests that don’t measure what they are supposed to in a person with autism.

“I'd like to suggest that autism is not a disorder of thinking or a lack of intelligence; that even people who look ‘severely autistic’ to the eye are thinking, feeling, people. Their senses may be overwhelmed, their bodies may be disorganized or uncooperative, but their minds are far more competent than we previously thought. As we discover more people with autism who eventually acquire speech, or develop the ability to type – especially independently – we hear the same thing again and again: ‘I'm smart. Tell people,’” said Dr. Hussman, father of a child with autism.

He encouraged people to love their children, “not for who they might have been without autism, or for who they might be if they were ‘cured,’ but as people who need to be nothing other than who they are, to be loved, and accepted, and seen as competent.”

Then, he said, “we start seeing the gifts of people with autism, not the limitations.”

... we start seeing the gifts of people with autism, not the limitations.

After the tribute, the live auction began. It included a pearl necklace from Chip Smyth Diamonds and Fine Jewelry, a 42” plasma screen television donated by the Big Screen Store, Lasik surgery from TLC Laser Eye Centers, a Hilton Head vacation package donated by C. David and Loretta Haugh, a Bass Pro camping package, NASCAR pit passes and race tickets, a 25’ sugar maple tree from Town Creek Landscaping, and the ever-popular dinner and wine tasting for ten from the Iron Bridge Wine Company.

The silent auction—coordinated by Julie Foley and Madhu Thibaudeau—featured popular vacation packages, sports tickets and memorabilia, jewelry, artwork, items for the home, spa packages, restaurant gift certificates, wine, and various toys and electronics for kids. Members of Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County helped with the auction.

Adding to the evening’s excitement, the winning ticket of the motorcycle raffle was pulled by Tina Ice, owner of Harley Davidson of Maryland’s Elkridge store. Paul Maric won the 2007 Harley-Davidson FXD™ Dyna SuperGlide® in Pacific Pearl Blue.

"It was a shock and a happy surprise,” Mr. Maric said. “And it is one sweet looking bike.  Or, as one friend put it, that is the Cadillac of motorcycles. I am sure the bike was impressive to everyone in the room.  But equally impressive is Harley Davidson of Maryland's support for the Howard County Autism Society.”

Guests also enjoyed dancing to music by DJ Chris Laich and socializing. Autism awareness puzzle piece charms and boxes of chocolates were given to each guest. HCAS is starting to plan the fourth gala for April 2009. The date and venue will be announced shortly.