More than 250 guests gathered on August 18 for the fifth annual Carolinas Kick-off Brunch, a 65% increase in attendance over last year. Larry Sprinkle, a weatherman on WCNC-TV, served as a dynamic emcee for the event. Following a presentation of highlights of the 2006 walk, six year old Grace Poteat shared “My Brother”, a book she had written. Returning walkers presented successful fundraising tips, and discussed online fundraising opportunities. Autism Speaks President Mark Roithmayr spoke to the crowd about the organization's past, present, and future. Keynote Speaker Dr. Catherine Trapani, director of education for the Marcus Institute, followed with an overview of autism diagnosis and treatment.
Highlights from the Carolinas Walk Kick-off (Windows Media Video, ~2 minutes)
The 2007 walk is scheduled for Sunday, October 6 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, NC. Visit the Carolinas Walk site or visit the Walk Now for Autism site to find a walk in your area.
The Poteat family with emcee Larry Sprinkle, right
Autism Speaks president, Mark Roithmayr, recapped the history of the organization and spoke of a promising future.