Quilts Highlight Long Island and New Jersey Walk Awards Ceremonies
New Walk Quilts on Display in New York, New Jersey
New Walk Quilts on Display in New York, New Jersey
More than 350 volunteers who attended this week's Long Island Walk Now for Autism awards reception came face-to-face with a remarkable symbol of community and hope -- a giant autism quilt. The quilt is composed of 172 squares individually designed by walk teams and measures four feet wide and more than forty-three feet long. The squares are made from a variety of materials, including walk t-shirts. Most feature photos of the children who are the teams' inspiration.
Attendees admire the quilt at the Long Island Walk awards reception
Rich Mallow, director of the Long Island Walk Now for Autism, says he hopes the quilt will become a new tradition and grow in size as squares are added by teams joining the Long Island walk family each year. The quilt will travel to Washington, DC, for March's walk volunteers conference and will also be displayed at the Long Island walk on October 5 at Jones Beach.
Mark Roithmayr, president of Autism Speaks and Michael J. Giangregorio, executive chair of the Long Island Walk, led the celebration honoring some of the many teams who helped make the 2007 walk such an incredible success and raised $2.2 million for autism research. Craig Allen, chief meteorologist of WCBS 880 AM and WNYW-TV and a long-time supporter of the Long Island walk, served as the master of ceremonies for the evening.
Mark Roithmayr, president of Autism Speaks and Michael J. Giangregorio, executive chair of the Long Island Walk, led the celebration honoring some of the many teams who helped make the 2007 walk such an incredible success and raised $2.2 million for autism research. Craig Allen, chief meteorologist of WCBS 880 AM and WNYW-TV and a long-time supporter of the Long Island walk, served as the master of ceremonies for the evening.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Hudson, the first New Jersey Regional Walk awards reception was also held this week in Princeton, NJ. Three of New Jersey's six walks were brought together to celebrate collectively raising more than $1.3 million. Each of the regions' walks were represented in New Jersey's own "Faces of Autism" quilt, which was started in the summer of 2007 and will also continue to grow with the walk program throughout 2008. As with the Long Island quilt, squares were sent to walk registrants along with all their
Detail of the New Jersey "Faces of Autism" quilt
fundraising materials. "The quilt represents a growing community of people who are taking action to improve the lives of those living with autism," says Dina Schwab, New Jersey regional director for Autism Speaks.
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