Walkers enjoyed performances by The Mighty Quint, San Carlos Park Elementary Dance Team and the Calendar Girls (a non-profit dance team of ladies aged 50 and over), clowns, face painters and a magician. Children met Toys"R" Us' Geoffrey the Giraffe, Swampee of the Florida Everblades and Missy Miracle from the Fort Myers Miracle. The Southwest Florida Walk welcomed WINK News' Jennifer Stacy as emcee. Other local luminaries in attendance included Lee County school board member Robert Chilmonik, WINK News reporter Nicole Papageorge, and The News-Press' Chelsea Samuels and Mark Beaudin.
2007's top Walk fundraisers Dawn, Braeden, Brian and Bryce Itzkowitz cut the ribbon to start this year's Walk.
(YouTube video, ~1 minute)
The Walk hosted a resource fair, which showcased 38 companies and organizations, (double the size of last year's resource fair) including Adonis Autism Center, Lee County Sheriff's Office, Butterfly Effects, CARD, Eden Florida, Lee County Parks & Recreation Special Needs, KIDSpirit and SWFL K-9 Search & Rescue.
A number of generous sponsors aided in the success of the Southwest Florida Walk Now for Autism, especially: Beef ‘O' Brady's, Bradanna, Inc., Charlotte Regional Medical Center, DeAngelis Diamond Construction, DN Higgins, Hodges University, Kirsten Rachon and James Schmitt, Lee Memorial Hospital, Peace River Regional Medical Center and Walgreens, which all made financial contributions. Eleven companies and organizations served as in-kind donors, contributing everything from refreshments to volunteer manpower. A special thank you to Summit Church which provided volunteers, walkers and food for the hungry crowd. Media sponsors included WINK News, Beasley Broadcasting, SW Florida Parent & Child, The News-Press, Random Art House and Charlotte Sun Herald. Many thanks to returning Walk Chairs Elly Hagen Memoli and Dawn Itzkowitz, and the dedicated walk committee for making the Southwest Florida Walk such a success.
Visit the Southwest Florida Walk
page
or go to the Walk Now for Autism
site
to find a Walk in your area.
More than 2,800 people walked at Estero Community Park.
Team Cafferata Elementary School raised over $1,000.
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