The PLAYERS Championship and TPC Sawgrass host the “Valley of Dreams” Gala and Bobby Weed/Pete Dye Charity Golf Classic. Through funds raised from this special event HEAL has granted more than $500,000 to support and assist hundreds of individuals with Autism in the Greater Jacksonville Area. This year’s event promises to be as special as last year's SOLD OUT event. Mark your calendars and save the date for the Gala on Thursday June 25th and the Charity Golf Classic June 26th. Tickets for this event will go on sale in June. More details of this HEAL two day charity event soon to follow.

Donors will receive a special discount on Sponsorships submitted by June 1st.

• Click here to download the Sponsorship Information

HEAL is proud to present “TheButterfly Project" which is a collaborative art project between local artists and kids with Autism. HEAL's Partners, The Cummer Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art - Jacksonville (MOCA) have joined forces to bring this project to fruition. Beautiful works of art, Interpretations of the Butterfly will be on exhibit for our Silent Auction at the “Valley of Dreams” Gala this year. The focus is being placed on the kid's creative spirit and talents through Art and their whimsical creations of the butterfly.

A great experience for the whole family! Join Captain George Saidah as he sets sail May 29th through May 31st. Two-hour Day sails will be offered Friday May 29 from 10am - 6 pm. One-hour sails will be offered all day long on Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31 beginning at 10 am and ending at 6 pm.

Heart of Sailing was founded in 2004 by George Saidah in order to teach children with special needs about sailing as a form of recreational therapy. Saidah has successfully piloted this program throughout the United States, and has begun branching out to the world.

The Heart of Sailing provides an opportunity for children to experience the unique sensations associated with sailing, such as the feel of the wind, the movement of the waves and the sounds as the boat moves through the water.

• To register visit http://www.heartofsailing.org/regional27.asp

HEALing Autism Through Golf - Thanks to the support from The PLAYERS Championship and TPC Sawgrass, HEAL awarded a grant to Jarrad Kogos to start summer golf clinics for kids with Autism. He recently founded an organization affectionately named HUG- "Help Us Golf," his mission is to make the golf course more accessible for individuals with disabilities.

Jarrad not only has Asperger’s, a form of Autism, he is a survivor of pediatric brain cancer. After a lengthy recovery from his cancer, golf is what inspired Jarrad out of his wheelchair and back onto the course. He realized there are few opportunities for kids with Autism to have access to a golf course to learn the game. For Jarrad, golf is not only a game it teaches social skills, coordination, rhythm, skills, and is a source of coping, strengthening and therapy for him.

June 15-16 is the first clinic at the Jacksonville Beach Golf Course - August clinic will be held at the TPC Sawgrass.

• For more information: www.helpusgolf.org or
• e-mail Jarrad directly at: kogosfamily@aol.com with any questions or concerns.
• Watch a video from First Coast News: “Autistic Golfer Helping Kids”
  

“Free To Be Me” Documentary debuts in Jacksonville Film Festival

The Documentary “Free To Be Me” from the 2008 HEAL/Joey Travolta Film Camp made its debut to a sold out crowd in the Jacksonville Film Festival May 17th, at the Historic Five Points Theater. Many cast members attended with family and friends to watch the film they created at last years Film Camp hosted at UNF.

Through a generous donation and sponsorship by MDI International Joey Travolta and his Hollywood crew will return to Jacksonville to host another film camp where 50 kids most of whom are on the Autism Spectrum will create another memorable film project.

Local Cyclists Ride for Autism

The Jessica Green Foundation, Inc. successfully hosted its second Annual “Ride with Me for Autism,” a cycling event at the Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail. There were plenty of activities for non-cyclists, supporters and children spent the beautiful day enjoying live music, food, raffles and touring a fire truck.

All proceeds from “Ride with Me for Autism” will be donated to the Jessica Green Foundation, a non-profit organization that strives to provide donations, medical necessities and scholarships for Autism spectrum programs. Helen Green, Founder and President of the Jessica Green Foundation, Inc., thanks those who supported and participated in the event.

Summer Camp Update

Still looking for summer camp options?

Rainbow Artists Summer Camp
Presented by MOCA Jacksonville, Rainbow Artists provides education initiative for children on the autism spectrum. Campers spend an inclusive, half-day fostering social interaction, exploring creativity and sensory stimuli and developing art making skills.

• Session One-June 15-19
• Session Two- June 22-26
• Session Three- July 06-10
• Session Four- July 13-17

To register, contact Kelly Eason, Museum Educator at keason@mocajacksonville.org or call (904) 366-6911 X207

Special Day at the Beach
June 22-23 and June 25-26, HEAL is again partnering with Sunrise Surf Shop and the City of Jacksonville Beach to present “Special Day at the Beach”. Registration is now open.
Click here to download application

Life Experience
The Arc Jacksonville Adults 18 – 26
Two 4 week sessions (904) 358-1200
click here for more information

Down By the Sea Day Camp
A Specialized camp for children age 3-6
Coastal Therapy & Learning (904) 280-0081
GoldenHeartEnterprises@bellsouth.net