| HEAL! Foundation Newsletter |
November 4, 2008 |
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HEAL Public Service Announcements airing on First Coast News
This past summer 50 kids attended the HEAL/Joey Travolta Film Camp at University of North Florida. The participants wrote, acted, directed, and produced a documentary titled "Free To Be Me". Within the film a skit was created called "Jacksonville Jr. Apprentice". Joey Travolta acted as Donald Trump and three teams were to create their own Public Service Announcement on Autism Awareness.
 The first of the three Public Service Announcements "Elevator of Life" is now being run on First Coast News NBC and ABC affiliates (www.firstcoastnews.com). Tune into First Coast News during the local newscasts to view the HEAL Public Service Announcements.
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HEAL Reviewing Grant Requests from Local Schools, Providers and Therapists
 Over thirty organizations and individuals in Northeastern Florida submitted grant requests to the HEAL Foundation. This was more than twice the number HEAL received in the fall of 2007. It is heartening to see organizations in the Greater Jacksonville Area create new ways in which to serve our local ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) community.
Grant applications are being reviewed, and awards should be announced in Mid- November. So far this fall, a few programs HEAL has granted are in full swing. The programs include a swim lesson program for Webster School students in St. Augustine, HEALing Families support groups that are running in the Jacksonville area, and HEALing Autism Through Bowling, a league running Saturday's from Beach Bowling.
The HEAL Foundation is interested in supporting new and innovative programs and/or research opportunities that will benefit individuals with autism. The Foundation values community-based collaborations, inclusive programming, or projects that incorporate parents, teachers, adults, and children as advisors, supporters, or volunteers.
Applications for projects, programs, equipment, or research which will enhance, enrich, or improve the lives of children with ASD are encouraged. Funds may also be used for workshops or assemblies to educate parents, faculty, administrators, and "typical children" on the high prevalence of autism, as well as how to accommodate and assimilate children with ASD into their communities. HEAL will review grants again in Spring of 2009.
HEAL is a local 501 (c ) 3 with a mission to help families who have a member with autism in Northeast Florida. Since summer of 2007, over $320,000 has been granted to local organizations looking to assist individuals on the spectrum and their families. Please click here to view past grants..
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Barefoot Spa to host a HEAL fundraiser on November 22nd
Sign up now - space is limited
 Join HEAL on Saturday, November 22nd for a
unique opportunity to support HEAL's efforts in Northeast
Florida. Come and explore
Barefoot Spa's Beauty Through Health philosophy. Supporters who donate $100 will attend an
open house, receive a half hour reflexology service, and meet with Dr.
Martinez, an acupuncturist with over 20 years of experience with Chinese
medicine.
For just $25, you can attend
the open house, enjoy great food and music, and learn more about the holistic
offerings at Barefoot Spa. Help HEAL
while pampering yourself at this wellness spa!
Click here for more information.
Click here to register on PayPal.
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There
is still space available for GF/CF Baking with Pat on November 8
Join HEAL on November 8th for a gluten-casein free cooking
class featuring local cookbook author, Pat Buckley. The class will be held at 1pm at the Players Community
Senior Center,
175 Landrum Lane,
Ponte Vedra Beach. This is a great class for people interested
in the GF/CF diet, or chef's already on it who need some new ideas and
recipes. Your family will thank you for
bringing home these tasty ideas in time for the holidays!
Click here to register with PayPal!
Click here for more information. |
Young HEALers: Spotlight on Kyle Walsh
 Talented illustrator and cartoonist Kyle Walsh, a teen with autism, was commissioned by HEAL last spring to create our invitation cover for the HEAL "Valley of Dreams" fundraiser. Kyle's assignment was to draw the magnificent Tournament Players Club Clubhouse, the site of the Valley of Dreams. Kyle's illustration was perfect and it was showcased on the cover of the 2008 "Valley of Dreams" invitation.
The original rendering of the TPC Clubhouse was featured in the Live Auction the evening of the Gala. The winning bid for Kyle's art was $11,500 and the  winner Missy Boney, donated the art work to the Jacksonville Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). A collection of Kyle's sports cartoons also featured in the silent auction sold for $5,000.
Thank you Kyle Walsh for helping HEAL raise over $16,000. at the 2008 Valley of Dreams Gala which will go to assisting families and individuals with autism in our community.
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Toxins in your Food, Home and Yard
Being "green" is on everyone's mind these days. Organic produce and recycling are only two of
the daily reminders of the things we can do to green our lives. Many in the autism community are talking
about other toxins to watch for - household cleaners. One of the celebrities to spotlight this is
Deirde Imus, founder of the Deirdre
Imus Enviromental
Center for Pediatric
Oncology. She believes that eliminating
toxins from the environment of children with severe illness may aid their
recovery.
Have you found that eliminating things from your child's
diet or environment has helped? Consider
going "green" by washing fruits or vegetables, purchasing organic foods, or
buying green cleaning supplies. Local
businesses are available to help you be greener :
Native Sun Natural Food Market sells organic foods and green cleaning agents for home use.
Surface Care Systems comes to your home to "Clean Green" and
take care of your stone, tile, grout, carpets and upholstery. Their services are GreenSeal Certified and
perfect for anyone with a sensitivity to harsh chemicals or allergies. Click here to send them an email.
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Upcoming Events in Our Region
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Again, we would like to thank you for your continued interest and support. Please write to us at HEAL Foundation, 226-5 Solano Road, #211, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, 32082 or at www.healautismnow.org.
Sincerely,
Leslie Weed and Julie Buckley MD
HEAL! Foundation CoFounders
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Disclaimer - HEAL provides general information regarding medical, research, treatment options, therapies and nutrition to the autism community. The information comes from a variety of sources, and HEAL does not independently verify any of it. Nothing in this newsletter or website / parent information should be construed as medical advice. Always consult your child's doctor regarding his or her individual needs.
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