Hello Autism Empowerment Friends,

John and I wanted to let our Southwest Washington friends know about a special upcoming event on Saturday, May 19th. It is a benefit concert to help save the Vancouver Parks & Recreation Department's Summer Fun Sensory Camp.

Our youngest son attended this camp for multiple weeks last summer and enjoyed it tremendously. The staff were professional, accepting and kind. It was an environment where we felt comfortable that our son (5 years and a couple months at the time and prone to wander) would be safe and welcomed.

Unfortunately due to cutbacks in the City budget, the Sensory Camp was slated to be eliminated. A proactive and positive group of local parents have gotten together and formed a grassroots area to help raise $25,000 in 30 days and help save the camp.  We support them in their goal and if you're in the area on the 19th, please do consider attending the concert and / or making a separate tax-deductible donation to their fund.

When we originally heard that the camp was scheduled to be eliminated, Autism Empowerment looked into the cost of creating and running a similar camp ourselves, however it makes much more fiscal sense for the Parks and Recreation Department who already have created a successful program (and would have much lower insurance rates for a program such as this) to do what they already do best.  

We hope that they are able to close their funding gap this year and we encourage you to attend the benefit concert if you can. We know a couple of the moms working very hard on coordinating the benefit and thank them for all their hard work and support to help keep a successful summer program in the Vancouver community. 

Saturday, May 19th, 2012 at 7 p.m. - Save the Sensory Camp Benefit Concert