Skip to main content

Mmmm, Memorable

Unforgettable  

[caption id="attachment_2540" align="alignright" width="300"]Shirt reads "This is faithfulness at its finest" Shirt reads "This is faithfulness at its finest"[/caption]

by Just Add Kids Founder
Paula Herrmann

I kinda don't even feel like I have the right to write about this, having only been on the sidelines. But, it has been on my mind for the last 4 days. The impression it's left...well, unforgettable.


                                                                                                                                  If you missed out on any of the snapshots, comments, chatter about it....my gosh, I'll do my best, from the eyes and heart of this spectator who has been touched so deeply.  Read more....


                                                                                                                                                                                                                       I'm talking about "A Night to Remember - Special Needs Prom" that was brought to life this past Sunday evening by the Great Lakes Church community and Racine community at large. My heart has grown especially soft and fond for the special needs community all spurred on by friendship that has started and grown over the last year. Oh, and if you've been a reader of JAK Chat, you may be familiar with the trio I am referring to. That being 16 year old Gavin who has autism: his service dog, Rusty; and his mom, Cindy.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The event brought together businesses, organizations, and individuals that donated tuxedos, dresses, limos, primping, photos,




[caption id="attachment_2548" align="alignleft" width="225"]Gavin at tux fitting days prior to ANTR Gavin at tux fitting days prior to ANTR[/caption]

time...so much happened behind the scenes, yet for those of us who were spectators, it all came to life on the Red Carpet as each of the nearly 100 honored guests (special needs teens and young adults) were announced and escorted down the path with crowds cheering, cameras snapping, videos rolling, and tears streaming, into Racine's Festival Hall (which also played host to the prior evening's Post Prom party for area high schools) where dancing and activities ensued. Of course, most touching personally, was when the crowd was summoned to do a silent cheer for Gavin with hands up (pictured above). Too much noise for Gavin is over-stimulating.




[caption id="attachment_2549" align="alignleft" width="225"]Gavin with his escorts approach the Red Carpet Gavin with his escorts approach the Red Carpet[/caption]

I didn't partake and observe anything that went on inside, but let's let the pictures and Gavin's recap below do the "talkin' "...

[caption id="attachment_2550" align="alignnone" width="300"]Gavin and friend, Jenna Gavin and friend, Jenna[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2551" align="alignleft" width="300"]And they danced.... And they danced....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2552" align="alignnone" width="300"]...and danced! ...and danced![/caption]

                                                                                                                              Here's what non-verbal Gavin had to say about the memorable event via Rapid Prompting Method, in conversation with his therapist Jackie and his mom.


Jackie and Gavin post prom dialog 5.2014Mom - What did you think of the Night to Remember prom?
Gavin - I had a great time.
Mom - How did you feel walking down the red carpet and everyone was doing the quiet waving for you?
Gavin - I loved it....
Mom - Did you like dancing with Jenna and Bella and all the other girls? You danced with way more then 10 girls.
Gavin - I felt cool. They were all so beautiful.
Mom- What was so appealing in the quiet room that you kept going back there after every dance?
Gavin - It was relaxing.
Jackie - Were you trying to find more girls to dance with?
Gavin - Yes, next year can you come Jackie?
Jackie - I have Sunday's off and would love to help if I am invited.
Mom - What would you like to tell Great Lakes Church, Jeremy and Angela and all the other volunteers that made this prom so AWESOME!
Gavin - I had a great prom. Thank you for all you did for us.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Even more touched, is Cindy, Gavin's mom. Reflecting on the event, Cindy was up late last night and wrote out her thoughts in these words...


When "you" realize life is not all about "I and me" it's about "us and we",


that's when together we can truly make a difference in this world.


~ Cindy Schultz (Autism Solution Pieces - Co Founder).


                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Cindy writes on her Facebook wall..."This is how I felt the night of the Night to Remember Special Needs Prom (Great Lakes Church, Jeremy Moore, Angela Tappa and the many other volunteers that made this night so amazing for our kids ~ THANK YOU!!!!)"


                                                                                                                                                                                                                      And from a woman, a mom, a friend from the sidelines (that would be ME!)....Kudos to Great Lakes Church, hundreds of volunteers, countless donors/donations. You've made our community a better place! Well done!


 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

AWESOME Dad

Well, most are! I know your kid's daddy might not be tops in your book, yet, in the eyes of your child, he probably is. I am so grateful that when my husband and I mutually took the risk to vow to spend our lives together, then had/have children, (while not always perfect) he ended up being quite the awesome dad. Assist your child in sharing his/her celebration of dad. (Um, I am sure you know, Father's Day is next Sunday, June 17th).  Here's a great way to do that, pocket $100 gift card for your kiddo, and knock out that Father's Day gift!  Here's how... Read More... For the third year in a row, Just Add Kids has partnered with Educators Credit Union  to bring you, your kids and their daddy a fun contest in celebration of Father’s Day.  This year, RelyLocal Racine is also partnering with JAK and providing a plethora of gift cards perfect for dad. So, how to participate? Kids color a portrait of their dad, grandaddy, or other fatherly figure (portrait frame and e...
Post a Comment
Read more

Chill Out (and In)!

Snow Much Fun! by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann   Snow much? In my neck of the woods, wowza! Now that we have the holidays behind us, we can't ignore the fact that there are plenty of cold, winter days ahead. Fill those days in with some seasonal fun before that spring sun melts all of the white fluffy stuff. Just Add Kids has put together Snow Much Fun! It's a skating/sledding/skiing destination guide for Racine, Kenosha and surrounding communities. Read more... ICE SKATING Echo Lake, Burlington (595 Milwaukee Avenue) – Stairs to the lake, pavilion, benches, outdoor portable restroom. – Free. Devor Park, Burlington (394 Amanda Street) – Free. Frozen Fairway Skating Rink @ Twin Lakes Country Club (1230 Legion Drive) – Open Friday - Sunday (weather contingent) from 10:00am - 8:00pm.  The cost is $5.00 daily or $20 unlimited. Skate rental is available.  Free skating for all Twin Lakes Country Club Members and Junior Golf Members.  Call 262-877-8500 for more info, or ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Silly Banned

The Rubber Obsession I think my 6 year old son was the first in his class to be told he can no longer wear his silly bands or Silly Bandz (not sure if they are the real thing, or imitation, who really cares?!) to school.  That was already back on September 2nd, his second day of first grade.  That started it's own trend, the full blown ban of those rubbery. colorful, object-shaped bracelets in his classroom.  Perhaps we'll see the full school ban in the future, or has the fad run it's course? If you're a pair of dad entrepreneurs, you hope not!  They recently jumped on the Silly Bandz craze and brought to market The Original Silly Stand , designed to do what else, but keep those crazy rubber bands organized. In my house, I think we need a Silly Bandz detector. I swear, we must have a over 100, but who even knows where they are (although I dedicated a container for each of my younger silly band wearers).  The funny thing is, my kids aren't wearing them a...
Post a Comment
Read more