Salutations,

Isn’t it amazing how quickly time is going by? Angel’s Purse is entering its 10th year of service to children within the spectrum of autism, who now number 1 in 150. It has been a pleasure to build this fledgling non-profit and to expand its programs and especially to see the results in the children we serve. Most gratifying to hear from parents reporting improvements in behavior and health as a result of our Nutritional Supplement Gifting Program and the Sensory Learning Therapy Program provided here. It is even better to receive the smiles, hugs and kisses from the children themselves!

The companies from whom we purchased product to give away are donating product to the Purse to disburse to families that are in need of their products, and now others are joining them. They are companies like Kirkman Laboratories, Pro-Thera, Mannatech, Brainchild Nutritionals, Houston Nutraceuticals, Nordic Naturals, Alacer Corp. and the Rhinebeck Center of New York. These generous companies now “get it”; that this idealistic dream of serving these kids, who would otherwise fall through the cracks, is worthy. God bless them! Now, if only UPS would get onboard! Know anybody there?

Our Translations into Spanish Program is arguably as important as the gifting of nutrients because educating the parents how to make informed decisions in their child’s recovery process is invaluable! The conferences held in Spanish, the last of which is available on DVD thanks to a grant from the Santa Cruz Community Foundation, are an extension of this program of educating parents and professionals. Now our website for translations is being reconstructed to include the information in both English and Spanish.

Although we have been operating on a budget that is less than 25K these past 10 years, expenses every year have been greater than the donations received. It remains my desire that the Purse be self sustaining. We have been awarded grants from the Santa Cruz Community Foundation, Rio Rico Rotary, Masonic Lodge #11, and the Santa Cruz Board of Realtors, Country Fair White Elephant, the Greater Phoenix Chapter of the Autism Society of America and the City of Nogales. But, all together they amount to less than half of our budget. The people who believe in the work happening here must combine their donations with our efforts to keep our programs active. These angels recovery depends both on their parent’s devotion and your own.

In the past you have been one of two groups: a family in need or one of those people whose belief in this dream helped to make it real. If in the latter, practical assistance for the families of children with autism has been provided because of your generosity. If the former, maybe you now can join the latter group or maybe there is something more you need that we can now provide. I am a volunteer making it happen here, but, it cannot continue without all of you. Please, ask for help if you need it and give if you are able. Join me now in serving these angels. I will keep at it as long as you will. I have a new email – jennyculverhill@q.com . Thank you for your kindness and God bless you, too.

border conference on special needs.

just got done with the border conference on special needs sponsored by the university of Arizona and the university of Mexico in Sonora. i was pleased to participate in a panel of people with disabilities or family members. we were asked to talk about the strengths and weaknesses of living on the border.

everyone seemed to agree that the love of your family and their support is the greatest strength. a willingness to become educated to help yourself and others is another. never giving up another.

weaknesses were a lack of people qualified to provide services. educating our communities for the potential for employment in service provider positions and training for therapeutic careers were suggested for those still in school.

the planning committee did a great job of organizing the conference and i learned a thing or two that i will be able to use for the new "del espectro autisto" conference we will have in august of 2009.

we were asked to end our panel by adding our thoughts and mine was to remember to be still. with all the noise of others telling us how to be it is very important to listen inside for that still small voice that gives such good advice if we will be still enough to listen.

Documents

Website has been getting along a little further each day... It is incredible to me that we have english documents up as well, now. The more information out there, the better!

Now, you can learn more about the sensory learning system available at Angel's Purse. On the Information page, read Mary Bolles' description of the therapy as well as a version of the Angel's Purse pamphlet.

Much Love!

It's exciting to heve the website back up, and I hope the information will be of use to those who need spanish translations, or any other kind of help. With the blog, I'm hoping to keep people aware of what is going on in the community, what we are doing, and how you may benifit.

-"hi there" from Amanda Frederick, Web Designer and Dedicated Angel's Purse Associate