Donate a car to ASCONN: Do you have a car, truck or boat that you no longer need? Consider making a donation to ASCONN. With one telephone call, you can arrange to have the vehicle picked up (it doesn’t even have to be in running condition!). Proceeds will support ASCONN’s programming and you may even be eligible for a tax deduction. Call 1-866-273-2002 to make a donation.

Donate a Cell Phone: Do you have an old, unused cell phone taking up space in the junk drawer? ASCONN will be collecting unused cell phone which can then be recycled. Be Green and help ASCONN at the same time.

Collection boxes will be available at all ASCONN events, or just pack it up and send the phone along to ASCONN, PO Box 1404, Guilford, CT 06437. This is a great project for girl or boy scout troops, classrooms and other community groups. Call us at 888-453-4975 and we can help you out with collection boxes and materials.

Supporting ASCONN: Our friends and members have supported us in so many ways, we’d like to let you know about some of the recent fundraising ideas that have helped support our programs right here in Connecticut.

Larry Cruz’s arms may have been burning, but it was all in a good cause. Larry’s fundraiser, Pushing Past Autism, held on June 6 was an amazing event. Like many of our members, Larry wanted to do something to support the autism cause. His thought? “I used to do a lot of 10K runs, bike rides and swim-a-thons for charity. I thought about just writing a check this time, too. But then I figured that maybe I could rally other people and together we could raise thousands.” And he did just that. Larry, chief patent counsel for Conair Corp., galvanized his family, friends, local businesses in the Danbury area and even people from out of state, to come and do pushups and sponsor those who were willing to get down and get sweaty. There was music, food and drink, and great prizes for those who raised the most money or did the most pushups. There was even a kid’s category.

Larry chose the Autism Society of Connecticut as one of the two autism charities he is supporting with his hard work. ASCONN was chosen specifically because we are a local autism resource, helping families out here at home with the day to day journey of a life with autism. Larry’s other charity choice was the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism. The Flutie Foundation has been a strong supporter of ASCONN as well as the main support over the last three years for ASCONN’s Mini-Grant Program providing financial help to families for safety and security. ASCONN and the Flutie Foundation will share the over $16,000 raised by Larry and his friends. So, start your conditioning program now and save the date for next year’s Pushing Past Autism and help Larry help ASCONN. Many thanks to Larry, the entire Cruz family, their friends and co-workers for an amazing fundraiser. Got an idea for a fundraising event? Contact us at 888-453-4975 or e-mail asconn@sbcglobal.net.

The Hartford Pond of the Blue Goose, a social, business and philanthropic association of insurance industry professionals from around the state, has chosen ASCONN as their “charity of choice” for a second year and donated the funds raised at their annual dinner dance gala to us.

The Natural Helpers Club at West Shore Middle School in Milford dedicated their Valentine Fundraiser to ASCONN. One of the club’s members has two brothers with autism and his mom came to the club to speak about autism and how it has affected their lives. During their lunch time, the Natural Helpers sold lollipops along with paper valentines they made to benefit ASCONN. Their hard work netted over $425! Students are chosen to become Natural Helpers for their leadership, maturity and ability to influence others in a positive way. Students in grades 6-8 are trained to be role models and peer educators for their school and community. The Natural Helpers get involved in fundraisers and many community service projects for various charitable organizations. The Natural Helpers has won the Mayor’s Youth Award for their hard work.

A young lady at Haddam-Killingworth High School, as part of her senior service project class, organized a dance-a-thon with the proceeds to be donated to ASCONN. Raising over $800(!), Amber solicited a d-jay, food and drinks, raffle prizes, and participants for a Saturday evening of dancing and fun.