Autism Ambassador Goals:
Autism New Jersey has established the following goals for our Ambassador program:
- Obtain 2 proclamations in each New Jersey County; RESULT: 9 Proclamations. Mercer and Ocean recieved two each!
- 35 Dress Down Days; RESULT: 40!
- Recruit/Reach 5,000 fans on Autism New Jersey’s Facebook page; RESULT: 1,341 fans recruited, for a total of 4,600+
- Receive 50 pictures of Ambassadors wearing or displaying something to promote autism awareness (temporary tattoos, t-shirts, pins, posters, etc.); RESULT: More than 125 pictures received.
- 20 “Online Ambassadors” create their own webpage! RESULT: 13 Pages created.
- 15 library displays; RESULT: 9
- 30 bulletin board displays (church, school, workplace, childcare centers, etc.); RESULT: 44!
- 20 newspaper articles or Letters to the Editor about autism awareness; RESULT: 7
- 25 presentations made throughout New Jersey; RESULT: 16
- $100,000 raised for autism awareness! RESULT: $72,000+ to date!
The above results were based on information from the Ambassador Activity Sheets received. To have your activity listed in this section and included in the above goals, e-mail
aamonth@autismnj.org or return your
Activity Sheet.
Autism Ambassador Event Calendar
April 7, 2010
Benefit Concert for Sing SOS at the historic Bitter End, NYC. Click here to learn more about Sing SOS and their compilation CD by artists like Jackson Browne. To purchase a cd, contact eschisler@autismnj.org
April 15, 2010
Public Policy Coordinator for Autism New Jersey, Debbie Charette, organized a State House Tour in Trenton for members of the autism community. They learned about the legislative process and were able to view the Senate and Assembly chamber galleries, party conference rooms and Governor’s Office reception Room. Thanks to all those who participated!
April 20, 2010
Autism Family Night Out with TGIFriday's. For more information, click here for event flyer or contact abend08@aol.com. Gift cards available on a first-come, first-served basis to families attending that present the flyer at restaurant. (Supply is limited.)
April 22, 2010
Autism Awareness Ambassador, Ginger Yocus, is proud to announce a new awareness event. It is a Live Auction! Register for an evening of cocktails, food networking and fun. Begins promptly at 5:00pm. Location: 213 East Main Street, Route 9, Tuckerton NJ. Cost is $40. All proceeds benefit Autism New Jersey. For more information, click here.
April 22, 2010
Autism Awareness Ambassador Susan Panasuk, helped to organize her 3rd Volley for Autism. The Volley for Autism is a student vs. faculty volley ball game that takes place every year at the Wall Township High School. The event raises funds and awareness for autism. This year they raised: $2,359.33. Thank you Susie and Wall High School!
April 25, 2010
Cape May resident, Daniel Miles planned a day at the Cape May County Zoo on April 25th at 12:00pm. There were games, food, face painting, information about autism resources, support groups and more.
April 28, 2010
The Sassy Shop Girl Event -- Girls Night Out in The Grove
Il Tulipano, Cedar Grove NJ, Time: 5:00pm - 9:30pm
$20 admission, includes cocktails, massages, tarot card reading and lots of shopping with over 50 vendors. For more information, visit www.thesassyshopgirlevents.com
In the Community
Bergen County
Christine DeSavino, who is both a sibling to a younger brother with autism and a talented photographer, has created a special fundraiser. She is offering a chance for a family who has a child on the autism spectrum to win a free photo session with her. To raise funds, Christine will make a $50 donation for every photo session booked with her during the month of April. To read about Christine and her brother’s story or learn more about her fundraiser, go to:
http://christinedesavino.com/blog/2010/04/12/shine-a-light-on-autism/
Bergen County
Laura Marcy and Roberta Zito from KPMG’s Montvale Disabilities Network organized a Jeans Day for Autism Awareness Month. They raised a total of $1,587.50! Great job ladies!
Gloucester County
Autism Ambassador, Carol Slemmer gave a 15 minute presentation about autism to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Williamstown, NJ. Nice job Carol!
Morris County
Autism Awareness Ambassador, Debbie Houlihan spread awareness in her church by setting up an information table. She also collected and made donations allowing her to raise $70.00!
Hudson County
Autism Awareness Ambassador, Terry Dickson spread autism awareness in her place of work. At a juvenile detention center in Jersey City, she hung up posters, sold ribbon, t-shirts, lollipops and boosters all to spread autism awareness. Amount raised: $813.00. Way to be involved Terry!
Passaic County
Autism Awareness Ambassador and sibling, Liz Walsh organized fundraisers to spread autism awareness. At her place of employment, New York Live Investment Management Office, she planned a dress down day. She also held a bake sale at the Passaic County Community College. Amount raised: $1,255.00. Thank you for all of your hard work Liz!
Middlesex County
Autism Ambassador and mother, Evelyn Delgado spread autism awareness in many different ways during April. She began the month by visiting local businesses like dentists and doctor offices and gave them materials and presentations about autism. She also ran a marathon to show her support, had an article written for “My Central Jersey.com” about autism, attended a flag raising ceremony in her community of Woodbridge and helped her son present to his school. Nice job Evelyn!
In the Schools
Lake Parsippany Elementary school
Autism Awareness Ambassador and teacher, Heather Peltack, is organizing a program in Lake Parsippany Elementary school to educate her 5th graders about autism awareness. The students will be participating in a 30 minute activity every Wednesday throughout the month of April learning about autism. Way to go Lake Parsippany Elementary School!
Horace Mann Elementary School
Autism Awareness Ambassador, Kris Foglia, is giving presentations and handing out autism awareness temporary tattoos and bookmarks at Horace Mann Elementary School in Cherry Hill.
West Orange School District
Autism Awareness Ambassador, Ann Aly Ahmed, and the West Orange School District have worked together to organize a series of activities to spread autism awareness during April. Some of their plans include a district wide dress down day, putting up collection cans around town, selling magnets and pins, and writing articles for the West Orange Chronicle showing how West Orange supports Autism Awareness Month.
Rockaway Meadow Elementary School
Autism Awareness Ambassador, teacher and mom, Jodi Grillo, has worked with Rockaway Meadow Elementary School in Parsippany, NJ to organize a series of activities to spread autism awareness. Some of their plans include: a “Warm-Up for Autism Awareness Day,” handmade awareness bracelet sales, and an online donation webpage. Jodi has also recruited more than a dozen members to the Autism NJ fan page on facebook. Way to go Jodi!
Piscataway Township School District
Piscataway Township School District has put together activities to support autism awareness month. These activities include: selling student made puzzle pins and puzzle ribbon pins throughout the district schools and administration buildings, Dress Down for Autism Day on April 23rd, TGI Fridays April 20th Family Night poster distribution. Nice job Piscataway!
Andover Regional
Florence M. Burd and Long Pond Schools spread autism awareness in the Andover community in several ways. Staff members held a fundraiser dress-down day and Paraprofessional Candy Meeler made awareness ribbon lollypops and puzzle piece pins for the participants to wear. The staff members raised $400 for Autism New Jersey! Thanks to Lynn Delfing and staff members for their efforts!
Edward Bowser Elementary School
Special Education Teacher, Alicia Messina-Egan, her two paraprofessionals Jennifer Brown and Patricia Lee along with speech-language pathologist, Ms. Marla Marra-Brown put together an array of activities during Autism Awareness Month at Edward Bowser Elementary School in East Orange, NJ. During the month of April, they: sold 40 Autism Day T-shirts to staff and parents of students with autism, sold autism items, and the students in the autism class sold fruit snacks for 25 cents to other students and staff for 3 afternoons. In total they raised $1,280.25!
Some of their non-fundraising activities were: The students in the Autism k-2 class put on an Autism Awareness Assembly for their school. Friday, April 9, 2010 was Autism Day at Bowser School. All staff and parents who bought shirts wore them. Teachers and staff who did not purchase shirts wore puzzle pieces with facts on them. Other students from pre-kindergarten to 3rd grade wore their Autism New Jersey tattoos. Two representatives for the East Orange Mayor's Office presented the students with a proclamation and a teacher wrote an original song about autism and dedicated it to the students. Informational posters and pictures from a general education first grade class were hung up all over the school. Teachers in all grade levels from pre-k to 5th read a book to their students about autism. Wow! Thank you to the students and faculty for all of your hard work to make autism awareness month a huge success!
Stewartsville Schools
The Stewartsville, NJ schools were busy acknowledging April as Autism Awareness Month. The outstanding teachers and staff (pictured) of the Greenwich Township school district showed their support with a bake sale & dress down days fundraisers donated online, posters & essays, coloring activities, and reading autism awareness books in the classrooms! Students and teachers created a beautiful window display for the month of April in the grade school. The Parent Network sponsored a Movie Night for the parents to view the movie "Adam" and held coloring, poster & essay contests for students themed, “Everybody Needs a Friend…Autism Awareness.” Special thanks to Jaclynn Toth and Linda Gengaro for their initiative!
Trinity Academy
Palma Wasilenko from Trinity Academy in North Arlington organized a 2-day bake sale and dress down day for autism awareness month. Thank you Trinity Academy! Amount Raised: $1,101.00
Woodrow Wilson Elementary School
Autism Awareness Ambassador, Jacqueline Kelly worked with the Woodrow Wilson Elementary School to organize activities to support autism awareness month. They planned a school-wide “Jeans Day,” bagel sales, t-shirt sales, wrote letters to newspapers and radio stations, and held a poster contest. Amount raised: $323.05. Great job everyone!
Martin Luther King School
Martin Luther King School in Edison (Middlesex County) held a pretzel sale for Autism Awareness month and raised $259. Next month, they will have an autism awareness workshop for students who will become "buddies" to their friends in the self-contained classrooms in their school. Junior Ambassador Aleta Murphy, a sibling, will be a guest speaker to the 4th graders.
School secretary Mrs. Joni Roach was inspired by the awareness events and took the idea to the Edison Light Cruisers Car Club. The Cruisers donated $100 to Autism New Jersey at a recent "Cruise Night" that they sponsor. Thank you to all involved!
Byram Township Schools
Autism Awareness Ambassador and her awareness team, organized a series of activities throughout the month of April. These activities included: autism raffles at the spring conferences, their fourth annual dress down day for autism, t-shirt sales, set up an information table where they handed out literature about autism, organized a walk, press release, and decorated the schools with facts about autism and ribbons to promote awareness. Thank you to all involved for increasing your activities so much this year! Amount raised: $1,144.00.
Beatrice Gilmore School
The students and staff at Beatrice School spread autism awareness by planning a school wide ribbon initiative, setting up library displays, cookies sales, a “guess how many M&M’s” raffle and dress down days. Thank you for all of your making autism awareness month so successful! Amount Raised: $833.00.
Adamsville Elementary School, Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District
The staff and students at Adamsville Elementary School spread autism awareness by decorating puzzle pieces for their bulletin boards. Check out their art work! 
Manchester Township High School
Autism Ambassador and parent, Steven Ninivaggi spearheaded an autism awareness initiative at Manchester High School. He approached the psychology teacher, Ms. Merolla, and asked her to create lesson plans for her students during the month of April that would both, teach them about autism and be in line with their curriculum. The students learned about autism and along with their teachers, sold cookies to raise funds for autism. Amount raised: $828.65. Nice job to all involved!
Wanaque Elementary School
Autism Ambassador and Notational Junior Honors Society Advisor, Allison Maura, planned several activities to spread autism awareness throughout their school. They raised funds by organizing a Walk-a-thon around the school track, dress down day, and held a bagel sale. Amount raised: $1,422.00. Great job Wanaque!
Children’s Center of Monmouth County
Autism Ambassador and Occupational Therapist, Angie Tener, spearheaded a series of autism awareness events. Not only did staff participate, but all of the students worked diligently through out the month of April to spread autism awareness. They had a total of 18 classes make special bulletin boards where you could find amazing student centered projects with important messages about autism! They also held their first bake sale where they successfully sold out of chocolate and cupcakes. Amount raised: $1,045.00. Great job Angie and everyone involved!
C. Richard Applegate School
Thank you to the C. Richard Applegate School for funds for autism awareness by planning a basket raffle! Amount raised: $952.00
Sparta School District
Thank you to Autism Awareness Ambassadors, Maria Trentacoste, Kristi Hicok and Carrie Gilbert from Helen Morgan School! These teachers were busy throughout the month of April organizing various different activities to show their support for autism awareness month. Some of these activities included: “Take a Bite Out of Autism” pizza night, district wide dress down day, staff breakfast, “What is Autism?” information night and their 4th Annual Walk-a-thon. Amount raised: $3,457.00
Hardyston Elementary School
Autism Ambassador, David Fencsak organized fundraisers to spread autism awareness! An “I’m helping autism,” certificate was created and sold to faculty and students through out April. Faculty also participated in a Jeans Day to show their support. Amount raised: $519.00. Thank you!
Parsippany High School
Parsippany High School’s Peer Buddies Program spread autism awareness by selling blue t-shirts on World Autism Day. Their “Peer Buddies Program, is an organization that links students with autism with their neuro-typical peers in an effort to forge a natural modeling and support system. Amount raised: $100.00. Way to go Parsippany!
West Orange Preschool Teachers
Autism Awareness Ambassadors and Special education Teachers, Elizabeth Cohen and Darlene Sardinksy organized a fundraiser to support autism awareness. Amount raised: $476.00. Nice job ladies!
Regional Day SchoolPTA, Jersey City
Autism Awareness Ambassador, Colleen Henry and the rest of the Regional Day School team, held their 8th Annual Auction for Autism. They also organized classroom coin wars, traveling story activities, autism awareness puzzle piece activities, and dress down days. Amount raised: $15,640.78. Thank you for all of your hard work to support the autism community!
Willowglen Academy, Sparta NJ
Autism Awareness Ambassador and School Social Worker, Annette Falkowski organized a variety of activities to support autism awareness month. Together with her co-worker, Maureen Nafis and the faculty and students, they planned a dress down day, items sales for sausage, pepper and onion sandwiches, chocolate lolly pops, pins, bracelets, bumper stickers and baked goods. Amount raised: $2,350.00. Thank you to all involved!
Wanaque Elementary School
Autism Awareness Ambassadors, Heather Oguss and Allison Mauro helped their school spread autism awareness by holding a display contest. Each class participated in creating classroom door displays to promote autism awareness month. Heather also created a bulletin board display for the main hallway of the school. Beautiful work everyone!
Troy Hills Schools
Parsippany High School’s National Art Honor Society held t-shirt sale fundraiser for Autism Awareness. Amount raised: $217.00. Great job!
West Orange School District
Autism Awareness Ambassador and parent, Ann Aly Ahmed helped to organize a variety of different fundraisers to show support for Autism Awareness Month. Some of these activities were ribbon sales for trees, bracelet sales and a district wide dress down day. Amount raised: $2,133.00. Thank you to all involved!
In the Library
Camden County Library
Autism Awareness Ambassador and librarian of the South County Branch of the Camden County Library in Atco, NJ. Ann Marie Latini, has taken every opportunity to promote autism awareness month in her library. She has set up a special story time titled "Stories on the Spectrum" twice a month (the second and fourth Saturday at 10:30 a.m.), a parent support group, and is hosting an informational session for our annual Staff Day. Thank you for all of your hard work Ann Marie!
Atlantic County Library
Autism Ambassador, Carol Slemmer, has set up library displays to promote autism awareness month. You can view her displays at the Atlantic County Library, the Atlantic County Library Hammonton Branch, and the local library in Hammonton. Great job Carol!
Morristown Library
Autism Ambassador and mother, Cathy Douma strived to spread autism awareness throughout her community. She said she “would like to increase public awareness and help families who are affected.” Cathy went to her local library, Morristown Library and set up multiple displays. She had materials placed in the display cases, as well as in the children’s room. Great job Cathy!
The West Caldwell Public Library
The West Caldwell Public Library had a spare change drive to raise awareness! Amount raised: $33.91.
Montville Township Library
Autism Ambassador and mother, Beth Blake set up a library display at her local library, Montville Township Library. Great job Beth!
Online Ambassadors
Thank you to our 2010 Online Ambassadors.
Click here to visit their webpages.
- Melissa Basile
- Anthony and Jodi Grillo
- Jacqueline Kelly
- Ray and Lisa Kiley
- Nia Lee-Perez
- Kelly Milazzo
- Daniel Miles
- Enol Moore-Felix
- Jani and Lenny Sblendorio
Junior Ambassadors
Erich Seeger
Jr. Autism Awareness Ambassador and sibling, Erich Seeger, showed his dedication to the autism community in many different ways this year. Erich began a campaign called Autism “Know the Signs.” For his campaign, he personally contacted over 45 businesses and asked them for their participation. He gave the businesses a selection of quotes about autism, to post on their billboards and displays. If a business did not have a billboard, Erich did not stop there, he provided them with an 18 Point Check List Signs of Autism along with a ribbon for them to post.
Erich also involved his school in autism awareness month by working closely with students on the autism spectrum to create hallways displays. At his Little Egg Harbor Board of Education meeting, Erich was presented with a framed proclamation declaring April, Autism Awareness Month. Thank you Erich and family for all of your outstanding efforts!
Julie Welsh
Junior Autism Awareness Ambassador, Julie Welsh, organized her 3rd Annual “Julie's Awesome Autism Awareness Yard/Bake Sale” on Saturday April 17th. Her and her friends ended up raising $805.00! Thank you for supporting the autism community Julie!
Nicole D’Angelo
Junior Ambassador and teenager with Asperger’s Syndrome, Nicole D’Angelo, will be giving a presentation about musical abilities in autistic spectrum disorders at the Long Hill Library (917 Valley Road, Gillette) Monday, April 26 at 7 PM. To register, call (908) 647-2088. The program is called "Artism: Musical Perspectives from an Autistic Mind" and is completely free. Thank you for speaking to the community Nicole!
Megan Hitzel
Junior Ambassador and sibling, Megan Hitzel, targeted her peers as people she wanted to teach about autism. Megan wrote a book report on autism using the book, “Rules.” She also developed a lesson plan and taught her class about autism. Thanks to Megan, the hallways in her school are decorated with autism awareness posters to continue spreading awareness!
Dress Down Days
The Developmental Learning Center (Scheduled for 4/16/2010)
Organized by: Holly Gomes
Amount Raised: TBA
East Brunswick Public Schools
Organized by: Marianne Zema
Amount Raised: $1,757
Fair Lawn Memorial Middle School (Scheduled for 4/9/2010)
Organized by: Dianna Maranilli
Amount Raised: TBA
Kinnelon Public Schools- Kiel School
Organized by: Colleen Bruscino
Amount Raised: $923.00
Little Ferry Public School
Organized by: Lynn Nunziato
Amount Raised: $580
Mount Olive Schools- Sandshore Road School (Scheduled for 4/16/2010)
Organized by: Cheryl Tracey
Amount Raised: TBA
Piscataway Township Schools (Scheduled for 4/20/2010)
Organized by: Rochelle Fowkes
Amount Raised: TBA
Regional Day School (Scheduled for 4/23/2010)
Organized by: Colleen Henry
Amount Raised: TBA
West Orange School District
Organized by:Ann Aly Ahmed
Amount Raised: TBA
Whitter School (Scheduled for 4/2/2010)
Organized by: Katy McClure
Amount Raised: TBA
Willowglen Academy (Scheduled for 4/2/2010)
Organized by: Annette Falkowski
Amount Raised: TBA
Van Holten School (Scheduled for 4/23/2010)
Organized by: Jill Cenzano
Amount Raised: TBA
South Bergen Jointure Commission Lyndhurst Campus
Organized by: Christine McLeod
Amount Raised: $150.00
Northern Valley Regional High School District
Organized by: Joanne Spadaccini
Amount Raised: $650
Neptune Township Early childhood Center
Amount Raised: $146.00
Anthony Rossi Intermediate School Vineland, NJ
Amount Raised: $125
Marie Durand Elementary School
Organizer: Janet Repp
Amount Raised: $280.00
Morgan Elementary School
Organizer: Patricia Walter
Amount Raised: $155.00
Van Holten School, Bridgewater NJ
Organizer: Jill Cenzano
Amount Raised: $256.00
Bernards Township Board of Education
Organizer: Karen Martin
Amount Raised: $364.00
Glen Ridge School District
Organizer: John DeWitt
Amount Raised: $370.00
You & Me School, Pediatric Rehab Department of JFK
Organizer: Nicole McDowell
Amount Raised: $128
Nellie K. Parker Elementary School
Organizer: Laura Neville
Amount Raised: $280.00
Proclamations
Mercer County
Lawrence Township
Monmouth County
Township of Freehold
Mayor Dorothy H. Avallone
Ocean County
Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Pictured from left to right during the Freeholder proclamation presentation are Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari, Freeholder Director James F. Lacey, Robert Titus, Public Policy Director for Autism New Jersey and Debbie Charette, Public Policy Coordinator for Autism New Jersey.
Sussex County
Borough of Andover
Mayor, John A. Morgan
Ocean County
Berkeley Township
Council President, Carmen F. Amato Jr.
Essex County
East Orange
Mayor Robert L. Bowser
Mercer County
East Windsor
Mayor Janice S. Mironov
Middlesex County
Edison
Mayor Toni Ricigliano
Cumberland County
Millville
Mayor James F. Quinn