To the Editor:
A heartfelt thanks to all of the community groups, businesses and corporations who lent their support to help make the 6th annual Cure Autism Now Run/Walk on July 4th in Potomac Village an enormous success.
The event, which raised a record $175,000-plus for autism research (and an additional $25,000 in in-kind support), included more than 1,600 participants, 85 volunteers, and several hundred spectators. Thanks also to the many individual and family supporters. This year, 45 teams participated and helped us raise more than $75,000. Shant’s Striders and Team Lucas combined raised more than $35,000!
A special thanks to Congressman Chris Van Hollen, State Senator Rob Garagiola, and Delegates Jean Cryor and Brian Feldman for taking time out of their holiday schedule to attend the event. Three additional individuals continue to deserve recognition for all that they do to support this community event over the years. They are Adam Greenberg from Potomac Pizza and Potomac Village Deli, Alex Scofield from the Almanac, and Steve Berstein of BOWA Builders. We would also like to thank the Potomac Giant, Safeway and Whole Foods for their generosity. So many of the national franchises in our area no longer participate in community events so we are especially grateful to the local businesses that support this event and continue to give back to the many causes that affect our community.
For the second year the presenting sponsors for the race were First American Title Insurance Company and PAC, Inc. Additional supporters included the following:
Amanda Amante, BagelTowne Deli, Ballroom Balloons.com, Bank of America, Barbi B, Belina, Bonefish Grille, BOWA Builders, Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department, Café Deluxe, Café Milano, Cahra Salon, Chapter One Book Club, Cheeburger, Cheeburger, Chicken Out – Do Good Foundation, Chipolte, Colella Photography, Comcast, Design at Large, Discovery Communications, Inc., Dr. Amy Light, Drinkmore Water, DuFour & Orens, Dunkin Donuts, Ellie Pisarra Cain, Euromotor Cars, Facial Aroma Day Spa, Family Orthopedics of Northern VA, Five Guys, Flaps, Fleet Feet, Fred Foster Fitness Company, Georgetown Running Store, Golden & Rad, Good Earth, Goodman-Gable-Gould Adjusters International, Hunter’s Inn, Jade Billows, Ledo’s Pizza, Magnolia Spa, Mamma Lucia Restaurant, Metro Run & Walk, MJ Hair Studio, Montgomery Orthopedics, Motophoto, Nage, O’Keefe Family Foundation, Inc., Panera, PHH Mortgage, Plants Etc., Potomac Day Spa, Potomac Giant, Potomac Library, Potomac Pizza, Potomac Village Deli, Potomac Presbyterian Church, Potomac Village Shopping Center, Proaction Physical Therapy, Renato’s, River Falls Seafood, Rocky’s Video, Safeway, Inc., Scott & Patrice Brickman, Shant’s Striders, Shoe Train, Silverman & Associates, CharteredSmith Pointe, Spring Mill Bakery, Sterling Chevrolet, Strosniders Hardware, Team Lucas, The Ayanian Family Charitable Foundation, The Berstein Companies, The Beauregard Family, The Gazette, The Palm, The Potomac Almanac, The Schneider Family, The Wilde Family, The William’s Family Charitable Fund, Timpano’s Italian Chophouse, Titus Trash, Tom Grooms at Smooth Jazz 105.9, Totally Polished, Toys Etc., Umberto’s, Wetzels Pretzels, Whole Foods.
Autism continues to affect 1 out of every 166 children. The numbers are staggering and indicate that we have a national epidemic. Next year we will come together on Wednesday July 4th for the 7th annual Cure Autism Now — Run 2007. With this event, we will approach the $1 million mark. We can only do it with your help.
As a community, your proactive partnership for this cause has been awe-inspiring. This level of community support proves that we can — together — continue to do our part to make the dream of curing autism a reality.
Susan Pereles
Director, Cure Autism Now 5K
Potomac