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Party Down with HEAL for a Groovin’ Good Cause!
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Join HEAL on Thursday, February 18 for HEAL’s Party for a Groovin’ Good Cause and Friday, February 19 for Bobby Weed’s Golf Gig. The two-day charity event will be held at the Tournament Players Club - Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Party Down with HEAL on Thursday, February 18 at 6:00 PM at the TPC Clubhouse. Enjoy your favorite drinks and munchies. A live auction will feature tickets to the American Music Awards, Jimmy Buffet concert in Vegas, more exciting trips and great items will be raffled off! Shake your Groove Thing with the 7 Street Band a local favorite, whose playlist covers 5 decades of groovin’ and Motown tunes. On Friday, February 19, Bobby Weed’s HEAL Golf Gig will be played on Dye’s Valley Course. Meet up at 8:00 AM on the Practice Tee for with complimentary Bloody Mary’s & Breakfast Munchies. A Shotgun Start will commence at 8:30 AM. Head up to the clubhouse following golf for complimentary lunch with outta sight awards. |
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Visit our website to purchase tickets for the event, or learn about sponsor opportunities. Proceeds from this event will go towards Autism programs, camps, iPads and Service Dogs, serving hundreds with Autism and related disabilities throughout Northeast Florida.
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A Night to Shine – Prom for Special Needs
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Thanks to Tim Tebow, on February 12, Christ’s Church in Jacksonville will be hosting a memorable prom night for young adults with special needs. The evening, titled A Night to Shine, is sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. The evening includes a red carpet entrance complete with a friendly welcome from paparazzi, limousine rides, hair and makeup stations, shoe shining areas and, of course, the dance floor. The honored guests receive either a crown or tiara.
“We want to show each and every guest that they are special and they are loved” said Tim Tebow. “This is a night to celebrate who they are as a child of God, and to remind them that in God’s eyes, we are all kings and queens.”
The event is on February 12 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at Christ’s Church for young adults ages 17 and up. To register or to find out more about “A Night to Shine,” visit timtebowfoundation.org.
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Zack's Snacks Inspired by Son with Autism
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Mark Ansley with his son Zack, the company's namesake.
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In 1998, Mark Ansley thought his 16-month-old son was deaf and brought him to a doctor. His hearing was fine, the physician said, but Zack was on "the spectrum." Ansley didn't know what that meant, so the doctor explained that autism is a neurological disorder and that there is no cure. One thing that might help support Zack's brain development, the doctor said, was to make sure he eats foods high in omega-3, a fatty acid known to promote healthy brain development.
"Growing up in the South, my grannie always gave me cod liver oil to prevent colds," Ansley says. "But there was no way Zack was going to ingest that, given the fact he has a high sensitivity to taste and smell."
Zack refused to eat most foods. If the smell, taste, or texture wasn't just right, he wouldn't touch it. As he grew, his diet consisted almost exclusively of macaroni and cheese, chocolate milk, and McDonald's hamburgers--yes, the All-American diet, but Ansley knew he had to get Zack to eat nutritional food. He tried dozens of products that boasted healthy ingredients but nothing seemed to work. One day, Ansley came across a cookie made with chia, which is high in protein, and omega-3. "Zack ate half a dozen," Ansley says. Ansley decided he would make his own fish oil cookie, but it would take more than a decade for him to get the company on all fours.
He was no stranger to the food industry, having run Ansley Foods--a $5 million business selling BBQ ribs to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan through the Department of Defense--for eight years. About five years ago, as the war in Iraq drew to a close, Ansley decided to finish what he'd started years ago and perfect his "brain food" cookie recipe.
In 2012, he formally launched Zack's Snacks (under parent company SnapFoods), with a line of four different foods packed with chia and omega-3, with his flagship product being the "Omega Rounds," or fish oil cookies. Ansley calls his snacks "stealth health" because they're made with natural ingredients like rolled oats, fresh fruit, and vegetables and contain no GMOs, preservatives, or artificial ingredients, but still taste like snack food.
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Save the Date - HEAL Zoo Walk is April 24!
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Mark your calendars for the HEAL Zoo Walk for Autism at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens on Sunday, April 24. This is a family fun event that you don’t want to miss! This is an affordable way to see the Zoo, meet friends, and make new ones! Registration will open soon! Stay tuned to HEAL’s Facebook page for updates!
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Upcoming Events in Northeast Florida
| DATE |
EVENT |
| Ongoing |
Social Skills and Support Groups - Dr. Maria Tapia, Licensed Psychologist with the UF/Jacksonville's CARD Program, runs several support groups for adolescents and adults with Asperger's syndrome, as well as for the siblings and mothers. If you are interested in joining any of these groups or gathering additional information, such as date, time and ages, please contact Dr. Tapia at maria.tapia@jax.ufl.edu or 904-633-4330. |
| Jan. 26 |
Sensory Friendly Films: Ride Along 2 - AMC & ASA are bringing families an opportunity to go to the movies in a safe, accepting environment on a monthly basis. Lights are brought up, sound is turned down and families may bring their own snacks. Movies are shown at the AMC Regency 24 at the Regency Center Square. Now showing 4 movies a month! This showing is at 7:00 PM and may not be appropriate for all ages. Click here for more information. |
| Jan. 29-31 |
CARD's Annual Autism Conference at the Florida Hotel & Conference Center in Orlando. The purpose of this annual statewide conference is to provide information on state-of-the-art practices in areas that promote best practices in education, early intervention and quality community based life-styles for individuals with autism, deaf-blindness, and related disabilities. Click here for more information. |
| Jan. 30 |
Jacksonville Beach Polar Bear Plunge & Run 5K - Join Special Olympics Duval at the Jacksonville Beach location for a statewide fundraiser during which individuals and teams raise money alongside Special Olympic Athletes. Start building your team now! |
| Feb. 2 |
First Coast Autism Support Meeting - Kris D’Esterhazy presents “Guardianship & Estate Planning” Join First Coast Autism Support for their monthly meeting at Greenland Pines Elementary, 5050 Greenland Road, Jacksonville. Their mission is to connect families raising a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder so they can share resources, discuss ideas, and support each other. There is also a Sibling Support Group for siblings 7-13 years old running at the same time, run by professionals with an understanding of the impact a special needs child can have on a family. For more information, contact Angela.Mann@unf.edu. |
| Feb. 12 |
Angelwood Parents Night Out - Register now for this 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM camp for school-age children with disabilities and their siblings. The children will do crafts and and have a meal and a snack. The event will be at the Angelwood Career Development Center located at 11251 Philips Parkway Drive East, Jacksonville. A non-refundable deposit of $10 is due to save your children’s space. Once your children’s spots have been secured, you will receive a registration packet. Call 904-288-7259 or click here for more information. |
| Feb. 12 |
Night to Shine - Christ's Church is hosting Night to Shine, a prom for people with special needs, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. The prom will include special elements, consisting of a red carpet entrance with paparazzi, limousine rides, hair and makeup beauty stations, shoeshines, a dance floor, food and much more. Register online now to participate or volunteer for this special event. |
| Feb. 13 |
Microsoft Gaming Party - Join CARD from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM at the Microsoft store at St. Johns Town Center. Xbox consoles will be set up in the theater space for gaming. While the children are gaming, the parents will have a breakout session on internet safety and parental controls. Forty spots are available on a first come basis. Contact Karen.Auger@jax.ufl.edu to RSVP. |
| Feb. 15 |
Two Feet Forward: ABLE Act - Karen Prewitt, co-chair of the Area 4 Family Care Council, will present on the ABLE Act. The ABLE Act aims to ease financial strains faced by individuals with disabilities by making tax-free savings accounts available to cover qualified expenses such as education, housing and transportation. Attend his training at the CARD Center at 5:00 PM to learn more about the ABLE Act and how to plan for your child’s future. Registration required. |
| Feb. 18-19 |
HEAL Valley of Dreams Gala and Charity Golf Classic Save the date for HEAL's annual fundraiser. Join HEAL at the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra for cocktails on Thursday, February 18! We will be back in the morning for golf on Dye's Valley Course. Find your favorite foursome and join us for a round of golf! Email info@healautismnow.org for more information on sponsorships. |
| Feb. 22 |
CARD FDLRS Satellite Clinic – Clay County - The UF Jacksonville Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) offers clinics to outlying counties in order to more effectively serve their constituents. Sign up for a consultative appointment with clinicians who specialize in child psychology, behavior therapy, academic interventions, Autism Screeners, Transition, and more. Appointments are at no cost to the family and are offered from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Location: The Fleming Island Library, 1895 Town Center Blvd, Orange Park (conference door to the left of the main library door). To schedule an appointment please contact Chanel.Baldwin@jax.ufl.edu or 904-633-0816. |
| Mar. 1 |
First Coast Autism Support Meeting - Jill Hill Fane presents “Advocating for Your Child’s Needs at School" Join First Coast Autism Support for their monthly meeting at Greenland Pines Elementary, 5050 Greenland Road, Jacksonville. Their mission is to connect families raising a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder so they can share resources, discuss ideas, and support each other. There is also a Sibling Support Group for siblings 7-13 years old running at the same time, run by professionals with an understanding of the impact a special needs child can have on a family. For more information, contact Angela.Mann@unf.edu. |
| Mar. 5 |
Special Olympics Duval Summer Games - Start training for this awesome event. Sports offered include Athletics (Track & Field), Soccer, Bocce and Tennis. Must have your medical & consent forms in by January 15, and scores, times and Soccer rosters are due by February 26. Event will be held Saturday, March 5 at the Atlantic Coast High School’s Football Stadium. Call Special Olympics Duval at 904-307-4221 with questions. |
| Mar. 9 |
Eighth Annual Autism Symposium at UNF - This event features national Autism experts and will focus on current medical evidence and interventions regarding Autism. Featured speakers include Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWheele, Catherin R. Rice, and Nathan A. Call. The event will be at UNF University Center. Click here for more information. |
| Apr. 5 |
First Coast Autism Support - Charlotte Temple presents “Understanding Social Security Benefits and More” Join First Coast Autism Support for their monthly meeting at Greenland Pines Elementary, 5050 Greenland Road, Jacksonville. Their mission is to connect families raising a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder so they can share resources, discuss ideas and support each other. There is also a Sibling Support Group for siblings 7-13 years old running at the same time, run by professionals with an understanding of the impact a special needs child can have on a family. For more information, contact Angela.Mann@unf.edu. |
| Apr. 23 |
Morning Star’s Annual Gala and Silent Auction, “An Evening on the St Johns” - Morning Star School is celebrating 60 years of serving our community. Join them for a special fundraiser at the Haskell Building on Riverside Avenue. Click here for more information. |
| Apr. 24 |
HEAL Zoo Walk for Autism! Save the date now! Stay in town that weekend! Start telling your friends and family! See you at the Zoo for another beautiful walk, after-party, and day of Walking on the Wild Side! |
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