Families for Effective Treatment of Autism (FEAT) of Washington celebrated its 15th year of serving families affected by autism in Washington State with its annual Dinner and Auction fundraiser on March 12, 2011, at Bellevue’s posh Hyatt Regency.
The Turnout
Attendance at the event was unprecedented. The silent auction was truly a time for rubbing elbows as even the spacious hotel lobby proved cramped with attendees. Not that FEAT's auction board was complaining; the high attendance led to unparalleled fundraising. The annual dinner and auction is the primary fundraiser for FEAT of WA and allows them to offer desperately needed and much appreciated programs year-round.
The Live Auction
The live auction was truly lively with bidding wars breaking out across the room between determined bidders. Generous donors provided valuable, exciting auction items that included a insider tour of the Seahawks’ headquarters, owner’s suite tickets for a Mariners game, wines, artwork, golf packages, vacations and getaways, and a Holland America Cruise. Additional items were added last minute or doubled by generous donors in attendance.
Other Highlights
Guest speaker, Elizabeth Boyle, FEAT of Washington member and New York Times best-selling author, spoke about the challenges and joys of raising a son with autism. She shared stories which highlighted the sometimes humorous side of having a child with autism. The funditty followed, allowing guests to make cash contributions to FEAT. The generosity of attendees was never more apparent than during this portion of the evening. Attendees also had the opportunity to fulfill wishes from autistic children in the community, donating funds to purchase electronics and other useful tools that can be used to assist children with autism to communicate with others.
The Grand Total
When the evening was done and the tally was made, FEAT of Washington had raised over $210,000 from the event! This money will allow it to continue its many vital programs for another year, including its Super Saturday respite programs, Transitions for Teens, Summer Intervention Program, and many others. To learn more about the programs available through FEAT of WA, please visit its website.
During this time when Washington State is experiencing so many deep budgetary cuts to services, reliance on private funding to run vital programming has never been more necessary. FEAT of Washington will be able to provide another year of programming to Washington State families affected by autism, thanks to the considerable generosity of those who attended the 2011 FEAT of Washington Annual Dinner and Auction.
Paula McCullough - Tax Specialist and Accountant for almost 20 years and still learning. Mother of three young children, one with Autism.
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