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Denim and Diamonds--Fundrraiiserr for Autism
By Sheila Appleby Williams

What do Nancy Grace (Nancy Grace Show), TomBergeron (American’s Funniest Home Videos), Florence Henderson (The Brady Bunch), and Leeza Gibbons (television personality) have in common?

The answer is: they were among the many celebrities and guests gathered to celebrate the 6th Annual Denim & Diamonds fundraiser for Autism, hosted by ACT Today (Autism Care and Treatment Today!) a national non-profit organization based in Southern California. According to the national Autism Society “One in 110 children in America is diagnosed with autism.Autism is more prevalent than juvenilediabetes, childhood AIDS and pediatric cancer.”

The lavish awards dinner was held on a recent balmy Saturday evening among the rolling hills and majestic oak trees of the Ahmanson Ranch in Calabasas. Ladies, in fashionably high heels, following the requested chic dress code, gingerly made their way from the dusty parking area over the bumpy terrain to the deluxe event which featured a silent auction, live auction, awards, dinner and entertainment. It was a first class orchestrated evening, not surprising, since the event host, organizer and executive director of ACT Today! Is the former “Leeza” show executive producer, autism advocate and media personality, Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson.

The glamorous event, co-hosted byDr. Doreen Granpeesheh, world renowned clinical psychologist and expert in the field of autism research and therapy included among the over 500 guests, the two honorees, television personality Tom Bergeron (“Dancing with the Stars” and “America’s Funniest Home Videos”) and Rebecca Grossman, founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation for their outstanding efforts in supporting ACT Today!’s mission.

Canine guests included service animal members of The Arizona Goldens, a company that raises and trains service dogs and specializing in placing service dogs with individuals with Autism. Throughout the year, ACT Today! gets numerous requests for assistance dogs from families of children with autism. The need has grown so great, that the event included a paddle auction, specifically to raise funds for assistance dogs for 12 children with autism from around the country. The average cost for training and placement is $15,000. Guest, Erin Murphy ("Tabitha" on the popular 60’s/70's TV show-Bewitched) is now the mother of 6 and since her son, Parker was diagnosed with Autism, has been very involved with autistic charities.“There's always time to give! I love my kids, but they grow so much more seeing me remain active in the community," she explained in a recent interview.

ACT Today (Autism Care and Treatment Today) was founded by Dr. Granpeesheh, who founded the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc., (CARD) in 1990, “the world’s largest and most experienced organization effectively treating children with autism.” Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson is a former high-powered television producer and author, who turned activist on the subject of autism awareness after her adopted son Wyatt was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. Nancy had the good fortune to hear Dr. Granpeesheh speak at an Autism conference in 2006 and immediately enrolled her son in the CARD program. CARD develops individualized treatment plans utilizing the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), a behavioral treatment approach.

Her son, Wyatt is now 8 and is making “tremendous progress,” says Alspaugh. “As difficult as it was getting the diagnosis for our son, we have never forgotten that we are the lucky ones in that we have the resources to find help – what about those families that don’t have the time or money to access treatment andcare?”

With that in mind, she joined the ACT Today organization as their fundraising executive director and began the annual Denim and Diamonds for Autism fundraiser to benefit ACT Today! overseeing its numerous annual fundraisers, special events and campaigns. Proceeds from the event help provide resources and fund grants for children with autism whose families cannot afford the necessary tools their child needs to reach their full potential. For more information about ACT Today: http://www.act-today.org/

Creative Cold and Hot Lunch Box Ideas for Kids
By Charlina Stewart

Eek! Not PB and J again. Don't force your child to eat the same humdrum lunch day after day. Get creative so you can keep lunchbox lunches enjoyable. If you intend to pack your child’s lunch for school every day, you’d better put your thinking cap on. After all, you can only get away with fixing peanut butter and jelly for so long. Don’t make your kiddo dread opening his lunch box. Try some of these cold and hot lunch ideas to keep his taste buds happy.

Cold Lunch Ideas for Kids

• Shredded Chicken Pita Pockets: Instead of using boring sliced bread to make your child’s sandwiches, shake things up a bit. Stuff a pita pocket with some shredded chicken, raw spinach leaves, sliced roma tomatoes and cheddar cheese. Add a bit of mayo and viola! Slap a piece of fruit and a pickle on the side and this lunch is sure to be a hit.
• Tortilla Wraps: If your child is sick of sandwiches, try putting some grilled chicken strips or cold cuts on a tortilla. Top the tortilla with your child’s favorite toppings, roll it up and then cut it in half. Baked chips, a pickle spear and a container of yogurt will make this lunch complete.
• Tuna Salad: Tuna salad is easy to prepare and pack. After the tuna is prepared, put it in a reusable plastic container, top it with a few diced tomatoes and put it in your kid’s lunch box. Crackers and sliced strawberries work well with tuna salad.
• BBQ Chicken: Instead of traditional fried or baked chicken, wrap a piece of BBQ chicken in aluminum foil and stick it in your child’s lunch box. Serve the chicken with a side of potato salad and a piece of fruit for a cold lunch that will hit the spot.
• Taco Salad: Pack seasoned hamburger meat in an airtight container. Put shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes and taco chips in separate plastic baggies. Your child can assemble the taco salad during lunchtime.

Hot Lunch Ideas for Children

• Macaroni and Cheese: Pack macaroni and cheese in a warm food container. For a complete meal, put some green beans and baked cinnamon apples on the side.
• Beans and Franks: Cut up hot dogs and mix them with baked beans. Hot dogs pose a choking hazard to small children. If your children are under the age of 5, cut the hot dogs lengthwise first and then dice them up to reduce the risk of choking.
• Chicken and Rice: If you have leftover chicken and rice from dinner, heat it up and send it to school with your child for lunch the next day. Throw in a few mixed vegetables for a hot meal your child will enjoy.

Packing Hot andCold Lunches Safely

Obviously, if you pack nonperishable food items like PB and J, crackers and fresh veggies or fruit, you don’t have to worry about them spoiling. However, perishables like dairy and meat products need to remain at appropriate temperatures.

Bacteria can grow rapidly when food temperatures are between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. To keep bacteria at bay, pack hot food in a thermos or hot food container, and then place the thermos in an insulated lunch box. The thermal container combined with the insulated lunch box will keep your child’s lunch hot enough to minimize bacteria growth for up to 5 hours.

To keep cold food cold, pack it in an insulated lunch box with a reusable ice pack inside. If you don’t have a reusable ice pack, a frozen juice box or a frozen bottle of water will do. If you have problems finding appropriate hot or cold lunch storage containers at local stores, try online vendors like Amazon and Lunchbox.com.

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