Casa Colina Foundation will host “An Evening in Casablanca” on Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 at the Candlelight Pavilion in Claremont, CA. Proceeds from the event will benefit Casa Colina Children’s Services, which provides physical rehabilitation services for children in our community with acquired and developmental disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and more.
Incorporating many themes from the beloved 1940s celluloid classic, An Evening in Casablanca will be a night of wonderful food, casino gambling, auctions, and live entertainment.
Special honoree and guest speaker at this year’s event is Dr. Temple Grandin, a strong advocate for children, adolescents and adults on the autism spectrum. Temple’s achievements are remarkable because she was diagnosed with autism as a child. At age two she had no speech and all the signs of severe autism. Many hours of speech therapy, and intensive teaching enabled Temple to learn to speak. Mentoring by her high school science teacher and aunt motivated Temple to pursue a career as a scientist and livestock equipment designer. In addition to earning her B.A., M.S. and Ph.D., Temple has received numerous awards and honorary doctorates from Carnegie Mellon University and Duke University. An award-winning author, some of her popular books are Thinking in Pictures, Emergence Labeled Autistic, The Way I See It, and The Autistic Brain. HBO produced a movie about Temple’s early life and career which received seven Emmy awards, a Golden Globe, and a Peabody Award. She was also honored in Time magazine’s 2010 “The 100 Most Influential People in the World.” Dr. Grandin lectures to parents and teachers throughout the U.S. on her experiences with autism and will be presented with the Casa Colina Ambassador of the Children Award.
“We are pleased to honor Dr. Temple Grandin. She has been a strong advocate for children, adolescents and adults on the autism spectrum and has been the conscience and voice for this disorder for many years,” stated Casa Colina’s Margaret Bauman, M.D., pediatric neurologist and medical director of Casa Colina Children’s Services. “She has brought hope and encouragement to many, and through her strong advocacy, has helped the world to appreciate the gifts and talents of autistic persons and to view them through more educated eyes. She epitomizes the spirit of this award.”
Casa Colina Foundation provides over $150,000 in treatment and visit subsidies each year to Children’s Services. Proceeds from An Evening in Casablanca will go directly to supporting this cause. Individual tickets are $150 and sponsorship packages are available. For information, please call (909) 596-7733, ext. 2223 or visit www.casacolina.org/casablanca.
