CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Host Autism Awareness Night This Friday

Published on November 11, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


(Southaven, MS-11/11/09) --- The Mississippi RiverKings will spotlight patron cause "Assists for Autism" during their Friday, Nov. 13 game against the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs at 7:05 p.m.

A jersey auction sponsored by EMHC ambulance services will provide additional funds to the initiative, with the specially-designed, game worn jerseys featuring the autism puzzle pieces being auctioned off on the ice immediately after the game.

"Folks with autism are real special people, and they're really special to me," said RiverKings forward Matt Summers, who is serving as 2009-10 Assists for Autism spokesperson. "Having some background with it, and knowing a little bit about autism, I think I can help make other people aware of it. I'm real thankful to be a part of something like this."

Summers' "this" refers to Assists for Autism, the team's pledge-per-assist charity drive to raise funds for autism awareness.

"Back home, my grandparents live just a few minutes away from my house," Summers said. "My 16-year-old cousin, who has autism, has lived with them most of her life. She's doing great now, getting on the bus every day by herself, going to school full days, but it has taken a long time to get to that point."

Summers said the two are really close, and he served both as playmate and babysitter for her many a time.

"She has her routines that are really important," Summers said. "If she doesn't get that, it can throw her day off. For instance, when normal people are having cereal for breakfast, she has to have a bowl of ice cream. She doesn't do so well with crowds, and communicates with sign language mostly, although she does have some words.

"She has her own TV, with a mirror set up beside it so she can see who's coming through the door behind her. She doesn't like people chewing gum. No matter how you hide it, she always seems to know if you have gum in your mouth.

"And for me, she always has an 'angel kiss.' That's a kiss on both cheeks. I can't come in or leave if she doesn't give me an angel kiss.

"I'm thankful that I have someone so close to me that has autism, so if I do meet another another person with autism, I know how to react to it. I want to help other families dealing with this, because it can be really difficult."

Some tickets supporting the Assists for Autism fund are still available, in which $8 from the RiverKings, plus an $8 match from Maddox Foundation, will go to help children and families dealing with autism. Persons interested in supporting the cause by buying a ticket to Friday's game can call community autism advocate and business owner Wayne Bartley at 901.550.1351.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control, the odds of being diagnosed with autism are 1 in 91, and one in every 57 boys will be diagnosed with autism this year.

The team campaign, "Assists for Autism," is the brainchild of Bartley and RiverKings Assistant Captain Louis Dumont, and helps raise money for autism education and family support initiatives in DeSoto County and the greater Memphis area.

Fans and supporters can make a fixed pledge for every assist made by the team to help children in the autism spectrum through early intervention, in-class aids, teacher training and family support groups.

The pledge campaign is administered through an endowed fund by the same name at the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi that makes yearly grants pertaining to the cause.

To join Summers and the RiverKings in helping children and families in the Mid-South dealing with autism, please contact the RiverKings office at 662.342.1755 or email whitley@riverkings.com.

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Central Hockey League Stories from November 11, 2009


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