SPHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Prepare for 'Assists for Autism' Game & Jersey Auction December 3

Published on November 23, 2011 under SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, Miss. -- Thanks to CAKEtabulous desserts company and a specially-designed team jersey that looks good enough to eat, the Mississippi RiverKings will spotlight Assists for Autism and the BOLD Initiative autism programs as during the Saturday, Dec. 3 home game against the Louisiana IceGators.

The jerseys, which will be worn by the team during the Dec. 3 game only, will be signed by the players and live auctioned immediately following the game inside the RiverKings arena. Half the proceeds from the jersey auction will benefit Assists for Autism, an endowed fund at Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi that funds programs like BOLD Initiative. Fundraiser tickets are also being sold by CAKEtabulous and BOLD Initiative to benefit autism programs.

BOLD (Balance, Opportunity, Learning, Determination) Initiative helps develop and fund different programs in the Mid-South regional area for families who have been affected with autism and related disorders.

"I became involved with BOLD Initiative because I have two children on the autism spectrum," BOLD treasurer Art Frey said. "There are very few programs available for children on the autism spectrum. The programs that BOLD Initiative has developed, that allow kids to go to summer day camp or art camp or participate in other activities they might not have the chance to do otherwise, are desperately needed."

CAKEtabulous owner Natasha Christopher has a similar story of involvement with autism programs. She first got into baking when her son was diagnosed with Asperger's, a disorder on the autism spectrum. Research into the disorder revealed that certain dietary triggers such as gluten and sugar can exacerbate autistic behaviors, so she, like many other parents of children on the autism spectrum, wanted to restrict those items. At the same time, she wanted her child to be able to participate in normal activities, so she found some recipes and started making incredible desserts that her whole family could eat.

"You want your child to be as healthy as possible, but you also don't want to take away the happiness of simple pleasures," Christopher said. What spurred her on to turn a hobby into a business, however, was seeing how children with autism received her cupcakes.

"I was giving out mini-cupcakes at Wayne Bartley's annual ‚¬ËœGive A Kid A Chance To Be A Kid' golf tournament, which funds autism education programs in DeSoto County Schools," Christopher said. "The kids would pass by and say sadly, ‚¬ËœOh, I can't have sweet stuff,' and I would say, ‚¬ËœOh, honey, you can have these cupcakes. They're special.' Their faces would light up, and the smiles they got on their faces when they bit into one of my cupcakes was simply amazing. I was hooked."

She went from baking simple, delicious, gluten and sugar free cupcakes to creating fun, 3-dimensional special-order party cakes in a short period of time; plans are currently in the works to open the CAKEtabulous Cake and Bistro in Old Towne Olive Branch. And next week as part of her passion for children with autism, CAKEtabulous is sponsoring the "sweet" RiverKings jersey on Dec. 3, with half the proceeds benefiting Assists for Autism.

Christopher's son and Frey's two boys have both benefited from programs like those designed by BOLD Initiative for children with autism.

"BOLD offers programs at no charge or minimal cost to parents of children with autism, most of whom operate on tight budgets because of the expense of caring for the special needs of their unique children," Frey said. "These programs provide these kids with social activities and allow parents to bond with other parents through a common denominator.

"The kids are phenomenal, and programs like those designed by BOLD - such as Move for Autism soccer, Art for Autism, Camp BOLD, and Cookies with Santa - allow the kids to be with other kids like them. It reinforces the fact that they are not alone."

There are a variety of ways for folks in the community to get involved, from simply serving as a volunteer to attending a fundraiser. Both CAKEtabulous and BOLD Initiative are selling fundraiser tickets to the Dec. 3 game spotlighting autism, and $10 from every ticket they sell will go toward helping fund these programs. To buy tickets, contact Christopher at 662-404-6063 or visit the CAKEtabulous facebook page; or contact Frey at 901-603-2947.

The Mississippi RiverKings are supported by their community partners, season ticket holders, fans, and by program-related investments of the Maddox Foundation, an independent private foundation based in Hernando, Miss. To find out more about the RiverKings or the team's fundraising programs, call 662.342.1755 or visit www.riverkings.com .

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