The Lower Delaware Autism Foundation’s Autism Ball and Auction for Hope is slated for Saturday, March 15, and LDAF continues to see returning and new sponsors at this year’s event as they have revamped the sponsorship levels and opportunities, representatives noted this week.
This year’s major sponsors include the Kiernan Family and Hertrich Toyota and the Hertrich Family of Automobile Dealerships. The Kiernan Family has been a long time supporter of the Autism Ball and LDAF in general, LDAF officials noted. Over the past years, Jim and Ronnie Kiernan and their daughters and families, Jay and Jennifer Bastian, Mike and Kathy Newcomb, Maryellen Kiernan and Amy Kiernan have continued to provide major support to LDAF’s signature event. “As a board member, Jim knows the value of what LDAF does,” representatives said.
New to the contributing sponsors is Hertrich Toyota and the Hertrich Family of Automobile Dealerships. “Fred Hertrich III and his son Fred Hertrich IV have been supporting LDAF for a while now,” they said. “In 2007, they donated a fantastic live auction item — tickets to see ‘American Idol’ in Los Angeles that brought $6,000.
LDAF officials said Tushar Patel, general manager of Hertrich Toyota, also knows the value of what LDAF does as his son is in the Delaware Autism Program. “Patel knows that while the children are in the program they can excel in their daily life,” they noted. However, the focus has begun to move towards the transition of these kids out of the school program.
“At Hertrich’s we hope that bringing major support to the Autism Ball and LDAF we can engage other business owners to see the value of the work being done and in turn help gain more community support,” Patel said.
Other sponsors this year include Ronald M. Coffin General Contractors Inc., Karen Shaud and Jim Deakyne, County Bank, Kris and Nancy Battaglini, Dewey Beach Enterprises, the Cape Gazette, Murphy Electric, Chrome World Inc., Highway One Enterprises, the Dewey Beach Lions Club, Eric Sugrue, I.G. Burton, Artisans’ Bank and Mary Ann’s Interiors.
Autism is a neurological disorder without a cure, one that leaves 1 out of 150 children with pervasive and lifelong disabilities. LDAF’s vision is that individuals with autism in Sussex County will have a lifetime of meaningful and enriching opportunities within their communities.
Individual tickets are $175 and there are many sponsorship opportunities available. Table sponsorships are available for $3000 and include a table for 12 guests, full page event program ad and more. For more information about sponsorship or volunteer opportunities or to purchase tickets please call Mary Landon Green, Program and Event Coordinator at (302) 644-3410 or visitwww.ldaf.com.