Group Helps Kids With Autism Get A Day To Play

POINT PLEASANT (Wednesday, July 13, 2005) - Children scampered around the tree-lined campus of Georgian Court University in Lakewood, which provided the perfect setting for a picnic and carnival for families with autistic children. JT Lanzieri, 11, of Brick had the date — June 18 — marked on his calendar for two months, said his father, Robert.

"The first thing he did when he got here was head straight for the cotton candy booth," said the elder Lanzieri, who is president of Parents of Autistic Children, a nonprofit organization founded in 1999 by parents of children with developmental disorders.

More than 1,100 children and adults attended the fifth annual free picnic. They were entertained with more than a dozen rides and games, a handful of clowns and costumed characters, and lots of food and sweet treats.

More than 50 volunteers from local businesses and organizations such as the Lakewood Lions Club, whose members made funnel cake, fried Oreo cookies and fried apple pies, were on hand to fire up the grill and serve up the food.

Gary and Ellen Weitzen of Brick came to the picnic with their son, Christopher, 11, who has autism, son, Matthew, 9, and daughter, Kendall, 7.

As the children were getting sprayed with water at the "Kid Wash" near the dunk tank, Weitzen noted that the trackless train ride at the picnic was named in honor of Christopher's grandfather, Ed O'Malley, who died three months ago and was a big supporter of POAC.

Christopher is a fan of Thomas the Tank Engine.

"Ed lived in Whiting (section of Manchester) and gave Chris unconditional love," Weitzen said. "People don't always know how to treat children with autism. But he'd roll around on the floor with him and play games with him.

"Donations in his (O'Malley's) memory were made to POAC by many of his friends, and it was enough to fund an entire parent-training series, which POAC will offer for free to parents," he added.

Geoff Dubrowsky of Brick, who is POAC's director of development, walked around the picnic wearing a T-shirt with his 9 1/2-year-old son Dan's photograph on it, as did Dan's mother, Rosemary, and Dan himself.

Dubrowsky even went so far as to decorate his car with magnetic ribbons reflecting the symbol for autism, which is puzzle pieces, an enlarged photograph of Dan on the hood, and the sentiment: "I love someone with autism."

"We're just trying to raise awareness about autism and help families who deal with it every day," said Dubrowsky, adding that the picnic was a free event where "autistic kids and their families could feel normal."

Neil Cotter of Brick and several members of Star Touring and Riding Chapter 118, a Yamaha motorcycle riding club, brought along their motorcycles to the picnic.

"We're here because we have an interest in what goes on in the community. These kids just light up when they come over to see the motorcycles," he said as he and the members took photographs of the children by the bikes.

Cotter noted that the club would be holding a benefit ride to send autistic children to camp.

"Last year when I brought my bike home from the picnic I noticed that there were about a million little handprints on the bike from kids touching it," he said. "And when I thought about it, I realized that each and every handprint belonged to a kid who had a moment with my bike."

Dubrowsky said the picnic costs POAC about $25,000. However, businesses, including Caffrey's Restaurant in Lacey, Jersey Mike's Subs in Point Pleasant, and the Verbal Behavior Network in Brick, donated food. Donations also were received from area Kiwanis clubs and area businesses, who helped sponsor the event and whose employees also helped out as volunteers.

Simone Tellini, POAC's secretary, said the first picnic drew about 400 people, and the event has grown each year.

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