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Bowling Pins Fly For Autism Awareness Fundraiser
By Keith Hagarty
 | | --Photo Courtesy of Hal Ornstein Michael Zuppardo and Sean Walsh (foreground) take a quick break from the lanes to share some laughs with volunteer members of the Howell Recreation Department's Teen Adventure program at the First Annual Bowling For Autism fundraiser, recently held at Howell Lanes. |
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The thunderous crash of bowling pins scattering was the sound of success in raising money and opportunities for kids with autism and special needs in Howell Township.
Recently held at Howell Lanes on Route 9 South, "Bowling For Autism" marked the first fundraiser for the new local nonprofit, Autism Searching for a Better Tomorrow (ASBT).
If the packed venue and nearly $12,000 in donations was any indication, it won't be the last.
With months of preparation leading up to the event, Sharlene Zuppardo, one of the founders of ASBT, said despite the often overwhelming pressure to organize it without a hitch, the group's first ever fundraiser was a smash hit, drawing participants as far as Randolph and Rutgers University, New Brunswick.
"I think the day turned out really well, and ran real smoothly," said Zuppardo. While she quickly dismissed her own bowling skills as nothing to write home about, Zuppardo said she still had a blast despite the all too frequent gutter ball. The event boasted some 375 participants. "It felt really good that we were able to pull it off and accomplish it."
Zuppardo said the fundraiser would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of fellow ASBT members and mothers of autistic children, Lorie Melon and Michelle Walsh.
Michelle's husband, Deputy Mayor Robert Walsh, joined in the day's festivities, ready to dust off the bowling lanes with their son, Sean.
"It was a real good time. Many people from the community came out to support the cause and made it a tremendous success," said Walsh.
Raising an autistic is a challenging but rewarding experience, said Walsh, who has seen an awareness of the neurological disorder grow by leaps and bounds over the last few years.
"It really is a disease that affects the whole community, not just individual families," he said. Walsh applauded the initiatives demonstrated by ASBT, as well as both the township recreation department and board of education in providing special programs for autistic children.
Following the bowling event, Walsh also held an autism fundraiser at the Eagle Oaks Country Club.
"People from all over the community give of themselves towards helping the special needs children, and it helps make the world a little easier place to live when you have a special needs child, like me and my wife do," he said.
Of the nearly $12,000 raised at the bowling fundraiser, ASBT donated more than $9,000 to the township recreation department to go toward their programs for children with special needs in collaboration with the school district.
"I think everybody was pretty surprised," Zuppardo said of the amount of money raised. "I was very happy with what we raised, and I know recreation was, too, when we told them the amount."
While there are no definite plans set in stone, the recreation program has been discussing possibly using some of the funds toward field trips for the 300-plus special education students in the district, as well as the purchase of a karaoke machine to use in the "Star and Sharp" after school program for special needs students, held weekly at Aldrich Elementary School.
"We've come up with some really good ideas together," Zuppardo said of the cooperative efforts between ASBT and the recreation department.
College volunteer members of the Howell Recreation Department's Teen Adventure program helped throughout the event, with Zuppardo thanking the girls for their invaluable assistance.
"They stayed all day, and ran all my tickets for the 50-50 raffle," she said. "They were great."
Winning $450 in the 50-50 raffle was Sue Wood, school librarian at Adelphia Elementary School, who has also been an active volunteer with the township recreation program and has had lasting rapport with several of the special needs kids.
While Zuppardo heaped praise on all the residents, organizations, local businesses and the bowling alley itself for all their support and contributions to the event, she also gave special thanks to the Southard Fire Department, which brought along one of their fire engines to the delight of the kids; Lakewood BlueClaws' mascot, Buster, for entertaining the crowd; as well as the Howell High School singing group, Rebel Yell, for their catchy melodies; and the Howell Police Athletic League (PAL) for their continued commitment to raise awareness about autism and kids with special needs.
"They help us out a lot, and always do such a great job," she said.
Following the success of their first-ever fundraiser, Zuppardo and ASBT are already hard at work developing plans for next year's big event.
For more information about ASBT and how you can help, contact Zuppardo at 732-458- 6504 or Michelle Walsh at 732-938-5743.
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