Happy Holidays!

On behalf of the board directors and co-founders of Good Friend, Inc., THANK YOU to all who donated to, attended, sponsored, volunteered at, and otherwise supported our first annual "Tackling Autism Awareness" event held at Steinhafels in November!  We raised some $3,500 to promote our awareness-acceptance-empathy message.  Not bad for a first year event!  We hope next year's is bigger, better, and bursting at the seams with silent auction bidders.

We would be lost without the dedication of our Fundraiser Task Force members: Renee Gilhart, Pam Haselow, and Jolanta Juozaityte put an incredible number of hours into the planning and execution of this event.  We appreciate you so very much!

If you would like to help plan future events, please get in touch with Chelsea or Denise.  We hope to get organized in early 2009.

As you and your family count your many blessings this year, we wish you a very happy holiday season.  Please keep Good Friend in mind for your year-end giving.  All donations are tax-deductible.

LAST DAY for advance ticket prices!

Today, Friday, Oct. 31st, is the final day to save $2 per ticket for our "Tackling Autism Awareness" event.  Did you hear about our silent auction prizes?  Holiday shopping made easy!  Here's the latest running list:

- 2 NFL footballs signed by members of the 2007-08 Green Bay Packers (one with Brett Favre's signature!) in protective display cases

- overnight stay at the Milwaukee Marriott West (Waukesha)

- Steinhafels gift certificate

- 2 Good Friend local service and merchandise packages -- one with a general student assembly (valued at up to $500!) and the other with a staff in-service (more than $100 value)
- $100 gift certificate to Bartolotta's (from Mary Catherine Poker, ShoreWest Realty)

- Weber portable gas grill (Pam Haselow, Brookfield)

- Longaberger "Movie Night" basket (Laura Belkin, Waukesha) 
- gift certificate for a pedicure from Signature Salon & Spa (Waukesha)
- 3 handmade afghans in Good Friend colors

- Kids Do children's hair product basket and Pick 'n' Save gift card package
- decorative blown-glass bowl by Craig Derby (Portland, Ore.)
- original hangable art by Molly Roberts of Dollhouse Machine Gallery (Milwaukee)
- custom-painted chair (Geraldine Krysiak, Brookfield)

- handcrafted stained glass piece (Denise Schamens, Brookfield)
- 3 framed color photos (two underwater and one of a Argentine bridge) by Craig Derby (Portland, Ore.)
- Tupperware package (Renee Gilhart, Waukesha)

- PartyLite gift basket (JoAnne Ayers, Brookfield)
- Pampered Chef basket
- Mary Kay package (Dawn Imes, Waukesha)

- cooler packed with Miller products (The Gilharts, Waukesha)
- gift certificate for $50 for Stone Fire Pizza (New Berlin) with a family 4-pack of tickets to the Mukwonago Village Players' "Nutcracker" (Shelly Dretzka, Mukwonago)
- two premium ticket vouchers to a Waukesha Civic Theatre performance and a fondue set (Jeannette Schamens, Delafield)

- 2 tickets to the Waukesha Symphony Orchestra's November show and a $100 gift certificate plus two drink vouchers for Jake's (Denise Husslein, Brookfield)

- Milwaukee Wave ESL premium family package (Brad Beach, the Wave mascot, will be at the event to welcome guests!) 
- 2 Club Glove golf bags (Wild Impact Marketing, Wauwatosa)
- Penzey's Spice basket

- 2 collectible Clothtique Santas: Christmas Glow and Santa's Snow Day (Jeannette Schamens, Delafield)
- chimney sweep from Quality Fireplace & Chimney Service (Mike Schamens, Brookfield)
- massage and facial from Jolanta's European Spa (Waukesha)

Get your tickets TODAY through the website.  If you don't want to use PayPal, contact us (Chelsea: 414-510-0385, chelsea@goodfriendinc.com; or Denise: 262-391-1369, denise@goodfriendinc.com) and we'll work with you for an alternate payment method.  If you miss today's advance ticket deadline but still wish to have tickets available on a will call basis, contact us for arrangements.

Spread the word!  We hope to see you at Steinhafels' Community Room (ground floor, enter by the "movie ticket" window) next week!

Chelsea and Denise on "The Morning Blend"

Did you catch us live on Tuesday with Alison de Castro and Molly Fay on WTMJ-4?  If not, go to http://www.themorningblend.com/NewsArticle/tabid/1474/xmid/26283/Default.aspx

That link may not work next week, but if you go to www.themorningblend.com and search for Good Friend, I'm sure you'll find the video clip.

Pictures of our kids with ASDs and their good friends were featured along with B-roll from our DVD.  Information for our "Tackling Autism Awareness" event was also posted.

Thanks to executive producer Kim Buchanan for having us back, and to the sound guy for jumping up onto the set with that mic in the middle of the segment.  Ahh ... technology.

Last chance to become an event sponsor!

Three more sponsors have stepped forward for our "Tackling Autism Awareness" FUNdraiser:

- Badger Blueprint C0. of Waukesha (Gold)

- West Allis Dental Care (Silver)

- Wild Impact Marketing of Wauwatosa (Bronze)

Thank you for your support of the awareness-acceptance-empathy message!

Table sponsorships are a great way to get event tickets and exposure for your company while supporting children and education.  If your organization would like to sponsor a table for Good Friend's Nov. 8th event, please get in touch with Chelsea at 414-510-0385.

Welcome to the party, Lance!

Lance Hill, meteorologist with WISN-12, will be the Master of Ceremonies for Good Friend's first annual "Tackling Autism Awareness" FUNdraiser on Nov. 8th!  Get your advance tickets, available through our website, for this great family-friendly event now.

Thank you, Dietz & Watson!

Over the last weekend in September, Dennis Budde and the Dietz & Watson crew in Orlando raised $2,800 for Good Friend!  We would like to acknowledge them for their hard work, and welcome Dietz & Watson as a Gold sponsor for our Nov. 8th fundraiser.