42nd Annual Snowflake Gala Luncheon - Friday, November 2, 2007

The Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies at Nova Southeastern University will honor the recipients of its 2007 Champions for Children Awards at its 42nd Annual Snowflake Gala Luncheon Nov. 2.  Honorees include South Florida Regional Director for Autism Speaks Jaclyn Merens; Mailman Segal Institute Dean Emeritus Dr. Wendy Masi; Autism Speaks, the leading advocacy group for autism nationally; and the Miami Dolphins Foundation.

The honorees are individuals and organizations that have made vital contributions to the lives and futures of children within the South Florida community. The Snowflake Gala benefits programs for children with autism spectrum disorders - a complex brain disorder that strikes one in 150 children in the United States.

“Once again this year, we are privileged to honor those in the South Florida community that truly make a difference in children’s lives,” said Roni Leiderman, Ph.D., Interim Dean of the Mailman Segal Institute. “This luncheon helps to fund critical programming that can help children with autism achieve their potential. What we know is that the earlier the intervention, the better the chance of positive outcomes.”

Honorary Chairs for this premier event are David and Kameisha Martin – two athletic superstars in our community who have a special interest in programs for children with autism. David Martin is Tight End #88 for the Miami Dolphins. His wife Kameisha Martin, who currently runs professionally for Nike, was an All-American track performer at Tennessee and who finished fourth in the 2004 Olympic Track and Field Trials.

In addition to recognizing the 2007 Champions for Children, luncheon attendees will take part in a live auction, raffle drawing, and the annual J.R. Dunn Jewelers Champagne and Rolex Table. The luncheon, which will be held at the University Center on NSU’s main Davie campus, will begin at 11am. Tickets for the event are $100 per person. For information on tickets or sponsorship opportunities, contact the institute’s development team at (954) 262-7162 or snowflake@nova.edu.

About the Honorees:

For the past six years, Jaclyn Merens has been the South Florida Regional Director for Autism Speaks and directly responsible for helping local volunteers raise more than $4.3 million to support finding a cure for autism. Her work with children and families with disabilities stretches to more than 20 years ago when her three year old son, Daniel was diagnosed with autism.

Wendy Masi, Ph.D., Dean Emeritus of The Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies, is a noted developmental psychologist, educator, lecturer, consultant, and researcher specializing in early childhood. For more than 20 years, she has designed and implemented programs for preschools, families with young children, and early childhood professionals. She has co-authored numerous books on children and play, including the acclaimed “Your Child at Play” series, “The Parent's Guide to Baby Play”, and “The Parent's Guide to Toddler Play”.

Autism Speaks (www.autismspeaks.org), the leading advocacy group for autism in the United States, is dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism, and advocating for the needs of affected families.

The Miami Dolphins Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Miami Dolphins Football Team, has a rich tradition of supporting both civic and community-based charitable causes. Through the teamwork of Dolphins alumni, coaches, players, cheerleaders, T.D. (the Dolphins’ mascot) and its employees, the Foundation is committed to the betterment of South Florida youth through educational, health, social and community service issues.

Event sponsors include Ginger Wine and Spirits; Atlantis, Paradise Island; Stila Cosmetics; Grande Oaks Country Club; Humana Healthcare; AutoNation; the Sun-Sentinel; and, the Dan Marino Foundation among others.

About the Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies
The Mailman Segal Institute is a multidisciplinary center focusing on children prenatal through age five and their families, professionals in early care and education, academic programs in related fields, outreach, research, policy making, collaboration and consultation with institutes of higher education and private organizations that develop products and publications. The institute is located on the main NSU campus in the Jim & Jan Moran Family Center Village, a state of the art demonstration and training facility showcasing best practices in the fields of early childhood education, special education, family support, and parenting education.