A Tisket, A Tasket…Basket Day!

These are just a few of the baskets that we made for our 2007 fundraiser.

Once a year, in early spring, the Devereux Auxiliary Fundraiser Committee meets amid rooms full of ribbon, cellophane, straw baskets and donated loot to create themed auction items for the annual fundraiser dinner dance and auction for autism.  I am extremely proud to be a part of that group.  It is my fifth year of involvement, the seventh year for the group’s founding members.  (I intended to join the first year, but that was the year that L was diagnosed with leukemia – for the first time.  When she relapsed three years later, I stayed involved with the group, recognizing participation as therapeutic and the support of the other members immeasurably valuable.)

Last Saturday was "Basket Day."  This year, only five of us were able to make the date, but after so many years of working together on this most enjoyable project, and creating literally hundreds of baskets, we have it pretty much figured out and down to a creative science.  Plus, we are getting more finished baskets provided for the event or completed by other sources, such as the Devereux main office staff volunteers, as well as other auction items donated intact by generous contributors.  So… what used to take two weekend days to accomplish, this year took about five hours, including a pizza break and lots of chatting.

Michele, founder, is unequivocally our fearless leader.  She has provided unwavering focus, contagious enthusiasm, fantastic ideas, countless hours of labor and graceful hospitality as the hostess with the mostess for out monthly planning meetings plus more than a few basket creation sessions.  Michele is the parent of two, yes two, adult children with autism.  And she can still smile.  But her devotion to her children, and what will serve them best, is fierce and inspirational. 

Fran.  I wrote about her in a previous post called “Going and Going and Going.”  And she is still going – full speed ahead with no brakes.  What she can accomplish in one short day is nothing short of amazing.  A tiny dynamo of a woman with a heart bigger than the universe itself. Her enthusiasm for helping the special needs community at large is boundless. Her son, John, has autism; he just turned forty.

The mom of a beautiful young woman with Down Syndrome, Rosalie is so smart and so generous and someone that you definitely want on your side.  Treat someone unfairly or disrespect a person that she values, and make no mistake you will face a formidable opponent.  Her moral compass is always pointed towards true north and just being around her orients you in the same direction.  Also, a woman of many, many gifts and talents; she is our basket designer extraordinaire.

Bill was there, too.  Bill, longtime friend of Michele and her husband Tony, has always been there, helping, encouraging, participating and supporting in every imaginable way.  Not in attendance this year to make baskets, but they have been in the past, are other wonderful people that I am so glad to have met.  They were surely missed, especially AnnaMarie and Chris.

My job, as I wrote before, is doing the program book.  As the baskets are created, I enter titles and descriptions directly into the book layout on my laptop.  The reason I mention this, Alice, is... well, you will see a description for basket number 7.

7. For Ladies Only

TCOY (Take Care of Yourself) with a basket of Avon products – facial treatments, cosmetics, lotions, heavenly scents, jewelry and a multitude of products for ultimate pampering.  And be transported to another time and place with 2 tickets to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Also, a beautiful silvertone watch is included.

Thanks for the TCOY inspiration!