Starting by cleaning up our campus in June 2005, the Single Volunteers of the Twin Cities (SVTC) have since supported our Gala for the past seven years. More than 500 hours of service later, the SVTC has become a "go to" group of professionals for the event.

With April 15 kicking off National Volunteer Appreciation Week, we'd like to thank the SVTC and all of our other volunteers for the work you do to support St. David's Center.

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Research indicates that children with developmental needs who receive intensive, targeted intervention before the age of five make gains much faster, enter kindergarten with less support and are able to function more independently throughout their lives. 

For Omar, a child in our Autism Day Treatment program, that meant his family moving from Georgia to Minnesota, to receive the services he desperately needed. (Watch the video to learn more.)

Support Omar and the nearly 1,200 children we serve each year that have faced adversity and trauma, or have a childhood disability or developmental delay, by making a donation to St. David's Center. Donate before May 31, and the Evenstad Family Foundation will triple your dollar, up to $50,000! 

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On Sunday, April 29, Creative Kidstuff will donate 10 percent of ALL sales in their six stores and online to St. David's Center. Shop for a cause and stock up that day on unique birthday gifts, games or even clothes for the awesome kids in your life - and spread the word!

Other partnership news:

• Our clinicians have partnered with Creative Kidstuff to identify toys most beneficial for children with special needs. In addition to training sales staff, St. David's Center has informed a new section of the Creative Kidstuff website directing shoppers to the selected toys and educating on their benefits for all children. Check it out! A percentage of proceeds from this new site will benefit St. David's Center.
• Throughout the whole month of April, Creative Kidstuff customers have the opportunity to donate to St. David's Center at check-out, supporting our work with children on the autism spectrum.
• Learn more about the partnership by watching this piece from WCCO-TV.

It's no secret that children learn through play. Sarah Rehman, program supervisor of our Autism Day Treatment program, compiled some tips for playing with your child, which are relevant for caregivers of both typically-developing children and children with special needs.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released findings that one in 88 children in the United States is diagnosed with autism. The new numbers, based on a 2008 snapshot of 14 monitoring sites, represent a 78 percent increase in autism over the previous five years.

As part of Autism Awareness Month, we are showing our support and highlighting our expertise to intervene early and do what we can to end this epidemic. 

• The Creative Kidstuff: Toys for Special Needs website launched. Creative Kidstuff customers can also donate money to benefit our autism programs.
• On World Autism Awareness Day, we joined Autism Speak's "Light It Up Blue" initiative and wore blue to raise awareness of the disorder.
• Two of our autism specialists, Sarah Rehman and Kathy Patton, shared their expertise on Mom Enough.
• On April 26, we will hold our Community Education Series: "Parenting Siblings of Children with Special Needs" to provide strategies on how to balance the needs of all children. Register by April 20.

Harriette Urich's career at St. David's Center began as a receptionist located in the middle of the snack kitchen. Twenty-five years later, our administrative assistant to five executive directors and "St. David's Center historian" is retiring to spend more time with her daughter and family in Montana.

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SAVE THE DATE: Our 7th Annual Fall Festival: Get Out and Grow! will be held on Saturday, October 6 on our Minnetonka campus.