We'd like to thank everyone who came out for the 2nd Annual Scavenger Hunt and Pub Crawl Fundraiser. The weather was stormy, but a crowd still gathered at Pioneer Park for an evening of music, fun, and competition. 

This year's event raised over $2,900 for The Youth Advocacy and Action Project of FND. The Youth Advocacy and Action Project is a new statewide project made possible by Starbucks™ Shared Planet™ Youth Action Grant Program. It is aimed at developing advocacy and leadership skills among youth with disabilities to help them improve their lives and their communities. The project will provide training in advocacy to youth with disabilities, who then put those skills into practice by advocating for themselves and for improvement in their communities. 

3rd Place - The Lovely Neons

2nd Place - Thirsty Crawlers

1st Place - Totally Wicked

In addition to our sponsors (The Chic-a-Boom Room, Flanagan's Irish Pub, Dunedin Brewery, Jolli Mon's Grill, and Dunedin House of Beer), there is a long list of supporters that we'd like to thank for making this event such as success:

Dunedin Parks & Recreation, Papa John's Pizza, Congo River Golf, Clearwater Cinema Café, StarLite Cruises, Florida Aquarium, Beso Del Sol Resort, Tampa Bay Rays, Dunedin Blue Jays, The Sun Shop, Sunken Gardens, Portrait Innovations, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, MOSI Tampa, Dunedin Stirling Links, Tampa Bay Lightning, Sun Cruz Casino, Got Wine and More, Hooters, The Dunedin Smokehouse, The Living Room, Sky Screamer Parasail, Tampa Theatre, The Dali Museum, Ace Hardware, and The Tilted Kilt.

Join us for the PEN Southern Regional Conference from 8:30 am until 3:00 pm on Saturday, September 17, 2011, at Orange River Elementary School in Fort Myers (MAP). This year's theme is "Parents and Professionals United".

The conference is provided free of charge and will include workshops and information. Childcare and lunch will be provided. Please click here for a complete agenda.

Representatives from the Lee County Library, FDLRS, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Legal Aide, Medicaid, Social Security and more will be joining us as well.

Two lucky attendees will go home with a door prize of Wrightslaw materials valued at over $200 each!

You are invited to the party!

The next Dia del Nino event will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2011, at Clewiston High School (MAP). Information will be provided in English, Spanish and Creole. Join us for a day of fun beginning at 9:30 am.

The POPIN Regional Conference was held on Saturday, August 20, 2011 at Howard Bishop Middle School in Gainesville.

FND was joined by representatives from Early Learning Coalition of Alachua County, CMS, Project 10, Child Advocacy Center of Gainesville, APD, Family Care Council, Florida Inclusion Network, Florida Outreach Project, and many other organizations to provide information and resources to families in the area. 

If you were unable to attend, but would like information, please contact Nicole Brown, POPIN Project Director, at nicole@fndfl.org or 

800-825-5736.

SPARC is being held on Saturday, September 24, 2011, at Morgan Fitzgerald Middle School in Largo (MAP). FND will be there along with over 150 exhibitors and presenters from 8:00 am until 4:30 am.

September 10, 2011 is the deadline to register online and to pay only $25. That $25 covers admission, conference bag, program/directory, lunch and a chance at more than $10,000 in door prizes.

Visit www.standadvocates.com for additional information and a complete schedule.