Lindt Unsung Heroes of Autism Ceremony
Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

Lindt and Autism Speaks celebrated their partnership and the start of Autism Awareness month by honoring the 2011 Lindt Unsung Heroes of Autism winners on March 30th. Lindt and Parents Magazine recognized Connie Erbert, Kerri Duncan and Bonnie Gillman for their unwavering dedication to helping others who have been affected by autism. The three Heroes were each awarded with $5,000 towards their efforts in support of the autism cause and a trip to New York for an awards luncheon at The New York Palace hotel in their honor.

Thomas Linemayr, center, President & CEO of Lindt USA is joined by the 2011 Lindt Unsung Heroes of Autism: Connie Erbert, left, Kerri Duncan, second left, and Bonnie Gillman, right.

To further support Lindt's partnership with Autism Speaks, for the third year, Lindt conducted a national search for Unsung Heroes of the autism cause. Three individuals have been selected from an exceptional group of nominees, and have been recognized and honored as extraordinary champions for those affected by autism in their families, homes and communities.

The Lindt Unsung Heroes of Autism nominations were reviewed by panel of judges from Lindt and Parents magazine, and the 2011 winners all demonstrated an unwavering dedication to helping others who have been affected by autism. The three honorees were each awarded with $5,000 and a trip to New York for an awards luncheon at The New York Palace hotel in their honor on March 30 to kick off the month of April, National Autism Awareness Month.

The 2011 Lindt Unsung Heroes of Autism:

• Kerri Duncan of Springfield, Mo. saw the need in her community to provide quality educational opportunities for those with autism. In 2000 she opened the Rivendale Center for Autism and Institute of Learning and now serves as the school's director. The Center serves 45 students annually, and is the only private school for children with autism in southwest Missouri specializing in behavior therapy and intensive individualized instruction. Over the last decade, Duncan has expanded the Center to provide a training space for students and professionals looking to become involved in autism-related work. She also recently partnered with Specialized Education Services Inc. (SESI), to give the Center's programs national reach to more than 40 schools in 11 states.
• Connie Erbert of Wichita, Kan. has devoted her entire professional career to improving the lives of those impacted by autism. Currently, she serves as the director of the Community of Autism Resources and Education program (CARE) at Heartspring, which she founded in 2007. Today, the program is utilized by more than 700 families in the Wichita area and offers consultation services to businesses and school districts. In the spring of 2008, Erbert started the first walk for autism awareness in the Wichita area, which has raised more than $120,000 to date. That same year, she established Camp SSTAR (Social Skills Technology Art and Recreation) to provide children with Asperger's and high functioning autism the opportunity to participate in a camp experience. Erbert has also traveled to Beijing in an effort to train and assist teachers at the Stars and Rain school for children with autism.
• Bonnie Gillman of Tustin, Calif., inspired by her 11-year-old grandson, saw a critical role grandparents of children with autism could play in supporting their families. In 2006, Gillman founded the Grandparent Autism Network (GAN), a first-of-its-kind all-volunteer nonprofit organization in Orange County, Calif. dedicated to supporting and providing resources to grandparents of children with autism. Since 2006, she has personally planned and provided 42 cost-free events for GAN's 800 members, their families, and the 34 communities she serves in the county. Gillman also developed and maintains the GAN website, which is accessed by people in more than 80 countries who seek guidance and information about autism and advocacy issues for grandparents.

Lindt Unsung Heroes of Autism Ceremony
Thursday, April 1st, 2010

For the second year, Lindt and Autism Speaks celebrated their partnership and kicked off Autism Awareness month on April 1st, 2010 with celebratory luncheon at the New York Palace Hotel honoring three "Unsung Heroes of Autism." Lindt and Parents Magazine recognized Lisa Lane, Elizabeth Ritchie and Elizabeth Scheinberg for their remarkable contributions and dedicated commitment to the cause and those impacted by autism. Each Hero received $5,000 toward their efforts in support of the autism cause and were featured in the June issue of Parents Magazine.

Thomas Linemayr, President and CEO of Lindt USA, presented Lindt "Unsung Hero", Lisa Lane, with $5,000 toward her efforts in support of the cause.

• Lisa Lane of Greenville, S.C. helped to establish the Project HOPE Foundation to serve those affected by autism. With Project HOPE, Lane has been instrumental in the development and growth of HOPE Academy, an inclusion based non-profit school. Lane has raised significant awareness through speaking engagements and most recently through the development of an educational DVD to help people understand what autism is, how it affects those diagnosed and what support exists for those dealing with autism.

Thomas Linemayr, President and CEO of Lindt USA, presented Lindt "Unsung Hero", Elizabeth Ritchie, with $5,000 toward her efforts in support of the cause.

• Elizabeth Ritchie of Knoxville, Tenn. has a strong passion for educating others about autism and is responsible for securing several grants for autism research and education. She has been instrumental in the development of several school programs, as well as the Camp Koinonia Foundation and Breakthrough Corporation. Ritchie's outstanding commitment and energy has generated significant awareness and furthered the support of autism in her community.

Thomas Linemayr, President and CEO of Lindt USA, presented Lindt "Unsung Hero", Elizabeth Sheinberg, with $5,000 toward her efforts in support of the cause.

• Elizabeth Scheinberg of Newark, Del. has developed several recreational programs for autistic children in the community including "The Merry Otters" swimming program. She serves as a member of the community's school board to ensure special needs programs receive appropriate attention and she's a dedicated volunteer who has raised more than $60,000 for Autism Delaware. Scheinberg donates countless hours and her passion to the autism cause to help all those affected.

Lindt Unsung Heroes of Autism Ceremony
Wednesday, April 1st, 2009

Lindt and Autism Speaks celebrated their partnership and kicked off Autism Awareness month on April 1st, 2009 with an event at the New York Palace Hotel, honoring two Lindt "Unsung Heroes of Autism." Lindt, along with Cookie Magazine, recognized Dr. Rebecca Morrison and Mr. Charles Allen for their unwavering commitment to the cause and dedicated contributions to those impacted by autism. Both "Unsung Heroes" were instrumental in starting schools for children with autism spectrum disorders. The Heroes received $5,000 toward their efforts in support of the autism cause and were featured in the June issue of Cookie Magazine.

Thomas Linemayr, President and CEO of Lindt USA, presented Lindt's first "Unsung Hero", Dr. Rebecca Morrison, with $5,000 toward her efforts in support of the cause.

• Dr. Rebecca Morrison of Westerville, Ohio started the state's only full inclusion school for children with autism spectrum disorders and their typically developing peers, age 2nd to 12th grade. Oakstone Academy opened its doors in 1999 to 30 students and today serves over 400. Dr. Morrison made significant personal sacrifice to launch the school, and has worked tirelessly over the last 10 years to not only provide an exceptional education to students with autism, but to further research and develop quality educational programs across the United States.
  
  Oakstone Academy has been recognized nationally as a model program, and Dr. Morrison has traveled across the United States to show other teachers and professionals how to successfully implement her model for working with students with autism. Dr. Morrison donates time and countless hours of pro-bono work with families of children with autism.

Mr. Linemayr then presented Lindt's second Unsung Hero, Mr. Charles Allen, with a check for $5,000 in support of his efforts toward the cause.

• Charles Allen from Round Hill, Virginia is the proud father of a child with autism. In 2003, Charles, along with three other parents, co-founded the Aurora School to address the needs of students with autism that could not be met within the local school system or in a traditional classroom setting. Today, the Aurora School serves students with autism, developmental delay and other health impairments.
  
  Charles has also worked tirelessly to champion the cause within Government, having worked closely with his local representative which ultimately led to significant funding for the Aurora School. Charles is an active member of the community, including the Autism Society, Unlocking Autism and the Special Olympics. He is also an active member of his church, where he helped to organize the first special needs CCD class that has now grown to support several other churches in the community. Most recently, Charles was instrumental in achieving an impressive next step for the Aurora School, having secured a lease for the new Paxton Learning Center which is set to open in 2009.