2012
Quarterly Newsletter
Vol. 2

Join us for our 2nd Annual Golf Scramble!

Golf Scramble - Monday, June 25th at Nonesuch River Golf Course You are all invited to join us for a scrambling good time! Come take part in this spectacular event by rounding up a team of golfers. What better way to kick-start your summer than to spend it on the greens! Help us raise funds while celebrating a great cause.

Come play and take a chance. You could win a brand new car for a Hole-in-One Contest. Show up early and get a free ticket for the driving range. Enjoy complimentary snacks while on the course and a scrumptious dinner with entertainment and prizes. Tell your friends. Golfers, team up and register today! Please register by June 4th!

Quote of the Quarter: "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." - Helen Keller

Helping Children in Maine

The Robbie Foundation had the pleasure of dispersing two iPads and 20 sessions of Neurofeedback treatment to three applicants last quarter. Please go to our website to learn more about the children and families who have received services through the Robbie Foundation. We appreciate the stories and pictures that you have shared.

Recipient Spotlight - Noah

Noah, who has been diagnosed with autism, has recently received funding from Robbie Foundation for a series of Neurofeedback Treatments.

How does this treatment help children with developmental disabilities?

Neurofeedback Treatment also known as EEG Biofeedback is similar to this approach. It involves providing children with real-time feedback on their brainwave activity in order that they may learn to alter their typical EEG pattern to one that is consistent with a focused and attentive state.

According to neurofeedback proponents, when this occurs, improved attention and reduced hyperactive/impulsive behavior will result. Furthermore, this change is likely to endure because it reflects a basic alteration in an important aspect of brain functioning. One way to think of the process is to think of it as a personal trainer for the brain.

We Need Your Help!

The Robbie Foundation anticipates receiving a high volume of applications this year due to budget
cuts and difficult economic times. We need your help more than ever! Please consider volunteering
or supporting our foundation. We have several fundraisers that you can participate in, such as, the
annual Golf Tournament, Tennis Tournament, and the Gala to be held in October. Your generous
donations are appreciated.

We have a volunteer staff of dedicated board members that meet on a regular basis. If you have an
interest in serving on our board please contact the founder, Lynn Gierie at
lynn@robbiefoundation.com

Thank you for your on-going support and continued interest in The Robbie Foundation.

Incredible Fact: 19% of Americans are classified as a person with a disability.

Meet Nicole ~ our new Kids Club Leader!

Nicole Avery has just completed her first year at St. Joseph’s College studying Nursing. She has always had a heart for helping others and has discovered her passion when she started working with children with special needs. She is currently working with a 6 year old boy with autism who has helped her learn more about herself than she ever expected.

We are very excited to have Nicole join us as the Leader of the kids club. She comes to us with the enthusiasm, energy and determination to make a difference in the lives of all the children we serve. The Kids Club is open to any child or teen interested in volunteering time to help benefit children with special needs. We have many exciting activities planned for the summer.
Join today >>

Did you know?: What do many children with special needs
have to cope with on a daily basis?

Bullying, in the form of name-calling,
exclusion, or violence.

Media Coverage

There has been a lot of debate among parents and doctors lately over new diagnostic
criteria for autism. Robbie Foundation board member and spokesperson, Natasha
Suleiman, speaks to the debate through her own personal experiences. Please view
the story that was featured in April on WCSH6 News.

Will there be added challenges for services under the new criteria? The changes are due to go into effect next May 2013.

If your organization, business or civic group would like more information about Robbie Foundation, we would be happy to come to you! In a brief presentation, we will cover an overview of our mission as a non-profit and leave you with materials to distribute to interested parties. Please contact Lynn at: lynn@robbiefoundation.com

Tune into Q97.9 for the Morning Show on May 9, 2012 from 5:30 am– 10:00 am. The Robbie Foundation will be there to speak about the foundations’ mission and on-going efforts in helping the children of Maine.

Parents of children with special needs face ongoing challenges:

Developmental disabilities are some of the most devastating challenges for a family to deal with. It may change visions of the future and add fear and apprehension in caring for and educating a child. Diagnoses like autism, Down syndrome and mental retardation often result in children being removed from the mainstream, and forces parents to become fierce advocates for their children in order for them to receive the services, therapy, schooling, and inclusion they need and deserve.

Robbie Foundation is working on expanding our services by becoming a resource for parents of children with special needs. If this is of interest to you as a parent or an advocate please feel free to email us at: lynn@robbiefoundation.com We, as an organization, are sensitive to these needs and seek to help families find direction and answer questions they may have. Stay tuned for upcoming resources.