For parents of children with disabilities, such as autism, a diagnosis can be difficult to process. Just ask the De La Rosa family. When their son was diagnosed with autism, they did not know where to turn or what to expect. After contacting Brighton Center (formerly Brighton School), mom Toni will tell you that Brighton provided "the most important ingredient that we needed to survive - hope."
Brighton Center serves more than 2,200 children with developmental delays and disabilities and their families each year through a variety of programs. Brighton Center also provides an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on and promise for the future. More than $700,000 in community support is necessary each year to operate the programs at Brighton Center.
Specifically, the money raised supports therapy services for babies and toddlers in their homes, classroom supplies and adaptive equipment in the inclusive child development center. Each service offered by Brighton Center aims to help achieve their vision of a community where all children are valued for who they are and included in the community.
In the last decade, Brighton Center has been able to start two new programs to help ensure parents have the skills they need to parent their child with a disability as well as advocate for their children in the public school system. Brighton Center has also expanded the age of the children served through the Parent Alliance for Learning and Support program to age 22, renovated three playgrounds and is currently finalizing a capital campaign to purchase an 8-acre facility. The school is able to reach these and many more goals because of the support from the Greater San Antonio community.
The premier fundraising event that has provided Brighton Center with much needed funds to continue their 40-year legacy is the annual A Taste of the Northside Fiesta® event. Since its humble beginnings in 2000 in the K. Charles Salon in Stone Oak, where approximately 150 guests enjoyed tasting from four restaurants, A Taste of the Northside is now held at the Club At Sonterra and features tastings from more than 40 restaurants with an expected attendance in 2010 of more than 7,000 guests. Since its inception, the event has raised more than $1 million to help Brighton Center's 2,200 children and their families.
The event's title sponsor, The Lynd Company, has been emotionally invested in the cause for the past nine years. David Lynd, COO of The Lynd Company, says, "We continue to support Brighton Center by sponsoring A Taste of the Northside because it's a unique Fiesta® event that raises money for and brings awareness to Brighton Center and the goals they hope to achieve."
In addition to being the title sponsor for A Taste of the Northside, the property management company also provides rental assistance for low-income families of the children who attend Brighton Center. This assistance helps the families stabilize their finances during tough times.
Last year's move to the Club At Sonterra was a huge success, and this year the event will be bigger and better than ever featuring more drinks, more food and more Fiesta®. More than 400 volunteers will provide guests with tastings from 40 restaurants along with a variety of fine wines and Anheuser-Busch beers.
Music from Blue Finger Disco, The Stan Wayne Band and Jazz Prodigy will entertain guests throughout the evening. Other perks include an exclusive country club setting, free parking and shuttles and upgraded VIP areas.
The 11th annual A Taste of the Northside is from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 21 at the Club At Sonterra. All-inclusive tickets to the event are only $45 in advance and can be purchased at any San Antonio H.E.B. location or online at www.BrightonSA.org.
Each ticket provides the holder with 10 food tastings, five beer or wine tastings and tons of FIESTA® fun! Upgrade your tickets to VIP and enjoy the Good Taste with Tanji VIP Lounge featuring specialty wines, exclusive food tasting opportunities, indoor seating and a swag bag. Call Brighton Center at (210) 826-4492 to purchase VIP tickets.
