Cherie, from Texas, took this picture of Jody Payne,
at the BackYard 2008
By Fran Thompson
www.mulletwrapper.com
Pirates Cove Music Director Cathe Steele has booked her usual amazing line-up for this year’s Illuminating Autism For Brilliant Minds fundraiser at Pirates Cove in Josephine, Alabama on June 5-7. Led by Fairhope High grad Grayson Capps, Willie Nelson sidekick Jody Payne and Louisiana icons The Jazz Vipers and Sunpie Barnes, the musical line-up is as great as the cause.
Money raised at the FUN-raiser will be used as start up funds for the inception of High Hopes, an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) facility preparing children with Pervasively Developmental Delays and Autism Spectrum Disorders for classroom success at St. Benedict’s in Elberta.
Research indicates that ABA is the most effective treatment of autism. High Hopes will help preschool age children improve verbal, social, and classroom skills utilizing research based techniques that have been proven effective. It is an individualized treatment program based on each student’s needs.
“We would like to personally invite everyone to attend this year’s FUN-raiser to share in the excitement of bringing the new facility to our community and a memorable weekend for the best of causes, the children of Baldwin County,’’ said Rachael Mueller, who co-founded the fundraiser and High Hopes along with her husband Karl, whose family owns Pirates Cove.
The Brilliant Minds motto is every child can learn, and it is a mantra especially poignant to Payne, whose son Austin is autistic and the event’s co-founders, whose daughter will attends the High Hopes school. In addition to the $10 per day cover charge (free admission with purchase of a $100 raffle ticket for a new Jeep 4WD Wrangler), money will be raised through silent auctions both Saturday and Sunday, a dunking booth, a high stakes dice game, a poker run featuring a $500 grand prize, a raffle for an authenticated Piece of Eight and draw down raffle for the aforementioned new Jeep Wrangler.
Payne said during last year’s fundraiser that he looks forward to doing what he can to support the organization. “There’s a lot more groups really trying to help autistic children now,’’ he said. “But each one is different just as each child is different whether autistic or not. Maybe I can help in some small way.’’
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Mueller started the lluminating Autism Weekend in 2005 to raise money for Brilliant Minds. “My daughter autism was the catalyst in this endeavor,’’ she said. “We took her to Brilliant Minds March of 2006 and were immediately impressed with the therapy provided. In less than two years, my daughter went from absolutely no functional noises to six spontaneous words in a row.’’
A member of Willie Nelson’s band since 1974 and a one time regular at the Flora-Bama, Payne lives in Stapleton. His first road gig was in 1951 when he went on the road with Charlie Monroe. He toured with a veritable Who’s Who of Country Music, including Ray Price, before Willie asked him to join his band. It’s a gig he finally retired from after 32 years on the road with Willie.
“I try to book the best music I can possibly get, just like I normally do,’’ Steele said. “We did the first one with Beverly Jo Scott, and we auctioned off a sea-doo. The second year we auctioned off a car, and it’s just grown since then. The bands give back. So, that make it special.’’
For more info about the event, call 251-229-2075 or 251-987-1224 or email rmueller@gulftel.com Weekend includes raffle for authentic Piece of Eight The Illuminating Autism Weekend at Pirates Cove will include a raffle for an authentic piece of pirate treasure, a Piece of Eight, on Saturday, June 6, just prior to Sunpie Barnes’ cajun infused set.
Also known as the piece of eight, the real de a ocho, or the eight real coin, ?piece of eight is a silver coin worth eight reales, that was minted in the Spanish Empire after a Spanish currency reform in 1497. It was legal tender in the USA until 1857. Through widespread use in Europe, the Americas and the Far East, it became the first world currency by the late 18th century.
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