On Sunday March 30, the Kennedy Center will be hosting its second annual “Magic Moments” fundraiser for autism at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, at Fairfield University.  The event will feature a wine tasting, followed by cocktails and food prepared by Celebrations by Carlson. During the cocktail hour, items that include a trip to the Calistoga Ranch Resort in California wine country will be auctioned off during a silent auction. Music will be provided by the Trade, along with Bill Carleton and Tony Parlapiano, who will provide an acoustic pop sound.
    Later in the evening, comedy will take center stage as two comedians entertain guests. The first is Bari Alyse, who has performed in comedy clubs such as the LA Improv, Laugh Factory and Comedy Store. Alyse will be followed by the headliner, Dan Naturman.  Naturman was featured on “Last Comic Standing 2”.  In addition, Naturman has appeared on “Late Show with David Letterman,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and has had his own “Comedy Central Presents” special.
    “We purposely avoided the usual Saturday night dinner-dance type of event,” said planning committee co-chair Kristine George Andres. “We wanted to make it fun and relaxed, as well as upscale and elegant. Just a great party!”      
    The event is meant to kick off national Autism Awareness Month in April.
    According to The Kennedy Center, autism is “the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the United States. One in every 150 children is now being diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.”
    “That staggering rate is higher than the rate for children with AIDS, diabetes and cancer combined,” said Andres.
    According to the Kennedy Center’s President and CEO, Martin D. Schwartz, “although we have always served children and young adults with autism, we have made a major commitment to expand these services to local families.”
    “Since the program’s inception, the community’s response to the Autism Project has been extremely enthusiastic,” he noted.
    Last year’s “Magic Moments” event raised $125,000, according to Andres. This year they hope to exceed that number by $25,000.
Some of the accomplishments the Kennedy Center completed with this money included several well-attended workshops, a growing social activity group for teens, many community outings, expanded service coordination for children and families, and one-to-one support for many children in after-school programs.
    In this upcoming year the organization has set new goals. These goals include; a financial aid program for families in need, a music program for young children and a group of trained volunteers to support children in various activities.
    “Unfortunately, the availability of support services for these children and families has not kept pace with the increasing demand.  There are literally thousands of families here in Connecticut who need the type of help that the Kennedy Center Autism Project is now providing,” said Andres.

For ticket information call the Kennedy Center at (203) 365-8522, extension 229 or go to Thekennedycenterinc.org.  Tickets start at $125 per person for the main event and are $200 per person with the wine tasting reception.