September 26, 2008

Bowling Green, Ky. - Stars from across the professional sports and entertainment industries will be in Bowling cecGreen Oct. 20-21 to raise funds for autism in the Campbell Chevrolet Celebrity Classic.
           
PGA Champion John Daly and country blues rocker Steve Azar headline a list of more than 30 celebrities participating in the golf tournament and concert. Others include: Chuck Wicks, 3 Doors Down, Josh Kelly, Gary Valentine, Trace Adkins, Jim McMahon, Wesley Walls, Scott Erickson and more. (More information is available at http://www.campbellchevroletcelebrity.com/Welcome.html.)
           
Campbell Chevrolet is the title sponsor of what Owner Joe Earl Campbell said will be an annual event. The proceeds from this year’s classic will benefit the Early Childhood Center, part of Western Kentucky University’s Suzanne Vitale Clinical Education Complex.
           
“Since our family has been touched by autism, we’ve become aware of the need for services in this region,” Joe Campbell said. “Our goal is to not only raise the funds needed to expand the services already available through the CEC, but to raise awareness so that children can be diagnosed early and receive help when it will benefit them the most.”
           
Joe Campbell’s wife Navada agreed.
           
“One of the keys to giving an autistic individual the opportunity to live a productive life is providing services at an early age,” she said. “However, the diagnosis can be delayed, plus services available can be limited. We want to provide support so that more services can be made available to those who need them.”
           
The proceeds will be used to fund a pilot project beginning in July 2009 to provide temporary services on an as-needed basis for children in and on the waiting list for the Big Red School, which is part of the Early Childhood Center, according to ECC Director Lisa Murphy.
           
“Our biggest need continues to be additional human resources to provide more intensive, higher-quality services to children we already serve as well as reach other children who are waiting for services,” she said.
           
The project will target children and families with specific short-term concerns such as safety issues that may arise, Murphy said, adding it will be an outreach program that will involve parent meetings, home visits, and school visits.
           
ECC staff is also developing a volunteer training program that could use members of families of autistic children, such as grandparents, to provide support and education for other families.
           
“My concern is getting to these families early,” Navada Campbell said. “The CEC is providing wonderful services, but there are many families who do not know about these services or who have not received a proper diagnosis for a child exhibiting developmental delays. We are trying to make sure that all of those families who need help get access to that help.”
           
Julie Denton, director of marketing and membership for The Club at Olde Stone, said the event provides the public with the opportunity to meet and play golf with the celebrities while helping a good cause.
           
“For those who aren’t golfers, the concert on Oct. 21 will feature a variety of performers never seen in Bowling Green,” she said. The concert, which will be in E.A. Diddle Arena, will feature 10-15 performers, including Steve Azar, 3 Doors Down, Trace Adkins and others.  Tickets go on sale today at the WKU Ticket Office.
           
There will also be an auction of celebrity items on Monday night (Oct. 20) at The Club at Olde Stone, Denton said. Some of the items include a Lebron James signed jersey, guitars signed by Kenny Chesney, Sheryl Crow, Eddie Van Halen, Slash, Robert Plant, Bruce Springsteen and Carrie Underwood and an album cover signed by all members of The Rolling Stones.

About the Campbell Chevrolet Celebrity Classic
The golf tournament will be Oct. 20 and 21. Monday, Oct. 20, will serve as a practice round for all participants. There will be a pairings party Monday night in Village Hall at Olde Stone that will include the auction. Packages for the five-man scramble will be sold for foursomes and one celebrity for play on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Acts for the concert on Tuesday night will play consecutively for the audience before joining each other on stage.
           
Package and ticket prices, as well as additional information, are available at http://www.campbellchevroletcelebrity.com/Welcome.html or by calling Julie Denton, (270) 745-1755. Packages start at $1,500 for one player, $2,500 for two players and $4,500 for a foursome. A portion of the price will be considered a charitable contribution.

About the Early Childhood Center
The ECC, one of six programs within the Clinical Education Complex, strives to advance the development and learning potential of young children of all abilities through early childhood services and hands-on training for WKU students. The ECC serves children with all types of developmental delays and/or disabilities, including autism, pervasive developmental disorder, genetic disorders, cerebral palsy, children born prematurely and children with medical conditions as well as typically developing children.

About the Suzanne Vitale Clinical Education Complex
The Suzanne Vitale Clinical Education Complex at Western Kentucky University is an interdisciplinary, integrated clinical program that provides a continuum of services to families and individuals with disabilities. This model also provides a comprehensive setting for education and health and human services professionals while housing six programs: Acquired Brain Injury Resource Program, Communication Disorders Clinic, the Early Childhood Center, the Family Counseling Clinic, The Family Resource Program and the Kelly Autism Program.

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu and at http://wkunews.wordpress.com/. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For more information, contact Julie Denton, (270) 393-4653; Lisa Murphy, (270) 745-4232; or Ron Wilson, (270) 745-8727.