The following announcement was sent out by the Autism Research Institute.

Help Mark Rimland’s School Win Oprah’s Big Give

Vote Now to Help SMSC Win $10,000
One vote per email address daily till noon PT April 17

For more than 41 years, St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC) - a non-profit non-denominational organization in the San Diego area - has helped people with developmental disabilities, their families and communities, discover, explore, and nurture potential - giving thousands a chance to live life to the fullest.

Today SMSC is trying to raise additional funds for its programs by winning Oprah Winfrey’s ‘Big Give’ and you can help.

Last month, 10News (a San Diego-based television station) and Oprah’s Big Give - a primetime television program on the ABC television network challenged the community to make a difference. St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center was required to fundraise and reach a minimum goal of $10,000 to enter the Big Give and now - in order to win a matching $10,000 the SMSC asks you to vote daily online (a brief registration is required with each entry) today through noon PT Thursday, April 17.

Mark Rimland, son of ARI’s founder Dr. Bernard Rimland, is one of the talented artists who attends SMSC and whose work is on sale at its gallery (Sophie’s Gallery). Mark and the other artists not only derive a great deal of pride from having their work displayed and sold, but they receive a portion of the proceeds as well.

In honor of Dr. Rimland - who was a great supporter of St. Madeleine’s - we hope you’ll take a moment to click the link above and support this fine organization.

The non-profit with the most votes will receive the $10k match. The winner will be revealed in a 30-minute special aired at 5:30 pm this Friday, April 18 on 10News. You do not need to live in San Diego to vote.

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ARI Established in 1967, the San Diego-based, nonprofit, ARI is world headquarters for research and information on autism and related disorders, and the epicenter of a rapidly growing movement that holds that autism can be treated effectively through intensive behavior modification and a variety of individualized biomedical treatments.