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Health & Fitness

Lemonade Out Of Lemons

Our Nicholas Foundation Tee It Up Fore Autism Awareness

While attending the Our Nicholas Foundation 3rd Annual Tee it up Fore Autism Awareness (http://www.ournicholasfoundation.org/)  event at Pechanga’s Journey Course ( http://www.pechanga.com/golf/  ). I was amazed at the kindness and generosity of the course staff, volunteers and the attendees.

At the 7th hole while driving my cart around a curve I had an epiphany: Our Nicholas Foundation is proof of a family (and now an extended family of volunteers, partners and friends) making lemonade out of lemons!

Watching the partnering signs in the ground by each hole spoke to me that Our Nicholas Foundation have shared their vision enough times that people have started to listen. Then, they took it a step further and became involved in one way or another.

The course at Journey is an amazing backdrop for any event. However, it lent itself to this “feel good” event perfectly. Climbing the hills in this hi-tech, gps installed golf cart at times was a struggle. I often wondered if my cart was going to stall. Of course it didn’t. I then thought of the parallels between my cart experience and Our Nicholas Foundation. On their climb they have had to encounter possibilities of stalling out on their vision to help their and other families with the expenses of raising a child with autism.

There was another part of the course that was peppered with huts. To share that these huts seemed out of place and were a distraction to the beauty is an understatement. It looks as though they were there before the course so in essence they may have been paying homage to their past. In contrast, one can only speculate on the distractions that Our Nicholas Foundation has encountered on their journey. Sometimes NO is the biggest distraction on the way to a goal!

A few highlights were the golf cart parade. It was incredible. Rubio’s guacamole, salsa and chips on hole 2. I love Rubio’s. I’m biased to the one on highway 79 by Staples (http://tupalo.com/en/temecula-california/rubios-fresh-mexican-grill-temecula-parkway). There was a marshmallow putting game that was a sight to watch. A few golfers pulverized those marshmallows. Admittedly, many of them hit the marshmallow better than I hit a golf ball.

Another highlight was Jeff Sampson of TGA Temecula Valley (http://playtga.com/golf.aspx?alias=golftga.com%2ftemeculavalley ) crazy golf pants. They were a sight. Fortunately for him he is a great golfer and quickly silences his fashion critics with his golfing prowess.

The announcement of the winners and the raffle were a blast. By far, the most talked about and coveted items were traditional 100% copper moonshine stills by a local company, California Copper Creations ( http://cacoppercreations.com/ ). They were shiny and engraved with the Our Nicholas Foundation logo. Pretty cool!

After a long, hot june day I walked away with my spirit refreshed. Refreshed because I knew that everyone there was there for the kids. As Mark Anselmo gave the stats of this growing society of parents, family and friends of kids with autism there was a silent challenge to do more. They are answering that call by widening their offerings of activities and services to include golf, baseball and other sports that will enrich socialization.

If you have not done so yet, feel comfortable donating your time, money or talent to this worthy organization. Support their partners so that they can continue to give. You’ll feel good about it.

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