Tustin, CA January 29, 2012 – ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today!) and The Eddie Guardado Foundation (EGF), two national non-profit organizations based in Southern California, held a STARS & STRIKES Celebrity Bowling Tournament on Sunday, January 29, 2012 at the Bowlmor Lanes located at 2405 Park Lane in Tustin, California. The event benefiting children with autism raised nearly $100-thousand dollars to provide resources, care, and treatment to children with autism whose families cannot access or afford the necessary tools their children need.
“Through fundraising events like STARS & STRIKES, we hope to help other less fortunate families so that they may achieve their goals and dreams for their children affected by autism.” says Lisa Guardado, wife of retired Major League Baseball (MLB) Pitcher Eddie Guardado and ACT Today! board member.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in every 110 children in America is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), making ASD more prevalent than juvenile diabetes, pediatric cancer, and childhood AIDS combined. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors. They include autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger Syndrome. ASD can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination, and attention and physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances.
“Autism is an epidemic,” says ACT Today! Executive Director Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson. “This event will help us strike out the disorder the best way we can – by helping the children with autism spectrum disorders gain much needed tools they need to reach their highest potential.”
Celebrities who walked the red carpet and participated in the tournament included: 2-Time All-Star Pitcher “Everyday Eddie” Guardado, Elliot James Weber (“Amazing Race 2012”), LA Angels of Anaheim 4-Time All-Star Torii Hunter, Texas Rangers 6-Time All-Star Michael Young, Texas Rangers 2-Time All-Star Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers Derek Holland, Hall of Famer Rod Carew, LA Angels of Anaheim 3-Time All-Star Garret Anderson, Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star Pitcher J. J. Putz, LA Angels of Anaheim Pitcher LaTroy Hawkins, Former MLB Player and Radio Personality Rex Hudler, All-Star Pitcher Jamie Moyer, Milwaukee Brewers Pitcher Brandon Kintzler, Cincinatti Reds Pitcher Carlos Fisher, Former MLB Player Brad Thompson, Former MLB Player Gary Pettis, LA Angels of Anaheim All-Star Howie Kendrick, model/actress Chanel Ryan (“Small Apartment”), Former MLB Player Chris Gomez, and actress Erin Murphy
(“Bewitched”).
Events such as the STARS & STRIKES Celebrity Bowling Tournament allow ACT Today! To raise essential funds to provide grants for families in desperate need of care and treatment.
About ACT Today!: ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today!) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources and funding to families of children with autism who cannot afford or access the necessary tools their children need to reach their full potential. For more information about ACT Today!, visit http://www.act-today.org/.
AngelsWin.com was there to cover the event. Below are some of the highlights from the red carpet.
AngelsWin.com was pleased to interview legendary Angels Pitcher Troy Percival.
We were also pleased to get our first look and conversation with the newest Angels arm in the bullpen LaTroy Hawkins.
As for the event itself, a great time was had by all. For a look at the bowling, AngelsWin.com will let you decide whom you would pick to round out your foursome the next time you hit Bowlmor Lanes: Howie Kendrick, Torii Hunter, Rex Hudler or Troy Percival.
AngelsWin.com would like to thank Daphne Plump from D. Plump Consulting for organizing and running this incredible event, Eddie Guardado and The Eddie Guardado Foundation for hosting this event, and Jim Streifel, without whom, AngelsWin.com would not have been able to cover this event.