Golf Tournament, dinner and auction benefit Wonderland Developmental Center

Echo Falls Golf Club

Businesses and individuals can tee up, dine and bid with Wonderland Developmental Center for good cause at the 13th Annual Justin Van Hollebeke Memorial Golf Tournament, Dinner and Auction on Saturday, May 19, 2012, at the Golf Club at Echo Falls near Snohomish.

Now in its 13th year, the tournament, dinner, and auction raise money for Wonderland, a Shoreline nonprofit that provides early learning services for families and their children with developmental disabilities and delays.

“This event is one of Wonderland’s largest and most important fundraisers and our goal is to raise $51,000 to support our programs,” said Roger Kjos, Interim Executive Director. “Wonderland offers tremendous support to community and will continue to expand its services to meet the needs of local families.”

Dan Hayes foursome at the 2011 event
Photo courtesy Wonderland

The event will include a variety of golf related activities in addition to eighteen holes of play at the popular and scenic Golf Club at Echo Falls. Non-golfers can also enjoy a post tournament cocktail hour, auction and gourmet dinner. Golfers and other guests can register at www.wdcbirthtothree.org. Click on Events. Sponsors include Nintendo, Alaskan Observers, Jordan Bebee, Manor Hardware & Construction Supply, Vantiv and Dynamic Computing.

As an infant Justin Van Hollebeke suffered from severe brain damage and began receiving care from Wonderland when he was six months old. In the next two and a half years he received help with mobility, speech and responsiveness issues. The family also received emotional support and help with provider (?) and financial resources.

Under Wonderland’s care Justin progressed to a point where he could actually become an active participant in his family’s life. He transitioned successfully into a 3 to 5 year program. Justin epitomizes the depth of care Wonderland provides children with disabilities. The event named in his honor benefits children like Justin, and supports Wonderland’s ability to serve approximately 100 families per month, regardless of their ability to pay.

For 42 years Wonderland’s programs have offered infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities and their families a bridge to a brighter future through an array of services designed to nurture child development and to strengthen family units. Early intervention includes speech, language and occupational therapies; special education, parent, caregiver coaching and education; family resource coordination; mental health services; mixed ability playgroups; and transition programs and summer camps for children ages 3-5.

Wonderland children reflect a variety of diagnoses such as speech and language delays, autism, Fragile X, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Wonderland provides these services through Edmonds, Northshore, Shoreline, and Seattle School Districts, King and Snohomish Counties, and the cities of Shoreline, Bothell, and Kenmore.

For event or sponsorship information, contact Jennifer Blume, 206-364-3777 x11.