Children’s Research Triangle Hawaii will be hosting their First Annual Fundraiser with a Kentucky Derby Brunch at the Fairmont Orchid Hotel on Saturday, May 5, 2012 from 11:00am to 3:00pm. The event will feature a sumptuous Southern style brunch. It will include a live viewing of the Kentucky Derby Race, Silent Auction, Pick Your Favorite Horse Contest, and Best Big Hat / Best Dressed Couple Contest. The Master of Ceremonies will be Sherry Bracken of Mahalo Broadcasting (LAVA 105.3 fm, KKOA 107.7 fm, KHNU 620 AM). The keynote speaker will be Dr. Ira Chasnoff, founder of Children’s Research Triangle, who will come in from Chicago to speak about the programs including those on Hawaii Island.
All funds raised at the event will go toward establishing The Brighter Future Children’s Center, planned for Waimea. The Center will provide diagnosis and treatment for children with special needs and at risk children, many of whom were exposed to alcohol and/or drugs during pregnancy resulting in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or FASD, the number one known preventable cause of mental retardation in the United States.
In the past five years, CRT Hawaii has trained and worked with local providers to screen pregnant women for alcohol and other substance use. Of the 3,153 women on the Big Island screened to date, 49% of the pregnant women had a positive screen for substance use; that is, they were using alcohol and/or tobacco and/or marijuana during early pregnancy.
This number is significant because of what it means in the lives of the children who were exposed before they were born, as well as the families / caretakers of the children. Children born with FAS/FASD are subject to developmental disabilities, birth defects and numerous other lifelong health issues. They can have difficulty with “executive functioning” or the ability to plan and complete a task, follow directions and learn. This often leads to trouble in school, dropping out and eventual drug or alcohol use by the child. For families, coping with their children’s challenges can be devastating. For the community, the cost is high. According to Theresa Kellerman’s research, on average a baby born in Hawaii with FAS, can cost as much as $5 million during their lifetime. The annual cost to U.S. taxpayers for treating FAS is $5.8 billion.
In addition to continuing with current education and prevention programs, the Brighter Future Children’s Center will bring on Island assessment and treatment to our at risk children. The Center will give families the opportunity to understand their child’s challenges and give them a treatment plan to ensure the best possible future within their child’s capabilities. Early intervention and treatment for children with FAS and FASD truly offers them a chance for a “Brighter Future”.
Tickets to the Derby Day Brunch are $75 each, and available online at www.crthawaii.org or by calling 885-0501.
About Children’s Research Triangle Hawaii
Children’s Research Triangle (CRT) Hawaii is a nonprofit organization which is dedicated to the healthy development of children and their families. CRT’s staff is committed to their mission to provide research driven services that improve the quality of life for all children with special needs or those who are at risk for developmental, behavioral, psychological or educational problems. In Hawaii, CRT is the recipient of a federal grant to provide education and materials to medical providers who care for pregnant women. The medical personnel use the tools provided by CRT to screen women for potential alcohol, tobacco and drug use, offer a brief intervention, education about the dangers of using alcohol, tobacco and drugs during pregnancy, and refer them to outside agencies for support when necessary. For more information on FAS, Children’s Research Triangle Hawaii or to make a donation, please contact Sharon Bechler at (808) 885-0501, email at infocrthawaii@gmail.com, or visit www.crthawaii.org.
