Furniture retailers, Buyers, manufacturers, Sales Reps and suppliers attending the Las Vegas Market are invited to Ante 4 Autism. There will be a Texas Hold’em Tournament to benefit Autism Speaks, as well as player sponsorships available prior and during the event. Doug Krinsky, parent of a child with Autism and Sales Manager for the Restonic Mattress Company, is co-hosting a tournament at Binion’s (Downtown Las Vegas) on Tuesday, February 2, at 7:00 pm. The entry fee is $125, registration and donations can be made online or the day of the tournament starting at 6 PM, players must be 21 and $50 of each entry goes direct to Autism Speaks.
“Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed now in one in 110 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls” said Krinsky. Additional hosts include Randy Coconis, Coconis Furniture, Owner; Stuart Carlitz, Eclipse International, President; Phil Miner, Symbol Mattress, Sales Manager; Scott Graham, PMD Furniture Direct, VP of Operations, General Merchandise Manager; Jerry Williams, PMD Furniture Direct, Chief Operating Officer; David Wachendorfer, Tempur-Pedic, VP Sales Development and Retail Training; and Joseph Amato, Mattress Matters, Owner. Special thanks to Kyle Doran, President of R & A Marketing for his help on this event as well as Marv Beneteau at RMG.
Home furnishings professionals may donate, as well as sponsor players and/or register for the tournament online at http://www.ramarketing.com/ante4autism. In addition we will be giving away great prizes to various Attendees at the poker tournament. Prizes such as a Tempur-Pedic queen size set of bedding, a 4-some of golf at the famous Ohio State University “Scarlet” course, rated the #1 collegiate golf course by the Golf Channel, including Jerry Williams of PMD Furniture Direct, a Restonic queen set of bedding, 2 football tickets to the Miami Hurricanes vs. The Ohio State University Buckeyes 9/11/10 in Columbus, OH, as well as other fabulous prizes! To donate/see donated items, sponsor players or register to play in the tournament go to http://www.ramarketing.com/ante4autism or stop by the day of the event at Binion’s any time after 6 PM in the poker room. Checks can also be made out to “Autism Speaks” and mailed to Doug Krinsky at 5405 Blackhawk Forest Drive, Westerville, OH 43082 or dropped off at the tournament.
All sponsorships, and donations, as well as $50 from each entry will go to support Autism Speaks, whose mission is to increase awareness about the growing Autism epidemic and raise funds for research, family services and advocacy in local communities and nationwide. Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by extreme behavioral challenges. The diagnosis of Autism has increased tenfold in the last decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called Autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.
“Our 2nd annual event will raise funds to help families and give all of us in the industry the opportunity to give back and have fun at the same time”, said Krinsky. “It is devastating to see the impact this disability has on families”, he added. “Autism is now diagnosed in 1 in 110 children born today”! “We are optimistic that some day in the near future we can find the cause of Autism, and prevent it.”
Autism Speaks is dedicated to increasing awareness of Autism spectrum disorders, to funding research into the causes, prevention and treatments for Autism, and to advocating for the needs of individuals with Autism and their families. It was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with Autism. Bob Wright is a Senior Advisor at Lee Equity Partners and served as Vice Chairman for General Electric, and Chief Executive Officer of NBC and NBC Universal for more than twenty years. Wright also serves on the board of directors of the Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, RAND Corporation and Mission Product, LLC. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.