Because of you...
we held many memorable events in 2018. You showed up, and you brought your friends, making this year another one for the record books.
An encore worth repeating
Flame returned for the 30th birthday of the Nose. And what a party we had! The band performed during The Great LOGAN Nose-On Luncheon March 27. More than 1,000 guests packed the Century Center for the sold-out event. When the curtains opened, Mayor Pete Buttigieg accompanied the crowd in the impromptu singing of “Happy Birthday” to the Nose. The party atmosphere continued throughout the luncheon, with the audience forming a conga line and dancing around the banquet hall. Balloons dropped from the ceiling at the end. Maureen McFadden, WNDU News Anchor and emcee, closed the luncheon by donning a green nose and encouraging everyone to “Rock on with the Nose on.”
The next day, Flame performed two more times. They took their show to LOGAN Industries in the morning, and to the University of Notre Dame in the evening for the Best Buddies disability awareness event.
Click here for a complete listing of sponsors.
Our film: "Spirit"
A dazzling night at the Garden Party
More than 450 people,(a record attendance), turned out on a rainy Saturday night July 21 for The 2018 Sonya Ansari Center for Autism Garden Party. For the second year in a row, the party was hosted by longtime LOGAN supporters Pam and Bernie Veldman at their home in Granger. Drs. Zoreen and Rafat Ansari served as honorary chairs. Among the guests were U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
The food, the drinks, the ambiance and the fellowship have all made the garden party a signature event in the area. The mission it supports – LOGAN Autism Services and the Sonya Ansari Center for Autism -- give it meaning. The evening began with a cocktail party and socializing. Everyone was having such a good time around the bar, getting them seated for dinner was not easy! Emcee Cindy Kilgore, a member of LOGAN’s Board of Directors, kept the party on schedule.
Highlights of the program included two moving tribute videos, one honoring Dr. Todd Graham and the other Mr. Lou Behre. Tammeka Smith, a mom whose 13-year-old son Ralphie attends the Sonya Ansari Center for Autism, got a standing ovation after speaking about the impact the center and its staff have made on her son. The rain stopped and the skies cleared just in time for the partygoers to move poolside for dancing. Guest enjoyed the DJ talents of Millinova Music until the last call for the shuttle to the parking lot.
A big thank you to all of our sponsors and guests for making the evening unforgettable.
News Coverage
Lou Behre Tribute
LOGAN’s Run filled with ‘Big Moments’
Jamie’s Challengers gave the 2018 LOGAN’s Run an added layer of competition and an extra measure of fun. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the run, Jamie McGraw, volunteer Race Director, decided to run the 5K himself, but he didn’t want to run it alone. He put together a select team – Jamie’s Challengers – to run with him and to challenge him in fundraising. The 10 Challengers (including Jamie) were all tasked with raising $1,000 for LOGAN. One of the Challengers, Janet Menting, ran the race in a wheelchair, pushed by an ambassador from Fleet Feet Sports. About 10 yards from the finish line, Janet motioned for the runner to stop the wheelchair. Janet stood up and ran the final few feet on her own. Janet had been mobility impaired since suffering a traumatic brain injury in a car accident four years earlier. So when she crossed the finish line, it was a big moment!
It was a big moment when Jamie finished the race, too, with his Challengers cheering him on. LOGAN’s Run is like that every year – hundreds of big moments as athletes of all abilities challenge themselves to cross the finish line. In 2018, a total of 1,056 runners and walkers accepted the challenge. Another 200 people served as volunteers, making sure the event ran smoothly.
A big thank you to Penn High School Girls Soccer who put on another amazing Family FunFest and to all the community sponsors, volunteers, friends and family members who cheered on the walkers and runners. Because of you, LOGAN’s Run raised more than $80,000 for LOGAN programs.
Click here for a complete listing of sponsors.
Click here to see an interview with Jamie McGraw on WSBT.
NewmanFest brings band back together
Playing their first concert without band leader Billy “Stix” Nicks, the Motown Machine demonstrated the show really does go on. They entertained at the 4th annual NewmanFest October 28th at The Brick in South Bend. Billy and the band have entertained at all four NewmanFests, a musical event that raises money for LOGAN Protective Services. Billy missed the 2017 concert due to illness. He died on Nov. 15, 2017. The band had not played together since his death … until NewmanFest.
“Anything for LOGAN,” said Chandra Williams, one of the two lead singers. At the end of her set, Chandra made an impassioned plea for support of LOGAN. Her own two sons, Noah and Alex, are on the autism spectrum. Chandra told the audience she found the support she needed at LOGAN. “They come to my house. Every week. And they teach my kids how to be OK.”
NewmanFest was another sold-out LOGAN event. About 250 guests danced to the music of Motown Machine and enjoyed a buffet supper from Monterrey Grill. Jack Daly, Director of LOGAN Protective Services and a former Motown band member, opened the show. He played guitar in a trio with Jim Alexander on bass and Eric Atkins on saxophone.
Because of you, NewmanFest raised about $20,000 for LOGAN Protective Services, a program funded solely by donations.
News Coverage
Watch Chandra's Story
What a busy year we had!
Here are four more events that made it memorable.
Disability Awareness Day
Fourth- and fifth-graders from the Penn-Harris-Madison Community Schools and Queen of Peace Catholic School took a field trip to LOGAN Center on March 13 to learn more about disabilities and the importance of inclusion and advocacy. They worked on an art project with LOGAN artists, met a dog from Paws with a Cause, and talked with a teenager, who has cerebral palsy. LOGAN’s annual Disability Awareness Day is part of its month-long observance of March as Disabilities Awareness Month. A big thank you to Krieg/Devault for sponsoring this important day of activity and education.
LOGAN Night at Four Winds Field
LOGAN families look forward all summer to the annual LOGAN Night at Four Winds Field. The August 13 festivities began with a pregame challenge between the South Bend Cubs and the LOGAN All Stars. Everyone got a turn swinging the bat, running the bases and chasing balls across the field. Afterwards, the players lined up for handshakes, pictures and autographs. A game between the South Bend Cubs and the Lake County Captains followed, with LOGAN staff and families in the stands to cheer on the home team.
Click here for a complete list of sponsors.
Bowling for Autism
LOGAN friends and family in Southwest Michigan took over Kelley’s Bowl in St. Joseph, Michigan on April 28 for the 9th annual Bowling for Autism fundraiser. What started as a small event in 2010, occupying only a few lanes, has grown so big, Kelley’s closes to the public and makes it a LOGAN night. Participants enjoyed unlimited bowling, pizza, prizes and camaraderie, all to benefit the LOGAN Autism Learning Center – Southwest Michigan in Benton Harbor.
