Friends of Eden Awards to be Presented at Annual Autism Gala

Princeton, NJ, December 19, 2010 --(PR.com)-- On Saturday, January 15, 2011, Eden Autism Services will hold its 23rd annual Eden Dreams white-tie dinner gala at the Hyatt Regency Princeton. The event will feature the presentation of the Friends of Eden Award to longtime Eden supporter Wawa, Inc. and immediate past Chairman of the Eden Board of Trustees, Robert E. Humes. The Friends of Eden Award is presented to organizations or individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary philanthropic and/or volunteer support for Eden’s mission.

Wawa Inc., which will receive the 2011 Guardian Award, has employed Eden’s adults with autism for nearly 30 years and is the organization’s most significant corporate supporter, having contributed nearly $3 million over the years through various fundraising activities and corporate grants. Humes, who will receive the 2011 Visionary Award, is a retired corporate executive with Bristol-Myers Squibb and Munich Re-America, and an active community supporter who has devoted more than two decades of dedicated volunteer service to Eden. In addition to serving on Eden’s board of trustees and various other committees, he currently co-chairs Eden’s Nurturing Today, Embracing Tomorrow Capital Campaign.

This year’s theme, Dreams of Petrovskaya, will transport guests across snow-laden winter forests and through rich ballrooms to a golden era of romance, majesty and mystery in the vast country that was home to Tchaikovsky and Tolstoy. Each year the theme of the event represents a time or place that can be visited only through one’s imagination -- or through Eden Dreams.

Along with the awards presentation, additional highlights of the evening include a delicious 5-course gourmet dinner, open bar, a silent auction featuring a limited number of distinctive prizes, and the annual Dream Search puzzle where guests are provided with clues in order to decipher the correct answer to a theme-related puzzle. The winner of the Dream Search will receive two first-class round trip tickets compliments of Continental Airlines. Actors are on hand throughout the evening to provide interactive theatre and clues to help guests solve the puzzle. Also, the winner of Eden’s 50/50 raffle will be announced at Eden Dreams. Raffle tickets, which are available to the public, are currently on sale through the Eden Foundation office or on the Eden Dreams website, www.edendreams.org. The winner of the raffle does not have to be present.

“Honor Roll” patrons for Dreams of Petrovskaya include Bank of America/Merrill Lynch; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Continental Airlines; Gina DelGiudice-Asch, M.D. & William Asch; Event FX; Fallen Angels Foundation; Stephanie & Jason Frede; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Hess, Jr.; Hyatt Regency Princeton; Janssen, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals; Cathy & Tom McCool; Munich Re; Novo Nordisk; Olsen Foundation; Thomas Edison State College; Turn-Key Environmental Services; Tyco International; V.J. Scozzari & Sons; Wachovia, A Wells Fargo Company. The “Honor Roll” comprises sponsors who have demonstrated leadership support of the event.

Individual seats for Dreams of Petrovskaya are $350. Sponsorship opportunities are available. All proceeds benefit the children and adults served by Eden Autism Services. For Eden Dreams reservations or additional information, contact the Eden Institute Foundation at (609) 987-0099 or visit www.edendreams.org.

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