CID ULTIMATE PICNIC RAISES OVER $240,000
TO BENEFIT DEAF AND HEARING-IMPAIRED CHILDREN

ST. LOUIS, Missouri, May 20, 2005 — Central Institute for the Deaf (CID) raised $240,000 for the oral education of children in the CID school at its annual fundraising event, the Ultimate Picnic. Attended by 320 friends from the St. Louis community, this year’s event was held May 7 at CID. 

“Since 1994, the CID Ultimate Picnic has raised more than $1.5 million to help the CID school children,” said Robin M. Feder, MS, CFRE, executive director of CID. “Each year, proceeds go a long way toward helping deaf children from birth through age 12 learn to listen, talk and participate in mainstream educational settings. We are extremely grateful for all of our volunteers and sponsors from the community who make this event such a great success for the children.” 

The event was billed as the Ultimate Kentucky Derby After Party with the theme, "Run for the Roses." The evening featured auctions, music by Big Bamou, a spirited performance of "Camp Town Races" by CID students, hundreds of fresh red roses, mint juleps and sumptuous southern fare.

During the evening, silent and oral auction participants bid on private accommodations, each for a week, in Paris and New York,  a shih-tzu puppy, a walk-on part at the Muny, duck hunting in Canada, a stay in a condo at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia and a Cardinals home plate suite-game for 20 guests. A variety of other gift packages were also auctioned, including sporting events, dining and performing arts packages.

2005 CID Ultimate Picnic patrons include Derby Distinguished Benefactors Anabeth and John Weil and Martha E. Jones, Derby Benefactors Mr. and Mrs. F. Lee Hawes, and the following Derby Patrons: Alex and Alice Aboussie Family Charitable Foundation, Clayco Construction Company, The Commerce Trust Company, Ralph W. Kalish, Jr. and Eleanor L. Withers, Legacy Building Group, Mr. and Mrs. William B. McMillan, Jr., Nike IHM Inc., S.M. Wilson & Co. and Vee-Jay Cement Contracting Co., Inc.

Members of the Steering Committee hosting the 2005 CID Ultimate Picnic are Bonnie Andrews, Ellen Clark, Martee Combs, Doris Devereux, Doug Harbison, Janice Rohan-Hulse, Mindy Jeffries, Kathy Leonard, Carolyn Lussier, Cathy Lux, Kim Miller, Laurie Miller, Paul Nix, Deanne Parnas, Cheryl Warren and Anabeth Weil.
     
Founded in 1914,  CID  prepares deaf and hearing-impaired children to participate and succeed in mainstream educational settings. CID teachers use the auditory-oral method, helping deaf children learn to speak, listen and read with proficiency without the use of sign language. CID’s Joanne Parrish Knight Family Center serves deaf children and their families from birth to 3. Preschool-kindergarten and primary-middle school programs serve students ages 3 to 12. CID school children have come from 48 U.S. states and 24  countries. About 18% of CID children typically have family members move to St. Louis from other locales so they can attend. CID also offers mainstream transition assistance for hearing-impaired students, continuing education deaf education workshops for professionals and educational evaluations and curricula used to help deaf and hard of hearing children in 33 countries throughout the world.

CID is financially independent from but closely affiliated with CID at Washington University School of Medicine, which operates CID-developed adult clinic, research and academic programs to benefit children and adults with hearing loss.