First of all, I want to extend a deep apology for taking so long to send this thank you. I have written and re-written it, trying to achieve perfection, because I want each and every one of you to know how much we appreciate all the work that went into the money for Alyssa’s home ABA program. My lateness in April, puts us into the middle Autism Awareness Month, though.

From the Ray family to everyone at UTM: THANK YOU! The efforts of the Greek community, the Leaders in Residence team, and the students and staff at UTM are again making an incredible difference in the life of one very special little girl.

The time the Greek community poured into the week of competition and fundraising is the most precious gift you could give. The awareness you bring to the disability called AUTISM is priceless. I am humbled by your compassion for Alyssa.

You have enabled our family to be able to continue to provide for Alyssa the large number of one-on-one intervention hours she needs in order to learn. She needs help learning from an educational perspective, and she needs help learning how to play, communicate and socialize with other people.

Your gifts allow me to continue to stay at home and spend valuable time with Alyssa, her brother and sister, to continue to work to bring Alyssa forward in her development. You’ve enabled me to do FAR more for Alyssa than I would have otherwise; you took away the burden of choosing “this” intervention or “that” one, because I couldn’t afford both.

You’ve kept me from having to work nights and weekends away from my family; you’ve given me a reason to keep pushing and researching and trying new ways to teach her; you’ve given me hope for a future for my daughter. Words are still inadequate to describe just how MUCH you have given us.

My heart is so completely filled with love, appreciation, awe, gratitude, but the right words to tell you how much I appreciate every one of you, don't seem to exist. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

With love from the Ray family: Dale, Penny, Mikaela, Alex and Alyssa