This tournament tees off on autism

Oakland Tribune, Jun 13, 2006 by Brian Foley PLEASANTON , STAFF WRITER

DESPITE PARENTING two autistic boys, for Eric and Cindy Everson, organizing a golf tournament isnt exactly a cake walk.

About six years ago, my husband decided he wanted to do something for a bigger cause, said Cindy Everson. I thought he was crazy, because we were so busy already.

But the idea has blossomed into a successful undertaking. Monday marked the fifth annual PAR 4 Kids Sake Golf Tournament, an all-day tournament that drew 260 golfers and hundreds more for a dinner and auction. The tournament, held at the Castlewood Country Club was expected to raise six figures for research on autism.

Last year, we made $180,000 and, of course, were hoping to surpass that this year, Everson said. People have a heart for children. In general, the community wants to be involved with things that help kids.

Proceeds go to the M.I.N.D. Institute at the UC Davis Medical Center. For the first time, a portion will go to the Taylor Family Foundation in Livermore. The Eversons also established grants for East Bay special education teachers. Last year, grants totaling

$20,000 were issued.

Their stipend is very small, like $300 for the whole year, Everson said. So we give them an additional $500 on top of that.

A lot has changed over five years. At the first event in 2002, the Sunol event drew 100 golfers and raised $35,000.

There were 14 items on the table to auction, Everson said.

On Monday, some of the items to be auctioned included trips to Hawaii, the Caribbean and Tahoe. There also was a diamond ring and a ride in a Hummer limousine.

The Eversons initial idea of organizing a golf tournament came out of the raising of their two autistic sons, Shane, 9, and Joe, 6.

My kids are special boys, Cindy Everson said. They have special talents and their own abilities that bring satisfaction to us. It has given me a different perspective on what to hope for. They are very happy kids and, as long as they are happy, it makes us happy parents.

The challenges parents face when raising autistic children is multilay-

ered. Autistic children have unique needs and varying levels of difficulties.

Communicating is always a challenge, Everson said. Everyday is a challenge in raising them.

For example, Eversons younger son Joe gets upset when the neighbors garage doors are open. But Shane likes it when garage doors are open. Anytime a neighbor closes a garage door, Joe is overjoyed.

Hes so happy when they close their garage doors. It would be like giving a kid an Xbox or something, Everson said.

Jennifer Montgomery, a friend and tournament volunteer, has an autistic nephew. Before her nephew was diagnosed, she only knew of autism through the Eversons.

He still has no language skills, she said. He wants to talk but he doesnt have the ability to.

With the tournament growing each year, it was hard to estimate how much money would be raised Monday. Montgomery credits the cause as the main reason for the tournaments success.

Almost everybody here knows somebody with autism, Montgomery said. Its so prevalent.

Staff writer Brian Foley can be reached at (925) 416-4818 and bfoley@trivalleyherald.com.