Wednesday, 13 April 2011
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Charity Bites! Forewords Revealed!
Here are the Forewords for my new book Charity Bites!: The Untold Stories of the Dog-Eat-Dog World of Autism Activism.
Enjoy!
Zack
Foreword
Reading Charity Bites! is like having the key to Zack Gonzalez’s journal and reading his innermost thoughts on what it’s like to be a young adult navigating the charity world. I learned that sometimes there isn’t a lot of charity to be found. And like any business, fundraisers aren’t always (often?) much fun for the planners.
As a Mom to three daughters with autism, I’ve been watching the sibling brigade as I call the brothers and sisters of the kids of the autism epidemic. I am convinced that it’s the siblings who’ve seen their own childhoods turned inside out by virtue of having a brother or sister with autism who will make the most impact on the future of treatment, prevention and care for autism. Few start as early as Zack though.
While some siblings become angry, resentful and may even turn their back on their sib, Zack is a very cool example of a young man who has stepped up and stepped into the limelight to help his family. How many teens do you know who would start a radio program, run charity events, and generally make themselves well known for a disability for a sibling? Few, I assume. Zack is something special.
Sometimes Zack has a potty mouth–and he’s magically snarkalicious, I can promise you that. Both attributes endeared him to me and serve to bring the reader fully into his sense of outrage, determination, and love for his brother “Deets.”
Look, autism families need all the support they can get, whether their child is severely or more mildly affected by autism. My husband and I don’t have any neurotypical kids in the family. But most of our friends have “NT” kids and the love and care they provide is pretty amazing. To have the support come from inside the home is a real blessing.
And so is Zack.
Settle back and enjoy the read. I sure did.
KIM
Kim Stagliano, Managing Editor of “Age of Autism” Online Publication, Author of All I Can Handle: I’m No Mother Teresa, Autism Activist/Mother
www.ageofautism.com www.kimstagliano.com
Second Foreword
I met Zack a little over two years ago when his dumbass wanted to volunteer at the special needs summer camp I was running. Now I mean dumbass in the nicest way possible. Wait…is there a nice way? Pretty much this kid didn’t know what he was getting into when he befriended me. I’m a nut job. And I mean that in whatever way you want to take it.
I am a Therapeutic Programs Coordinator. I work with special needs kids in an aquatic setting. I am constantly trying to network with other charities on how we can work together FOR THE SAME CAUSE!!! Farfetched idea, I know. I told you I was a nut job. But it takes one to know one. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to listen to Zack tell me about the horror stories of how people will do ANYTHING to screw someone over for a dollar. If I had a dollar for every time I heard a story…I’d be a millionaire. SHAME ON YOOOOOUUUU!!!!
Zack’s brother, Deets (Ethan), was attending my camp for the second year and Zack was bored during his summer vacation and I took him under my wing and we bonded pretty much instantly….over Kendra and the Kardashians, of course. We’ve kept in touch over Facebook and I was lucky enough to help Zack in being a co-host for his “it’s on with Zack” autism-based radio show. I’ve also helped with his charity events and do whatever I can to get the word out about autism.
Back to Zack and this book. First off, I want to congratulate you on purchasing this book. Yeah for You! High five, gold star, pat on the back. Now, I want you to read it. Don’t be like the douches and leave it on your coffee table or bookshelf, just so people think you’re intelligent, or under your broken table to prop it up. Assholes. Zack is an inspiration. How many teenagers do you know, care about something other than themselves? Seriously. I’ll give you a minute.
Can’t do it, huh? This kid by the time he was sixteenyears old, he had written a book, Saving Deets!, started an online radio show, a clothing line, a chain of charity events, and still went to school and helped out his family. I bet you feel a li’l unaccomplished, huh? Sucks, don’t it? Way to rub it in Zack. You make the rest of us look bad. But! It has been the most fun times planning and bitching and goofing around with you.
Fun Zack fact #1: He is by far, one of the most (if not the most) PALEST person of any sort Latin-decent, I know. Be sure to ask him about his botched self-tan experience.
So, to the Kourtney to my Khloe, the Chuy to my Chelsea (that’s right, you’re Chuy!), the up to my down, the LiLo to my Britney (you’re LiLo cuz you know I’d be the one crazy enough to beat someone down then shave my head), the Ross Matthews (you look like him, I’m sorry!) to my Kendra Baskett, and finally, to the Abbot to my Costello, you are an amazing friend and I know that no matter what I do, no matter how dumb it is…you’ll come right back at me with a dumber story. I can count on it.
Thanks kid. Love you!
Oh, Fun Zack fact #2: Zack LOVES to ask who you’d “tap!”
There are kids out there who don’t have a voice. It take the hardworking parents and tough organizations to give them a chance at a “normal” life, whatever that means. They need to be able to have the same opportunities as everyone else. I don’t care who you are, if you are a barrier between us and help for that child, watch out. We gon’ fiiind you! And you can run and tell that, homeboy! That’s right, we’ll go Antoine Dodson on your ass.
To those out there who have ever been involved with a charity, work with a charity organization, or who want to start a charity…don’t be an asshole. Remember the reason you’re helping. It’s not about the money, it’s not about the fame, it’s about helping those we love. If you’re in it for the money and fame, you’re…an ASSHOLE. I hope you get raped by goats and die. Suck on that. AND if you don’t realize why you’re into charity, don’t screw over Zack, he’ll write a book about you and everyone will know how big of a douche bag you are…unless you’re into that kind of thing. Creeper.
P.S. Zack, I can see your Pikachu!
P.P.S This book is so badass it has TWO forewords. Bitch, what?!
Deborah Noonan, Therapeutic Programs Coordinator, Autism Activist, Zack’s Bestfriend
Charity Bites! is on sale June 14, 2011
Pre-order on www.ZackGonzalez.com now!
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