E-News

Buy Tickets Now! HOT Party, COOL Cause is Sept. 26

PACER’s sixth annual HOT Party, COOL Cause is Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Fine Line Music Café in downtown Minneapolis. Enjoy the music of Christy Love and You Know Who, featuring former members of Boogie Wonderland while you support PACER. More

Take Action Against Bullying by Attending PACER’s Oct. 6 Event at Mall of America

Teens, kids, parents, and educators are invited to show support for the movement against bullying at a PACER Center event on Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 4:15 to 5 p.m. at the Mall of America’s Best Buy Rotunda, located on Level I, East between Sears and Bloomingdales. Kevin Jennings, U.S. Assistant Deputy Secretary for Safe and Drug-Free Schools, will speak at the event, highlighting PACER Center’s National Bullying Prevention Week, Oct. 4 – 10. There’ll be live music, give-aways, drawings, contests, special appearances, and more as teens, kids, parents, and schools join the movement against bullying. More

Become a Partner for the Fourth Annual National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week, Oct. 4–10

As part of PACER Center’s fourth annual National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week, Oct. 4–10, children, teens, adults, schools, and communities across the country are being encouraged to prevent bullying. The movement is being championed by Disney star and music sensation Demi Lovato, who was herself bullied in seventh grade. Lovato recently helped PACER launch its innovative new PACERTeensAgainstBullying.org—a relevant, edgy Web site created by teens, for teens. In addition to videos, stories, blogs, and social networking, the site features a toolbox of things teens and schools can do to address bullying—from creating their own videos and writing stories to performing role plays for younger students. Sign up here to become a partner! More

Join the Team Fundraising Drive to Prevent Bullying

The Carlson Family Foundation has generously offered to double contributions to PACER’s Team Challenge to End Bullying! We need your help, so please act now to support one of 10 fundraising teams. The end of bullying begins with you—so click, contribute, and help PACER collect the Carlson challenge grant. Thank you! More

PACER's Sixth Annual Housing Resource and Information Fair is Oct. 3

Families of teens and young adults with disabilities are invited to meet service providers and discuss housing options, services, supports, and related issues for their youth with disabilities. State and county representatives will be available to answer questions. It’s Saturday, Oct. 3, 9 a.m. to noon at PACER Center. Register now!

Teens’ Votes Can Mean Up to $250,000 for PACER’s Bullying Prevention Efforts

Best Buy’s @15 Change Exchange program has included PACER as a nonprofit partner. Teens’ votes determine what percentage of $250,000 PACER will receive. Here’s how it works: Teens age 14 to 18 can go to at15.com, where they register, earn points by taking part in the site in various ways, then click on the “@15 Change Exchange” section of the Web site to give their points to one or more of the four charity partners listed—including PACER. Voting takes place through October. PACER could earn a portion of $250,000 for its National Bullying Prevention Center and its new TeensAgainstBullying.org Web site. Tell teens you know to sign up now and pass the word! Teens can earn more points for PACER when they refer a friend to the site. More

Oct. 15 is Application Deadline for National Summit on Disability Policy 2010: ADA 1990–2010 Retrospective and Future Policy Directions

Are you interested in shaping national disability policies and programs for the next decade? The National Council on Disability (NCD) is seeking people with disabilities, individuals representing grassroots organizations, and others to share their views at its July 25 – 27, 2010, national summit in Washington, D.C. The National Summit is an invitation-only event, but if you are interested in attending, you may submit an application by Oct. 15, 2009. More

Spread Cheer with New PACER Holiday Cards; Order by Sept. 30

Let a sledding snowman and three rainbow penguins send winter cheer to your friends, relatives, clients, and employees this holiday season. These charming PACER cards, created by a child with a disability, can be customized with your own greeting. Featuring the artist’s bio and photo on the back, these full-color cards measure 4 ¾” x 6 ¼,” are printed on glossy card stock, and come with white envelopes. To learn more or to place an order, visit PACER.org/help/creativecustom2009.asp, call Nicole Stanich at 952-838-9000, or send an e-mail to Nicole.Stanich@PACER.org. Deadline for ordering is Sept. 30.

Attend the Free “Welcoming, Honoring, and Connecting Conference” Oct. 22 & 23

Parents will learn new ways to support their children’s education at the Minnesota Parent Center’s third annual dinner and conference. The free event includes a dinner (6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Oct. 22) and a conference (8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 23) that features informative breakout sessions and an inspiring keynote presentation by Minnesota Rep. Mindy Greiling. It’s at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, MN. Registration by Oct. 19 is required. More

Designate PACER During the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign Workplace Charity Drives

Many people have the option to select PACER as their preferred charity during workplace charity drives. Employees with a United Way drive may direct their contributions to PACER by checking “Other” on the form and write in PACER Center. (PACER is not a United Way agency, but is eligible for funds.) Federal civilian, military, or postal employees may contribute to PACER Center through their Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charity drive by looking for PACER in their local campaign booklet under the Children’s Charities of America (CCA) heading or alphabetically. To designate a gift to PACER, use code 12272. This code is unique to PACER and should be used under any heading where you see PACER’s name listed. To watch a video about one of PACER’s programs. visit cfcvideospeakersbureau.org and enter PACER as the keyword. The CFC drive will run from September through mid-December. Contribute at your workplace this fall to keep PACER’s important programs available at no charge! More

Make a Difference with PACER’s Starter Puppet Package

Teach preschool and elementary children about disabilities in a positive, entertaining way with PACER’s starter puppet package, a cost-effective way for schools and organizations to acquire the popular COUNT ME IN® disability awareness puppets and scripts. Supplements to the starter package include additional puppets and scripts focusing on topics such as autism, ADHD, Tourette syndrome, and, beginning in 2010, bullying prevention. For more information on purchasing the puppets and scripts for your school or organization, visit PACER.org/puppets, call PACER at 952-838-9000, or e-mail puppets@PACER.org.