Skippack, November 5, 2009 – Members of the Sellersville, PA-based Autism Support Network (ASN) visited The H&K Group’s headquarters on Monday, November 2, to accept a corporate sponsorship donation. The remittance, totaling approximately $5,800, was presented to ASN by H&K Group corporate officials and members of the company’s "Rock & Roll Ride for Autism" planning committee.
The donation presented to ASN on Monday night represents money raised by The H&K Group in an annual event the company calls the "Rock & Roll Ride for Autism." This year’s event was held on Saturday, September 19, and once again featured an 85-mile motorcycle tour from the company’s Skippack, PA headquarters to the famous Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA. At Pocono Raceway, riders were given the thrill of marshaled parade laps around the famous "Tricky Triangle" and the opportunity to participate in a popular vendor-sponsored raffle at the track in support of ASN. Over 350 riders turned out this year to show their support for Autism awareness.
First held in 2008, The H&K Group’s "Rock & Roll Ride for Autism," was conceived by two H&K Group employees, John Gavis and Drew Baskin, who, as motorcycle enthusiasts, saw the group riding event as a way to raise awareness and support for Autism. Gaining overwhelming support from their employer and Pocono Raceway, the pair sought additional support from local businesses, fellow employees and friends, and ultimately hosted the outing in 2008.
The H&K Group’s Chief Operating Officer, James T. ("Jim") Haines and his wife, Pam, have a son, Matthew, who was diagnosed with Autism at age three. Matthew, who is currently 18, participated in the event last year with his parents. Jim and Pam Haines are extremely active in the Autism community and co-founded the Sellersville, PA-based, ASN. ASN is a non-profit, parent-run organization that provides support and information to families in Bucks and Montgomery Counties that have children who have a diagnosis on the autistic spectrum.
Further information on this corporate sponsored event may be obtained by calling The H&K Group at (610) 222-4039 or pointing your browser to www.hkgroup.com. Additional information on the ASN may be obtained directly at (215) 453-9070 or on their website at
www.autismsupportnetwork.org . Pocono Raceway may be reached for comment at (570) 646-2300 or on the web at www.poconoraceway.com.
Photo Insert (from left to right): James T. Haines (The H&K Group), Drew Baskin (The H&K Group), John A. Haines (The H&K Group), Heidi Johnson (Secretary, ASN), Linda Strickland (Treasurer, ASN), Tina McDevitt (Co-President, ASN), Dan Alderfer (The H&K Group), and John Gavis (The H&K Group)
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Additionalevent photos for The H&K Group’s 2009 Rock & Roll Ride for Autism may be viewed online at http://community.webshots.com/user/frogie2002 .