SAN ANTONIO – With one in every 68 babies diagnosed with autism and one in eight born premature, the Any Baby Can Fashion Show and Luncheon's success at raising funds is crucial to its future.
Wednesday's event featured several families who are examples of what it takes to save a child.
Little 3-year-old Rosie took to the catwalk like a pro, despite being born severely premature at 23 weeks. She's a walking miracle in the eyes of doctors and her family.
Anna Ortiz says of her daughter, "We were told she may never walk. There was a chance she may never talk. And here she is today."
She says Any Baby Can offered everything from
paid utility bills to a breast pump so that Rosie could get valuable
breast milk while trying to grow in the NICU.
"Any Baby stepped in as a family. They came in, they guided me. They showed me things I can do so I could help my daughter," she said.
Any Baby Can President Dawn Dixon said they have an operating budget of $3 million, so the $65,000 raised at the luncheon is crucial to being able to provide all the sorts of services and support to families.
"Anna is such a good example," Dixson said. "She's done everything possible for Rosie. All she needed was a little support to get her started."
The same is true of Ryan Forsyth, who brought his
rum bar to the event. As he mixed Papa Pilar drinks, he was reminded
of his autistic son and the help he received.
"They came out to the house and helped us as far as where to go from there, and who we should take him to, so it was a great starting point," he said.
Any Baby Can believes that children can be saved without losing the family. It's a nonprofit agency and all services are provided free of charge -- regardless of income -- to families who have a child birth through 12 years of age, and/or an adult individual with a chronic illness, disability, developmental delay or health risk.
It's a cause that is close to the heart of Susan Moulton, the founder of another nonprofit, the Will Smith Foundation, which provides year round funding for Any Baby Can. She received prestigious Angel Award at the luncheon.
The child must reside in Bexar, Atascosa, Bandera, Blanco, Caldwell, Comal, Edwards, Frio, Gillespie, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Medina, Real, Uvalde or Wilson county.
To contact them, visit www.anybabycansa.org.