​I’m Lauren Burkhalter, a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. I’m also the Chair of the Easterseals Northeast Central Florida board of directors. My primary responsibilities as board Chair are to lead the board of directors in its many responsibilities as well as help drive mission awareness and board participation for the organization. 

Amazingly, I’ve been a board member for more than a decade; time flies! My father Steve served for many years on the board before me. I was aware and appreciative of Easterseals’ mission and services to our community during his time of leadership, and I soon wanted to serve on the board and continue to make a difference myself.

I have a long history with Easterseals. When I was young, my parents brought me for pediatric hearing tests after discovering I may have had early hearing loss. Their positive experience was the beginning of a longtime relationship that my family would have with this incredible organization.

I’m excited about many things coming up in the next several months at Easterseals, including our “Over the Edge at ONE DAYTONA” event this November 1-2. (I hope you’re excited too!)  This year I have been able to get my Morgan Stanley Complex Manager to agree to go “Over the Edge” for Easterseals in the amazing rappelling event. Not only will it be fun and raise important funds for Easterseals, but 2019’s Over the Edge also will involve multiple offices across Central North Florida/Southern Georgia and include more than 200 advisors at Morgan Stanley! 

As a professional with financial expertise, I know it is of utmost importance for nonprofits to have the support of their local community. I can’t think of a better way to introduce Easterseals Northeast Central Florida and all we do to my coworkers than through Over the Edge!

Why do I believe so strongly in Easterseals? Easterseals is important to our community because it provides crucial services to people all over that, without our organization, would go underserved or possibly not served at all. We bring awareness to all kinds of disabilities –- those that are seen and unseen. We provide therapy, early intervention services and even pioneered the effort to bring pediatric medical services to Daytona Beach to serve our children locally. And, we have an acclaimed Autism Center of Excellence and Charter School too. That’s just the beginning!

Many people have heard of Easterseals, but few know the depth and breadth of what we do and who we serve, and that we do it with a dedicated and knowledgeable team. I encourage you to explore our website to learn about the full scope of our services and get to know us better! When you do, it will become even more apparent why I’m proud to serve Easterseals with my time, talent and treasure. 

I hope to see you at Over the Edge at ONE DAYTONA! A good time will be had by all!

If you plan to attend the Nov. 1-2 Over the Edge at ONE DAYTONA fundraiser for Easterseals and NASCAR Foundation, be sure to cheer for Matt Birnie as he stands atop the 8-story International Motorsports Center and prepares to rappel. He’s not fond of heights, but he loves Easterseals, and that’s why he’s being brave for courageous kids again this fall.

The 38-year-old account executive at Brown & Brown has been connected to Easterseals for more than 30 years – ever since his brother began receiving services as an infant. Matt’s brother signed up to go Over the Edge in November and Matt will be joining him again in a show of support.

Last year, when Matt was approached by Easterseals Northeast Central Florida’s VP-Planned Giving Susan Moor about rappelling in support of Easterseals for the first time, he had an instant and strong reaction.

“I asked Susan if she was crazy,” he recalled. “Heights are not my favorite thing.”

As a veteran “Edger,” Matt’s hoping to continue to motivate others to keep conquering and overcoming their fears.

“Considering all the challenges children who are helped by Easterseals face, (rappelling) is a minor challenge for me,” he said. “When I’m up there, I just keep saying to myself, ‘Don’t look down. Don’t look down.'

“I’ve seen what Easterseals has done to change our family in time of need, and I’ve seen how it’s helped my brother become who is today,” said Matt. “I feel very passionate about supporting it.

“Over the Edge at ONE DAYTONA is a fun event that really makes a difference,” he added. “I know firsthand how Easterseals serves the community; Easterseals is an organization that does things for families in need and can help kids live out their dreams. Why not do it?”

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We want YOU to consider being an Edger with Matt this November! Raise funds for Easterseals and NASCAR Foundation while having a blast being brave for courageous kids. To learn more about Over the Edge at ONE DAYTONA, to sponsor a rappeler, sponsor the event or sign up for a spot on the ropes, visit www.daytonaovertheedge.org. 

Everyday heroes, thrill seekers and community leaders are invited to BE BRAVE FOUR COURAGEOUS KIDS during the third annual “Over The Edge At ONE DAYTONA” (OTE) event on November 1-2, 2019.

Registration is now open for individual fundraisers! The first 140 fundraisers who raise a minimum of $1,000 will earn their spot to go Over the Edge of the west-side façade of the 102-foot-high International Motorsports Center, the headquarters of NASCAR and International Speedway Corporation (ISC).

​​Register and learn more about the event at www.DaytonaOverTheEdge.org, and follow the event’s progress at https://www.facebook.com/DaytonaOverTheEdge/. We want to cheer you on as you go Over the Edge for kids!

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About The NASCAR Foundation
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing Inc. (NASCAR) established The NASCAR Foundation in January 2006 to support initiatives that positively affect the lives of children throughout the United States. The 501(c) (3) non-profit entity partners with medical experts and other charitable organizations to fund children’s health care programs. The NASCAR Foundation has cumulatively donated $32 million to reach more than one million children. 

About Easterseals of Northeast Central Florida
Easterseals has been helping individuals with disabilities and special needs, and their families, live better lives for nearly 90 years, and serves more than 17,500 individuals and families with a range of disabilities to achieve their full potential. With facilities in Daytona Beach, DeLand, Bunnell, and Leesburg, Easterseals’ purpose is to the way the world defines and views disability...whether physical, intellectual, emotional or social, by making profound, positive differences in people's lives...everyday.  

Michael Sousou, SpecialCare Planner with MassMutual Southeast Coast, shared his expertise with families attending Over the Edge At ONE DAYTONA earlier this month in Daytona Beach.

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual)’s SpecialCare was a sponsor of the annual fundraising event benefiting Easterseals of Northeast Central Florida and The NASCAR Foundation. While cheering on rappelers, Sousou distributed information about MassMutual’s SpecialCare program for people with disabilities and other special needs and their families.

A financial professional, Sousou has received special training in estate and tax planning concepts, special needs trusts and government programs. He explained that through SpecialCare, parents’ and guardians’ dreams for their loved one with disabilities are put in place in the event they are no longer able to care for their dependent.

“We assist parents who have children with special needs, or adults with special needs, by helping them maintain their government benefits like SSI and Medicaid and by assisting them in establishing special needs trusts,” said Sousou. “A special needs trust allows parents (or any donor) to put assets in the trust for the child with special needs. And, no matter how much is in the trust for the dependent’s benefit, they can still qualify for their government assistance, too.”

SpecialCare helps parents and guardians by educating them about things such as how to maintain benefits for their children with disabilities from birth through adulthood, and a special needs trust is a key strategy. The trusts are created to supplement – not supplant – government benefits. 

Another popular product offered by SpecialCare Planners is life insurance.

“One of the unique products we offer is life insurance for the parent or guardian of the child with special needs, and in those policies, we include the special needs trust as the beneficiary of the policy,” he said. “So, if something happens to the parent or guardian, the life insurance policy pays into the trust and it’s used to cover expenses for the benefit of the dependent with special needs.”

“These policies can give parents and guardians a feeling of confidence,” said Sousou.

Sousou holds workshops throughout the region to educate parents and guardians about MassMutual’s SpecialCare offerings. He simplifies the perceived complexities and walks hand in hand through the program with families.

“In the end, it’s well worth it to many families because they have the confidence of knowing that, no matter what happens to the parent or whomever is taking care of the individual with special needs, they can be taken care of for life. It’s about more than lifetime care, which is what government benefits provide; it’s about maintaining a desired quality of life for their loved one.

SpecialCare Planners like Michael Sousou help clients:

•  Access local organizations and advocacy groups
• Protect future eligibility for government benefits
•  Create a Life Care Plan
•  Understand the financial and legal issues in special needs planning, including special needs trusts
• Determine how much money is needed to provide for lifetime quality care

To learn more about MassMutual’s SpecialCare program, contact Michael Sousou at msousou@financialguide.com or call him at 904-621-0445.
 
Easterseals thanks MassMutual SpecialCare for its continued support and sponsorship of Over the Edge At ONE DAYTONA.

Local firms are sales offices of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), and are not subsidiaries of MassMutual or its affiliated companies.  Easterseals is not a subsidiary or affiliated of MassMutual or its affiliated companies. CRN202011-239998

Rebekah Petrick, Marketing Director at Chick-fil-A Ormond Towne Square, was on site during Over the Edge AT ONE DAYTONA Nov. 2-3. She cheered brave Edgers (including Chick-fil-A Cow), welcomed non-rappelers to the “Chicken Coop” photo booth and distributed Chick-fil-A goodies to young fans (and young-at-heart fans, too).
 
Petrick is a familiar face around the community; Chick-fil-A Town Square is an engaged local business that hosts and supports several family-friendly events throughout the year.
 
Some of the Ormond Towne Square’s Chick-fil-A’s most popular events, said Petrick, include its recent Fall Festival, the ongoing “Soda Pop with a Cop” program, Spirit Nights and upcoming “Light up Ormond Beach.” Petrick oversees all the fun.
 
“Our most popular event has been our annual Fall Festival, which entails community vendor participation, face painting and photo contests,” said Petrick. Online during the Festival, families were invited to post their favorite fall photo and tag the store’s Facebook page for a chance to win SeaWorld tickets, too. Community organizations that participated in the Fall Festival included Ormond Beach Police & Fire Department, YMCA, Schmancy's Pops, Calvary Christian, Aqua Journey's Swimming School and Humana.
 
Another popular attraction at Chick-fil-A Ormond Towne Square is “Soda Pop with a Cop.” Petrick and her team welcomes community members to have a soda with Ormond Beach Police Officers. The store offers a free Chick-fil-A 4ct Kid’s Meal for each child in attendance. Of course, no Chick-fil-A event would be complete without the Chick-fil-A Cow, who always makes a special appearance.
 
On Monday, Nov. 19, the community is invited to celebrate the Christmas season for “Light Up Ormond” at Chick-fil-A Ormond Towne Square. From 6-8 p.m., guests can check out the store’s amazing light display, enjoy crafts, Santa Cow and more. Fans who tag their photos with #lightupormond during the event and accumulate the most likes by 4 p.m. on Nov. 20, will receive a Chick-fil-A surprise that will include four SeaWorld Tickets. Check out event details on the store’s Facebook page.
 
Easterseals of Northeast Central Florida, The NASCAR Foundation and Over the Edge At ONE DAYTONA thank Rebekah Petrick, the brave Chick-fil-A Cow and the Chick-fil-A Ormond Towne Square team for helping make our November 2-3 event so fun and memorable.

If you saw people dangling on ropes from the 102-foot International Motorsports Center in Daytona Beach last week, your eyes weren’t deceiving you. In fact, dozens of rappelers went “Over the Edge” of the 8-story building in support of Easterseals of Northeast Central Florida and The NASCAR Foundation. By all accounts, the 2nd Annual Over the Edge at ONE DAYTONA was a huge success!
 
On Friday and Saturday, Nov. 2-3, Edgers who had sponsored the event, or who had individually fundraised for their spot, took their place on the ropes for two action-packed days across from Daytona International Speedway.
 
The event raised more than $131,000 for the two charities and countless supporters learned what it takes to “Be Brave for Courageous Kids!”
 
First to rappel was longtime Easterseals champion Sheryl Cook, who rappelled alongside NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Rusty Wallace. Sheryl is the top individual fundraiser in the 2018 event, collecting more than $13,800. She’s a longtime Easterseals board member, honorary past chair & Lily Award recipient and lifelong Easterseals volunteer.
 
Another notable moment on the ropes was the challenge between Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri – a first-time Edger – and Volusia County Sheriff Michael Chitwood – a second-time Edger. Both successfully fundraised for their spot on the ropes. And, are you wondering who made it down the building first? We’ll never tell.
 
Over the Edge sponsors made the event possible! They include Victory Lane Sponsor Jeep Beach (jeepbeach.com); Landing Zone Sponsors The Daytona Beach News-Journal (news-journalonline.com), NASCAR (NASCAR.com), KIX Country 98.7 FM, Beach 92.7 FM, Bill Voges and Family, and Halifax Health; Building Sponsor International Speedway Corporation (internationalspeedwaycorporation.com); Volunteer Lounge Sponsor SpecialCare by MassMutual (massmutual.com/planning/topics/specialcare), and Media Sponsors WHOG 95.7 FM, WLOV 99.5 FM, HOT 94.1 FM, 103.3 The Vibe, and 93.1 Coast Country (daytonaradio.com).  We thank these sponsors for their support and encourage you to learn more about the above businesses. Please support them with your patronage.
 
Mark your calendars for the 3rd annual Over the Edge at ONE DAYTONA event, to be scheduled in fall 2019! Stay abreast of event updates at daytonaovertheedge.org. In the meantime, we welcome your engagement with Easterseals year-round. Learn more about Easterseals and its programs by calling
386-255-4568, 1-877-255-4568 (toll-free) or 386-310-1157 (videophone); emailing info@esnecfl.org; or visiting us online at www.eastersealsnecfl.org.

Do you know someone in Central Florida who exemplifies how to #BeBraveForCourageousKids?

Nominate your “Champion for Children” and enter them to win a free rappel down the 8-story International Motorsports Center in Daytona Beach in Over the Edge at ONE DAYTONA on November 3!
 
To nominate your “Champion for Children” for a free rappel, send the nominee’s name and 150 words or less about how they’re a hero for kids in our community to smoor@esnecfl.org by 5 p.m. Monday, October 22.

Keep an eye out for our announcement of the winner, which will be posted on the Over the Edge at ONE DAYTONA'S Facebook page by Thursday, November 1, 2018.
 
Proceeds from Over the Edge of ONE DAYTONA support Easterseals of Northeast Central Florida and The NASCAR Foundation. The event will welcome more than 100 rappelers to step over the edge to show love and support for children in our community with special healthcare needs. Please note that all “Champion for Children” nominees must be 13 years or older.
 
To rappel, sponsor or volunteer at Over the Edge at ONE DAYTONA, Nov. 2-3, 2018, visit www.daytonaovertheedge.org.​

The 2018 edition of Over the Edge at ONE DAYTONA this November 2-3 will be successful for many reasons: the rappelers who fundraise to earn their spots on the ropes, the cheerleaders who encourage those Edgers to “be brave for courageous kids,” and the incredible businesses that support the unique event through their charitable giving.
 
Jeep Beach Inc., an annual event each April in Daytona Beach, has stepped up as a 2018 sponsor of Over the Edge at ONE DAYTONA and is excited about the opportunity.
 
“Jeep Beech chose Over the Edge at ONE DAYTONA because the funds raised from it go to such incredible kids in our communities,” said Charlene Greer, member of the Executive Board of Directors for Jeep Beach Inc. “The ability to continue the flow of support to children in our communities through Over the Edge was a natural fit for Jeep Beach.”
 
Jeep Beach celebrated its 15th anniversary this year when it welcomed more than 6,000 Jeeps inside and outside The Daytona International Speedway for the main event. The grassroots effort by volunteers in the “Jeeping” community has brought the event to the level it is now, supported by vendors and sponsors within the Jeep industry. The event attracts a very large, diverse demographic. The 2018 event saw participants from Brazil, Ukraine, Italy, Australia, Russia, and Canada. During the event, hotel occupancy in the Daytona Beach area was at a staggering 82 percent.
 
The organization is proud to give back locally to causes that make a difference.
 
“Jeep Beach Inc. has a unique opportunity to support many outstanding charities within our local Central Florida communities,” added Greer. “We have a very strong belief in ‘taking care of those that take care of you.’ If we take care of our communities, our communities will take care of us.
 
“And, I am excited to have the opportunity to accomplish something like rappelling 8 stories…I never thought I would ever do such a thing,” added Greer. I am nervous about taking that first step Over The Edge, but I want each child I am rappelling for to know that they are worth every second and all the time and effort put into this event.”
 
Jeep Beach 2019 will be held April 22-28, 2019. To learn more about the weeklong event and all the activities it entails, visit www.jeepbeach.com.  To learn more about Over the Edge at ONE DAYTONA, November 2-3, 2018 and its sponsorship benefits, visit www.daytonaovertheedge.org.