MEDIA RELEASE

Children’s Research Triangle Hawaii hosts its first fundraiser with a Kentucky Derby Brunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 5 at The Fairmont Orchid.

Emceed by Sherry Bracken, the event will bring some Southern style to the Big Island and will include a live viewing of the Kentucky Derby Race, a Southern Brunch, Silent Auction, Pick Your Favorite Horse Drawing with a 55” flat screen TV prize and Best Big Hat / Best Dressed Couple Contest.

Tickets are $75/person and can be purchased at www.crthawaii.org

All funds raised at the event will go toward establishing The Brighter Future Children’s Center. The Center will provide diagnosis and treatment for children with special needs and at risk children, many of whom were exposed to alcohol and/or drugs during pregnancy resulting in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or FASD, the No. 1 known preventable cause of mental retardation in the U.S.

In the last five years, CRT Hawaii has trained and worked with local providers to screen pregnant women for alcohol and other substance use.

Of the 3,153 women on the Big Island screened to date, 49 percent of the pregnant women had a positive screen for substance use – that is, they were using alcohol, tobacco and/or marijuana during early pregnancy.

This number is significant because of what it means in the lives of the children who were exposed before they were born, as well as the families / caretakers of the children. Children born with FAS/FASD are subject to developmental disabilities, birth defects and numerous other lifelong health issues.

They can have difficulty with “executive functioning” or the ability to plan and complete a task, follow directions and learn. This often leads to trouble in school, dropping out and eventual drug or alcohol use by the child. For families, coping with their children’s challenges can be devastating. For the community, the cost is high.

According to Theresa Kellerman’s research, on average a baby born in Hawaii with FAS, can cost as much as $5 million during their lifetime. The annual cost to U.S. taxpayers for treating FAS is $5.8 billion.

In addition to continuing with current education and prevention programs, the Brighter Future Children’s Center will bring on Island assessment and treatment to our at risk children. The Center will give families the opportunity to understand their child’s challenges and give them a treatment plan to ensure the best possible future within their child’s capabilities. Early intervention and treatment for children with FAS and FASD truly offers them a chance for
a “Brighter Future.”

Children’s Research Triangle (CRT) Hawaii is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the healthy development of children and their families. CRT’s staff is committed to their mission to provide research driven services that improve the quality of life for all children with special needs or those who are at risk for developmental, behavioral, psychological or educational problems.

In Hawaii, CRT is the recipient of a federal grant to provide education and materials to medical providers who care for pregnant women. The medical personnel use the tools provided by CRT to screen women for potential alcohol, tobacco and drug use, offer a brief intervention, education about the dangers of using alcohol, tobacco and drugs during pregnancy, and refer them to outside agencies for support when necessary.

For more information on FAS, Children’s Research Triangle Hawaii or to make a donation, contact Sharon Bechler at 885-0501, email at infocrthawaii@gmail.com, or visit www.crthawaii.org