Emmaus ‘Party’ Nets Nearly $700 for Autism Speaks

You can never have too much of a good thing – or so the saying goes.

And, that surely seemed to be the unofficial motto of the third annual Pokemon Party and Beyblade Tournament held on at St. Margaret’s Church in Emmaus on Saturday.

The March 9 event, organized by Lower Macungie Middle School teacher Alice Boulrice, brought in $585 dollars for Boulrice’s team (Team Thundercats) in the April 20 Walk Now for Autism Speaks.

Proceeds from first party/tournament benefitted Autism Speaks through the Boulrice family’s walking team at that year’s walkathon too.

The second year’s proceeds did the same thing, but also included sales of chocolate puzzled-shaped lollipops donated to Autism Speaks through another Emmaus walking team.

This year, a third local walking team joined the festivities, selling cupcakes to the hungry party goers, and a fourth team, represented by a group of five LMMS students who donated their time to monitor the Pokemon gaming tables, got in on the action too. 

Here are the specific details on who helped out with Saturday’s event and how:

• Team Thundercats raised $585 for Autism Speaks through the 40 participants in the party/tournament  
• Kids Go Blue, represented by Gianna Albanese and Brenda Ward raised $60 through a bake sale. 
• Ryan's Warriors, represented by Father Wayne of St. Margaret’s and his wife, again sold chocolate puzzle lollipops and raised $50.
• The middle schoolers from Team X-Treme who helped out as “Gym Leaders" (those who know Pokemon, know what that means) were Billy Weiss, Jeremy Sanville, Josh Sanville, Eli Zukowski, and Nick Gardner. Billy's mom (Nancy Weiss) helped out with the Pokemon craft as did Lynn Faust, a St. Margaret’s board member.
• St. Margaret’s donated the hall for the event and Joe’s Pizza donated five pizza’s to feed the attendees.
• Boulrice also points out that her husband Jason Boulrice, sister Jeannie Chukoskie, Emmaus High School teacher Jason Geist and Emily Geist all helped out with the event. And, she offers her congratulations to Beyblade tournament winners Nick Gardner and Evan Amey.