Miller YMCA "Zumbathon" Raises Awareness and Funds for Ventura County Autism Society

Sept. 16, 2011 - PRLog -- NEWBURY PARK, CALIF.--The Miller Family YMCA of Newbury Park threw a Zumbathon and fundraiser for the Ventura County Autism Society (VCAS) on September 10. More than 300 participants attended the four-hour, non-stop workout. The event raised more than $2,200 for VCAS through donations, raffle tickets and silent auction sales.

   Twenty-seven instructors volunteered to conduct the Zumba class. Coordinating the event was Zumba instructor Amanda Welti whose daughter has autism. The Y cleared out its preschool and group fitness rooms to accommodate the large crowd. "It is great when we can open our doors to our community to raise money and awareness for such a meaningful cause and organization," says Tarrik Daou, the Miller Y's healthy living director. "It was also a day to promote healthy living through group exercises like Zumba."

   VCAS is made up of mostly individuals and families with children with autism of all ages. Membership also includes service providers, agency staff, educators, teachers and professionals. For more information, go to www.vcas.info

   Welti hosts Zumbathons every three months for various charities. The events are free but donations are accepted. "One hundred percent of donations go to selected charity," says Welti. Her next Zumbathon will be in December and will raise funds for Ballet For All Kids (www.balletforallkids.com a nonprofit organization that caters to non-typical kids learning ballet. For more information on Welti and her efforts, go to www.amandasworkout.com.

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With branches in Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village and Simi Valley, the Southeast Ventura County YMCA serves the communities of Newbury Park, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Santa Rosa Valley, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills and Oak Park.