The family, from left: John, Carter, Patti, and Caileigh Crockett, and Tyrone Dunn.
2018 Hometown Hero continues community service by giving back.
For the past 12 years, John and Patti Crockett of Millville have worked tirelessly to bring the community “Bottoms Up for Autism,” a major fundraiser for FACES 4 Autism, a local group that supports people on the autism spectrum.
John and Patti have two children with autism, Carter and Caileigh, and their whole family works hard, but enjoys bringing together their own extended family, friends, and most importantly, having the community together for the event.
The evening strives to bring awareness and to educate people about autism.
It takes place at the Old Oar House Irish Pub on High Street in Millville. As it began in 2015, it was a moderately-sized endeavor, Now, hundreds attend and it grows every year.
In that crowd were Mitchell Faul and his daughter Sarah Hutt, from Vineland.
It’s a beautiful, beautiful event” said Mitchell,“It means a lot, you know, showing the community about something that’s very widespread, that a lot of people don’t know about, just showing love to those who need it, you know what I mean.”
Large numbers of the Crockett family both volunteer to help run the auction and patronize it. Most could be seen putting their tickets into the chance auction holders along with the rest of the crowd.
Kevin Crockett, John’s brother, was trying hard to win four greens fees with dinner included at Running Deer Country Club in Pittsgrove. He seemed to be going back to that display each time I looked.
The family support for the auction was revealed again.
“My niece is working with me,” said Phil Shepherd of Philadelphia, who looked like he was selling more than the average number of auction tickets. “My sister and my cousin are also volunteering with me and my other sister is working next-door in the Oar House, which is an important part of this.”
Among the prized items in the chance auction were four Philadelphia Flyers tickets, which included parking, and clearly had the biggest pile of tickets in its container. A pair of widescreen TVs also contended for best prize.
In the live auction which followed the chance auction, a half dozen baskets of cheer; featuring top quality rums, vodkas, wines, and more seemed most popular.
Patti talked about the benefits of having such a big family to support this endeavor.
“It’s an enormous family,” she said. “My dad came from 11, my mom came from six.”
Carter has been working as a volunteer in charities since his early teens and won a 2018 Hometown Hero Award at just 15 from SNJ Today.
One of his best friends, Christine Kelly, donates many interesting items each year to the fundraiser, including this year’s autographed photos of celebrities like Mickey Dolan of the Monkees and Happy Days’ Anson Williams.
“I volunteer here and I think it’s pretty great because we donate for a good cause and we’re getting a whole bunch of good people together and everybody’s having a good time,” Christina said.
The beneficiary of the evening’s proceeds, FACES 4 Autism is a nonprofit organization that supports children, teens, and adults on the spectrum and those who love them. FACES provides resources to families and educators in the South Jersey area and is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals on the spectrum through social opportunities and programs that foster self advocacy, independence, and dignity.
I mentioned to Patti that this effort originated with what some people would think is a tragic situation.
“It was difficult,” she said. “John’s work was very demanding. It was sometimes tiring.”
“Over time, though, and with amazing teachers and support staff, we have come very far with the children. They went to school in Millville and Carter went all the way through Millville High School. Caileigh went to Silver Run in Millville and just graduated from Yale School – Marlton Campus this year.
“I’m not exaggerating. They’ve gone very far and they’re great kids and they’re doing fantastic.” she added.
John talked with the same sympathetic enthusiasm as his wife.
“Carter has Asperger’s syndrome, which is the higher functioning form of autism.,” he said. “Caileigh’s graduation from The Yale School will serve her well for her whole life. It’s a private autism school and it is fantastic and they’ve done wonders for her. She’s delightful and very funny and we’re proud to have both of them here working for the community.”
“This gets bigger every year, “John went on. “We used to be able to have it just inside the Oar House, but we ran out of space so our very good friend offered his US Taekwondo Center for the past two years.
As the chance auction and raffle wound down and the live auction began, I went to the Oar House and it seems most of the patrons were people I had seen next-door at the studio. They were relaxing.
A Hometown Hero
At 15 years old, Carter Crockett has already dedicated his life to community service—and made headlines in the process. After a family dinner at Chili’s, Carter asked his mother “What is St. Jude’s?” when he noticed the restaurant was doing a benefit for the children’s hospital. When she answered him, his response was “that’s awesome but also very sad.”
He never forgot the hospital. and decided to help St. Jude’s in a big way. Carter began spreading his message to family and friends: He was looking for coloring book and crayon donations to give St. Jude’s patients some “color.” With the help of Chili’s as a sponsor, he’s donated coloring books, crayons, gift cards, and Play Doh. When all of the donations were in, he and a family friend hopped in an RV and set out for Memphis. Carter said “I’m putting my autism on the side so I can help them.”
Excerpted from SNJ Today writeup in February 2018.
