REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Guests and sponsors at the 8th annual Unspoken Angel fundraiser on Saturday and Golf tournament Sunday (7/30 & 7/31) donated more than $800,000 to help support Tessera, a nonprofit organization serving people with autism in East King and Snohomish Counties. The event is held each year to raise funds to help support community based recreational and social activities for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

"We are blessed to receive such incredible support from our guests and sponsors," said Tessera Executive Director Inga Paige. "I can't thank them enough."

This year's event included support from two "wildly" exciting new sources, Nutramax Laboratories and Cougar Mountain Zoo. The zoo brought their popular baby cougar cubs and exotic Australian raptors to the golf course to the delight of tournament guests and their families. The cubs were joined by Jungle Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and spokesperson for Cosequin®, the number one veterinarian recommended joint health supplement for animals.*

"Nutramax Laboratories and Cosequin are proud to support such a worthy cause," added Nutramax Vice President of Consumer Products David Moore. "Working to improve lives is part of our company mission, and events like this offer yet another way to put that into practice."

The proceeds from this year's fundraiser will be used to complete the remodel of Tessera's lifelong learning center to get it ready for opening, and to help the organization purchase a second home. The learning center will allow the expansion of programs offered, including behavioral therapy, social skills training, exercise, team sports and activities, cooking and activities of daily living.

For more information or to make a donation, the public is encouraged to visit tessera.org.

*Source: Survey conducted in November of 2009 of small animal veterinarians who recommend oral joint health supplements.

SOURCE Tessera

RELATED LINKS
http://www.tessera.org