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6HelpLinePAWS AND PALS HIGHLIGHTED ON PREMIERE EPISODE OF“CESAR MILLAN’S DOG NATION”“Cesar Millan’s Dog Nation,” featured The Help Group’s Paws and Palsfor Kids with Autism program on its premiere episode on the Nat GeoWILD network. The new series follows world-famous dog behavioristCesar Millan and his son Andre Millan as they team up on a road tripacross America. In each city, the father-son-duo visit organizations thatare working with dogs and making a difference in the communitiesthey serve. The Help Group was selected as one of the non-profitorganizations to be featured on the show.In the episode, Dr. Jason Bolton, The Help Group Vice President,welcomed Cesar and Andre and gave them a tour of The Help Group’sSherman Oaks campus. Throughout the tour Dr. Bolton explained,“Dogs provide a calming influence, and for kids who have challenges,that state of calmness is really important because it allows them to beready for learning. They also develop a bond with the dogs. When kidswith autism engage with dogs they tend to socialize with each othermore.”While at The Help Group, Cesar and Andre witnessed first-hand whatCesar described as “the healing powers of dog therapy with kids withautism.”“My heart melted today. It hits a personal spot because I have familymembers with special needs.” Andre remarked, “It’s phenomenal tosee such an elaborate program for the kids, and the power dogs haveto change people.”Our thanks to Cesar and Andre Millan; the exceptional production teamof “Cesar Millan’s Dog Nation,” and to all of the Paws and Pals For KidsWith Autism volunteers.(See related story on page 7)

HelpLineHELP GROUP - USC COLLABORATION NOW COMPLETING ITS THIRD YEARVillage Glen students at California Science CenterO C C U PAT I O N A L S C I E N C E I N I T I AT I V EThe Help Group – USC Occupational Science Initiative is dedicated to developingevidence-based intervention programs for children with autism spectrum disorderthrough the guidance of an interdisciplinary team of researchers, educators and clinicians.The Initiative recently completed the third year of its innovative partnership. In the areaof animal assisted-intervention, Help Group Occupational Therapist and post-doctoralresident from USC, Claire Bazley, under the mentorship of Dr. Olga Solomon, AssistantProfessor, USC Chan Division, implemented and tested a social skills curriculum forstudents who participated in The Help Group's Paws and Pals program. Their extensivework will result in a classroom activities manual for teachers and therapists.In addition, the Initiative rolled out the second year of its community-based pilot program.The program aims to optimize Village Glen elementary age students’ social interactionsin a museum setting, and help them to better access their science curricula. This projectis a joint endeavor of Dr. Mary Lawlor, Associate Chair of Research & Professor, Dr.Emily Ochi, Assistant Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy of USC’s Chan Divisionof Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, and a class of USC masters levelOccupational Therapy students and The California Science Center.“The USC Chan Division has developed dynamic, interdisciplinary partnerships withcommunity organizations like The Help Group,” said Dr. Sarah Bream, Associate Chair ofAcademic & Community Program Support and Development. “With the goal of extendinglearning beyond the classroom, we’re pleased to take part in generating new programsand collecting outcome data that can translate into practical, real-world interventions forchildren with autism.”(See related story on page 6)(L-R) USC post-doctoral resident, Claire Bazley,Paws and Pals volunteer with students7

8HelpLineTHE HELP GROUP'S STEM3 ACADEMY TAKES HOME TOP PRIZEThis spring has been a very exciting one for the STEM3 Academy. In February, the high school students visited Raytheon Space and AirborneSystems. Along with 30 other high school teams, the students were part of National Engineers Week and a coding competition.Each year in celebration of National Engineers Week, Raytheon hosts a series of challenges to encourage young students to pursue engineeringdegrees. This year on their El Segundo campus, teams of high school students were given a tour of their laboratories, and then were challengedto build a distance tracking mechanism similar to the technology used in popular video games such as Pokemon Go! STEM3 Academy studentswere the top programmers with the fastest time, winning the competition. Our congratulations to the team!Additionally, a Netherlands public broadcast media company, BNNVARA, visited the Sherman Oaks campus. They recognized the school’sunique curriculum and how STEM³ is helping students develop job-related skills, in addition to the social skills necessary for more positiveoutcomes after graduation.Congratulations to all of the 2017 STEM3 Graduates! The school had a 100% graduation rate -- all 14 graduates will go on to college!

HelpLineADVANCE LA BRINGS TOGETHER CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH AND BESTPRACTICES FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH DIVERSE NEEDS‘s2017 Conference#CONNECT123456On Friday May 5th, 2017 at American Jewish University in Los Angeles, Advance LA assembled 30 nationally prominent experts whoseresearch helps young people with autism, learning differences, and ADHD in their transition to college, the workplace, and beyond.Advance LA’s mission is to provide resources, support, and training to young adults with a wide range of needs -- including learningdisabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, executive functioning difficulties, ADHD, and other social, emotional andbehavioral challenges including substance abuse recovery.This year’s conference, CONNECT, featured three basic tracks: Academics & Career, Relationships, Diagnostic Considerations & Interventions,and Mindful Awareness. Keynote speaker, Amy Banks, MD, Director of Advance Training at the Jean Baker Miller Training Institute, WellesleyCenters for Women, Wellesley College, opened the conference with a presentation titled “The Science of Connection for Young Adults withDiverse Challenges.”Throughout the conference, all of the speakers presented ways to encourage and guide young adults as they pursue academic and vocationaltracks that lead to meaningful and rewarding lives.The conference luncheon featured prolific journalist and author Judith Newman who spoke about her upcoming book, “To Siri WithLove.” Dr. Barbara Firestone and Dr. Susan Berman presented The Help Group’s Professional Achievement Award to Tom Komp, LCSW, inrecognition of his outstanding expertise and his commitment to children and families.A big thank you to all of the speakers and this year’s sponsors -- Center for Discovery, Optimum Performance Institute (OPI), Evoke TherapyPrograms, and Lindamood-Bell.1. Dr. Amy Banks, Keynote Speaker 2. Dr. Susan Berman, Help Group Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Diane Flannery, Senior Director of Design & Strategy, Dr. Jason Bolton, VicePresident of Programs 3. Dr. Amy-Jane Griffiths, Conference Speaker 4. Judith Newman, Special Lunch Speaker 5. Dr. Susan Berman, Dr. Barbara Firestone, Help Group President& CEO, Tom Komp, Senior Vice President 6. Dr. Don Grant, Conference Speaker9

10 H e l p L i n eTHE HELP GROUP’S ANNUAL TEDDY BEAR BALL HONORS MARK GREENBERGOn March 6th, The Help Grouphosted its 19th Annual TeddyBear Ball at the Beverly HiltonHotelInternationalBallroomto benefit children with autismand other special needs. On thisfestive evening, The Help Groupwas pleased to present its HelpHumanitarian Award to MarkGreenberg, President & ChiefExecutive Officer of EPIX.Gala Chairs for the event includedBob Bakish, Chief ExecutiveOfficer, Viacom; Gary Barber,Chairman & Chief ExecutiveOfficer, MGM;Kevin Beggs,Chairman, Lionsgate TelevisionGroup; Jon Feltheimer, ChiefExecutiveOfficer,Lionsgate;Michael Burns, Vice Chairman,Lionsgate; Brad Grey, Chairmanand Chief Executive Officer ofParamount Corporation, MikeHopkins, Chief Executive Officer,Hulu; Michael Kassan, Founder &Chief Executive Officer, Medialink;and Sandra Stern, President,Lionsgate Television Group. GalaCo-Chairs included Dick Costello,Jamie & Chris McGurk, DavidSalzman and Ken Solomon.1256101112Tom Papa, one of the top comedicvoices in the country, emceed theevent and delighted more than500 guests with highlights fromhis EPIX original stand-up special,“Human Mule.”Gary H. Carmona, The Help GroupBoard Chair, and Dr. BarbaraFirestone, welcomed and thankedthe guests for their generosity andfriendship. The festivities werekicked off by Louis Price, formerlead singer of The Temptations,and The Help Group Children’sChoir, who sang “Can’t Stop TheFeeling.”The evening featured a specialperformance by the highlyacclaimed American hip-hoprecording artist, actor, and filmproducer Common. Commonperformed “Glory,” his andJohn Legend’s Academy andGolden Globe award-winningsong from the movie Selma.With accompaniment by TheHelp Group Children’s Choir,the unforgettable performancereceived a standing ovation.Throughout the event, ChrisMcGurk, Help Group BoardMember & Gala Co-Chair, andKen Solomon, Circle of FriendsBoard Member, Director, Help16211722

H e l p L i n e 11WITH SPECIAL PERFORMANCE BY ACADEMY-AWARD WINNER COMMON38713Group Board of Directors & GalaCo-Chair, each spoke abouttheir personal commitment tosupporting the children of TheHelp Group.41419915201825242326Dr. Susan Berman, Help GroupCOO, and Dick Costello, HelpGroup Board Member & GalaCo-Chair, presented the Dr.Adam Opportunity Fund to theguests. The fund helps to supportyoung people facing challengingcircumstances and provides themwith greater opportunities for abrighter future. Student speakerAlondra shared her brave story ofresilience with the audience. Withthe help of the Opportunity Fund,Alondra will be attending collegein the fall.Mike Hopkins, Hulu CEO and2015 Help Humanitarian Awardrecipient and Ken Solomon,Chairman&CEO,TennisChannel, introduced the honoreeretrospective and welcomed MarkGreenberg to the family of HelpGroup honorees.Dr. Ernest Wilson, former WalterAnnenberg Chair & Dean ofThe Annenberg School forCommunication and Journalismat USC, introduced his friendand colleague Mark Greenberg.Aftertheintroduction,Dr.Firestone and Gary H. Carmonapresented Mark with the HelpHumanitarian Award, and salutedhim for his humanitarian spirit andcommitment to building brighterfutures for the children of TheHelp Group. As a tribute to Mark,the choir sang, “Somewhere Overthe Rainbow.”In accepting the award, MarkGreenberg said, “There is noquestion that the families andchildren of The Help Group knowmore than anyone about thestrength of the human spirit. Theyremind us of the extraordinarypower of basic kindness.”The Help Group is grateful toour remarkable honoree, MarkGreenberg, and to everyone whojoined us for this time-honoredcelebration of the humanitarianspirit and the beauty and potential1. Mark Greenberg 2. Mark Greenberg, Dr. Barbara Firestone, Gary H. Carmona 3. Gary Barber, Mark Greenberg, Jon Feltheimer 4. Mark Greenberg, Dr. Barbara Firestone, Mike Hopkins, Gary H. Carmona5. Mark Greenberg, Leland Orser, Tom Papa 6. Dr. Barbara Firestone, Sandra Stern, Mark Greenberg 7. Common 8. Chris McGurk 9. Student Speaker Alondra, Dick Costello 10. The Greenberg Family11. Dr. Ernest Wilson 12. Tom Papa 13. Lissa & Ken Solomon 14. Dr. Barbara Firestone, Joy Monkarsh 15. David Salzman, Gary H. Carmona 16. Common and The Help Group Choir 17. Julia Duncan,Dr. Barbara Firestone, Councilman David Ryu, Dr. Susan Berman 18. Celeste Alleyne, Ron Frierson 19. Peggy & Barry Nagoshiner 20. Mike & Susan Berk 21. Dr. Barbara Firestone, Wendy Greuel22. The Team from EPIX 23. Louis Price and The Help Group Choir 24. Kari Van Gundy 25. Drs. David & Barbara Firestone 26. Gerry Rosenblatt, Barbara Singer

12 H e l p L i n eTHE 10TH ANNUAL TEDDY BEAR TEA1The Help Group’s 10th AnnualTeddy Bear Tea An Affair of theHeart was an Dr.Robin345Berman, Associate Professor ofPsychiatry at the David GeffenSchool of Medicine at UCLAand highly acclaimed author ofPermission to Parent: How toRaise Your Child With Love andLimits. The event was hostedby Jamie McGurk, Producer atOff Balance Productions andmember of The Help GroupCircle of Friends PhilanthropicBoard, and Celeste Alleyne,Director of US Citizenship &9Public Affairs at Microsoft.Dr. Barbara Firestone openedthe afternoon by thanking theguestsfortheirremarkablekindness and for attending theTeddy Bear Tea -- a decade-longtradition that is a celebrationof the dignity, beauty, andpotential of our young people.Co-hostJamieMcGurkextended a warm welcome toguests and shared that The HelpGroup has held a special placein the hearts of herself and herhusband, Chris, for the past 17years. She further expressed,“From the beginning, Chris andI have been incredibly moved byThe Help Group’s mission d that she has seenfirst-hand how The Help Group1510

H e l p L i n e 13CELEBRATES REMARKABLE WOMENhas developed cutting edge2programsthathelpyoungpeople prepare for the jobs oftomorrow. “It was an incredibleexperience to visit The HelpGroup’s, STEM3 Academy inSherman Oaks and see themanywonderfulinitiativestaking place at this one-of-akind, state-of-the-art, nationallyacclaimed school,” commentedCeleste.During the event, the upcomingfall release of Faces of Promise:Looking67BeyondAutismbyDr. Firestone was announced.8Thebook,acollaborationwith Richard Ehrlich, a fine artphotographer, is a celebrationof the beauty and promise ofyoung people on the spectrumin images and words.As is our tradition, Dr. SusanBerman, The Help Group COO,invited the attendees to support11121314The Help Group’s Dr. AdamOpportunity Fund. The fundprovides food, clothing, shelter,scholarships, vocational training,summer camps and after-schoolenrichment programs to morethan 4,000 underserved childrenand their families. Dr. Berman161718askedAlondra,astudentspeaker, to once again share herstory of resilience and grit as shedid at the Teddy Bear Ball.Special guest speaker Dr. RobinBermanenlightenedguestswith her advice on how tofoster children with greater selfesteem and respect.1. Celeste Alleyne, Dr. Barbara Firestone, Jamie McGurk, Dr. Robin Berman 2. Lucy Lean, Susie Nathan, Rabbi Judith Halev, Dr. Barbara Firestone, MargieKeyes, Sabina Faubel, Debra Alexis-Drake, Lynne Levitan, Stacey Siegel, Heidi Menke 3. Dr. Robin Berman 4. Jamie McGurk 5. Student Speaker Alondra,Other highlights of the afternoonDr. Susan Berman 6. Celeste Alleyne 7. Dr. Robin Berman, Kari Rosenblate 8. María López, Celeste Alleyne, Ron Frierson 9. Angella Nazarian, Nadineincluded uplifting performancesWatt, Dr. Barbara Firestone, Sarah Milken, Lani Fauvre 10. Ines Garcia Romero, Gena Acosta, Susan Klein, Jodi Wing, Jamie McGurk. Back row Dr. BarbaraFirestone 11. Dr. Robin Berman, Susan Kennedy 12. Hillary Milken 13. Sarah Milken, Melissa Klein 14. Lori Michaels, Dr. Barbara Firestone, Tammy Ratner15. The Help Group Choir 16. Dr. Sara McCracken, Dr. Mary Bauman, Pamela Clark 17. Sheri Zahedi, Rula Hernandez, Elena Brewer 18. Judy Wolfby The Help Group Children’sChoir and a book signing by Dr.Berman at the close of the tea.

14 H e l p L i n eTHE COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF , GELSON’S MARKETS, ONEODDBIRD ANDNBC4 MARKING NATIONAL AUTISM AWARENESS MONTHThank you forsupportingThe Help Group3 John Fuller, President & CEO of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf , andDr. Barbara Firestone with Coffee Bean staffevery childes a great futuredicated to helping youngneeds fully realize theirAUTISMLearn the Factsde range of innovativend each day, more thantism day schools. OtherVocational Education Centerutism · Stem3 Academy5 Thank you forsupportingThe Help Group10 Gelson's campaing at it's 18 Southern California locationsThe Help Group was once again pleased to launch its annual Autism Awareness Campaign inpartnership with longstanding supporters The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and Gelson’s Markets.In recognition of National Autism Awareness Month in April, The Help Group held its annual “Learnthe Facts and Early Signs of Autism” campaign. Research has shown that early identification andintervention can result in significant positive outcomes for many children with autism.For 18 years The Help Group has partnered with The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf to help promoteautism awareness. Throughout April, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf made “Learn the Facts & EarlySigns” brochures at more than 200 participating locations in California., transitional programs,oups, day camps, afterams.or its high standards ofof services. Through itsms, graduate and postd research, conferencesams, publications, andThe Help Group toucheseds and their familieser parts of the world.Thank you forsupportingThe Help GroupAutism is estimatedto affect1 in everychildren in theUnited States.earch AllianceAdvance LA · Live.Advance.LA.tional Programs & CampsGelson’s Markets, for the 11th consecutive year, hosted a fundraising campaign in support of TheHelp Group’s autism programs. Copies of the “Learn the Facts & Early Signs” brochures wereavailable in 18 Southern California locations, and customers were able to donate to The HelpGroup at store registers.Lori Samuels, oneoddbird’s owner and longtime philanthropic friend, generously donated 50% ofall California sales during the month of April to The Help Group’s autism education and appliedresearch programs. For the past 6 years, Lori Samuels has graciously donated a portion of everysale to The Help Group.Kids with Autismal Training Centery Centerectrum DisorderHERMAN OAKS WESTNUYS - SHERMAN WAYbuilding brighter futuresfor young people with Autismorgwww.thehelpgroup.orgFor the third year, NBC4 and Telemundo 52 Los Angeles aired PSA’s with anchors Daniella Guzmanand Dania Elvir throughout Autism Awareness Month.Our many thanks to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf , Gelson’s Markets, Lauri Samuels and oneoddbird,NBC4 and Telemundo 52 Los Angeles for their ongoing commitment and efforts on behalf ofchildren with autism and their families.The “Learn the Facts & Early Signs” brochures are available in English and Spanish, and additional copies can be requested by calling877.943.5747.LOS ANGELESDr. Barbara Firestone, Lori Samuels,oneoddbird’s founder and ownerNBC4 and Telemundo 52 PSA's featured anchors

THE HELP GROUP’S FESTIVAL OF ARTS SPONSORED BYBEAR GIVERS FEATURES 150 YOUNG ARTISTSH e l p L i n e 15This past May, for the eighth consecutive year, The Help Group presented Festivalof Arts: A Celebratio

Daniel Openden, PhD, BCBA-D Albert "Skip" Rizzo, PhD Eric Sailers, MA, CCC-SLP Cynthia Schumann, PhD William Sharp, PhD Bina Varughese, MS Louis A. Vismara, MD Jeffrey Wood, PhD SUMMIT CHAIRS Barbara Firestone, PhD Peter C. Whybrow, MD Robert M. Bilder, PhD, ABPP FEATURED SPEAKERS Thomas E. Brown, PhD Connie Kasari, PhD Maureen Lovett, PhD .