This story brought tears to my eyes. Maybe it's my mood. But this kind of thing is so lovely. A family is having a birthday party for their son. In lieu of presents, they are asking for donations to a charity called A Hundred for a Home for two Brooklyn children who are suffering from Sanfilippo Syndrome.
Autour Du Monde, a Brooklyn restaurant
serving all natural and organic French eclectic fare, has teamed up
with a local family, the Heiser-Muddell’s to raise funds for Waverly
and Oliver McNeil, two children suffering from MPS III or Sanfilippo
Syndrome. 
The occasion is the Heiser-Muddell’s son, Navi Sam’s, first
birthday party, which will be held at Autour Du Monde, 860 Fulton
Street, Brooklyn, on Saturday, March 7 from 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm.
In lieu of gifts for Navi Sam, the Heiser-Muddell’s are asking that
their invited guests instead make donations to A Hundred for a Home, a
charity for Waverly, 5 and Oliver, 2, the children of Matt and Shannon
McNeil, friends of the Heiser Muddell’s. Autour Du Monde, will also
donate a portion of the bar proceeds to the charity.
When planning the party
for Navi Sam, the idea of the charity came to mind. “We feel so lucky
to have a healthy and happy little boy,” said Erin Heiser-Muddell. “We
felt it would be wonderful to honor him by helping some children who
haven’t been as lucky. We are so grateful to Olivier and Pauline
Jimenez, owners of Autour Du Monde, for their generosity and
willingness to help.”
Sanfilippo Syndrome is a
genetic disorder seen in children who don't have an essential enzyme
needed to break down long sugar chains. The disease goes undetected in
children until sugars build up in their bodies around the age of two,
after which symptoms appear in stages and progress rapidly. Life
expectancy varies from child to child, but generally children do not
live past their early teens. Learn more about A Hundred for a Home by visiting their website at www.ahundredforahome.com.
Olivier and Pauline Jimenez
opened Autour Du Monde in Brooklyn’s Clinton Hill neighborhood in
December 2007. The restaurant will be open to the public during the
party. Visit Autour Du Monde’s website at www.restaurantautourdumonde.com.