U.S. Air Force Archaeologist Thomas Penders Wins 2017 Eagle Rare Life Devotion Award

founder of Archaeologists for Autism

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Thomas Penders of Titusville, archaeologist for the 45th Space Wing at CCAFS, and founder of Archaeologists for Autism, was awarded the 2017 Eagle Rare Life Devotion Award.

Eagle Rare will donate $5,000 to Penders’ charity, Archaeologists for Autism, which works to unlock the potential of children with developmental disabilities on the autism spectrum with exposure to archaeology and paleontology in a family setting.

A professional archaeologist, Penders has a daughter, Becky, who along with being autistic is blind and has epilepsy.

Knowing that activities for such children are limited, he founded Archaeologists for Autism
and organized events.

ABOVE VIDEO: At Archeologists for Autism events, children on the autism spectrum and their families will be walking the grounds of an actual archaeological site and be able to enjoy a wide range of activities related to archaeology and paleontology, live music, face-painting, and much more. Participants will be able to use social skills, and use various functional skills, all while having fun. The entire event is free.

At these events, children on the autism spectrum and their families walk the grounds of an actual archaeological site and enjoy a wide range of activities related to archaeology and paleontology, live music, face-painting, and much more.

Participants use social skills, and use various functional skills, all while having fun. The entire event is free to all registrants. Now in its fourth year, the program has helped enrich hundreds of lives.

“This financial award will help us to continue and perhaps expand our events, and to raise awareness for the need to find activities that these children can enjoy and learn from with their families,” said Penders.

“Thanks to Eagle Rare for this program of recognition. It has helped many.”

The Rare Life Award is an annual recognition program created by Eagle Rare Bourbon to honor individuals who exhibit courage, leadership, survival, devotion, character and heroism.

Candidates are nominated by friends, family and colleagues. Their stories and photos are posted online at EagleRareLife.com, where visitors vote for inspirational stories.

To learn more about Archaeologists for Autism, visit ArchaeologistsForAutism.org

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