Local Teen with Autism Hosts Charity Bake Sale at Great Falls Farmers Market

Steven Kurtz, a 13 year old resident of Great Falls, has a passion for baking. He also has autism. At the age of 7, Steven declared that he wants to be a professional baker. His family took that passion and turned it into a homeschool curriculum to teach Steven math, science, life and social skills, geography, reading and writing. This year, using all he has learned, Steven organized a Bake Sale to raise money for children with autism in Brazil.

On Saturday, May 30, his idea became a reality. With the help of his home-school teacher, his au pair from Brazil, and his family, Steven set up a tent at the Great Falls Farmers Market, where he sold his home-made sweets. His signature creations included cupcakes, cookies, quick breads and Brazilian specialties like Brigadeiros (a chocolate caramel candy) and Bolo de Fubá (a sweet cornmeal cake).

As word of the event spread, Steven and his family realized they were going to need more bakers. Friends started baking brownies, cookies, lemon bars and muffins to boost Steven’s efforts. More than a dozen Great Falls au pairs, from Cultural Care Au Pair, also volunteered to bake for Steven. There were fresh crepes from France, Passion Fruit Bars from Australia, Nutella Kisses from Austria, Alfajores from Argentina and Chocolate Caramel cakes from an au pair in Sweden that is a professional baker.

Hundreds of friends, neighbors and local residents visited Steven’s tent at the Great Falls Farmers Market to buy his home-made treats and donate to his charitable cause. Steven got a surprise visit from Celebrity Chef Jacques Haeringer of L’Auberge Chez François! Chef Jacques and his wife Carol invited Steven, who aspires to work in a bakery, for a private visit and tour of the pastry kitchen at L’Auberge Chez François.

Steven raised money for the purchase of therapy equipment for AMA-Alagoas, a non-profit organization that serves children with autism and developmental disabilities in one of the poorest regions of Brazil. This specialized equipment promotes physical activities which helps children with developmental delays improve and gain motor skills (crucial to activities of daily living and self-help tasks), as well as provide moments of social interaction, recreation and relaxation.

Cultural Care Au Pair, an au pair agency headquartered in Boston, is matching every dollar raised at Steven’s Bake Sale and 100% of the money will go to charity.

Steven and his family are so delighted with the success of the Bake Sale, they have already begun planning their next event for 2016.

For more information on Steven’s Charity Bake Sale, please visit http://skurtz.aupairnews.com/2015/06/01/stevens-charity-bake-sale-2/