DECATUR - Tara Gavin, along with her brother, J.J. attends Discovery Depot Daycare at Easter Seals Central Illinois.

Tara also attends speech therapy classes at Easter Seals. The 2-year-old Decatur girl was unable to speak when she started at Easter Seals.

She is now able to say words and use some sign language.

Her mother, Nichelle Gavin, said: "Tara's birth mom lacked prenatal care and smoked heavily throughout pregnancy. This resulted in Tara being born six weeks premature, and she only weighed 4 pounds 12 ounces when I brought her home from the hospital.

"She was a beautiful baby, but I noticed she was delayed in motor skills and speech.

"Tara started speech therapy at Easter Seals, and I cannot begin to say how great it was to hear my child begin speaking more and more when I wasn't sure she would be able to talk at all.

"I feel that, without all the assistance we have received at Easter Seals, Tara would still have significant delays. I now have hope that Tara will catch up with her peers."

Easter Seals is raising money for its assistance fund, budgeted at more than $100,000 this year. The assistance fund takes the financial burden from families when they do not have private health insurance or limited coverage or do not have the resources to pay for therapy services.

One of Easter Seals' main fundraisers will be the 2008 Celebration Day, to be held in Central Park from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 8. More than 100 volunteers will be raising at least $500 each.

The third annual day of giving will be broadcast by WAND-TV and WSOY Radio, featuring Brian Byers. "Be an Angel of Change" is the theme.

From 6 to 10 a.m., you can get a doughnut and a cup of coffee for a donation. From 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., grilled chicken lunches by Nelson's catering will be available for $6; they include a half chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and drinks.

An online auction will be conducted at www.kidmillionaire.com/easterseals. Auction items include an Aspen, Colo., trip; Notre Dame football tickets; a Daytona Beach, Fla., trip; Cubs-Cardinals baseball tickets; an orange sapphire pendant; an outdoor pool and a propane gas outdoor grill.

Throughout the day, there will be speech screenings, music with DJ Ken Gritton of Grr8sounds, Bounce House and Sally the Clown.

To make a donation or purchase lunch tickets, call 429-1052.

Bob Fallstrom can be reached at bfallstrom@herald-review.com or 421-7981.