Ice Cream Birthday Celebration to Benefit Michael Lorenzen Foundation Taking Place June 28

Ice Cream Birthday Celebration to Benefit Michael Lorenzen Foundation Taking Place June 28

A birthday celebration in honor of Michael Lorenzen, who perished in a house fire in Rhode Island in 2018 at the age of 4, is taking place on June 28.

“We all scream for ice cream” is the theme of the event at The Next to Nowhere Creamery in Exeter on that Sunday from 5 to 8 PM to benefit the Michael Lorenzen Foundation. 

“We’re following all social distancing guidelines,” said mom Kellie Souza Lorenzen. “I often think about how Michael would handle this isolation.  I know this would be so hard for him in some ways. Wearing a mask would be impossible. He didn’t even like wearing pants!”

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The Foundation writes:

"We would like tell you a story about an amazing little boy named Michael. Michael was born in July of 2013 and was always the brightest light in the room, even from birth. His family adored his joyful spirit and his smile touched everyone he met. This beautiful, bright-eyed child was only 4 when he perished in a house fire on January 26th, 2018. Despite our grief, we formed The Michael Lorenzen Foundation to keep his star shining.

When Michael was 2 years old, he was diagnosed with autism. Autism is characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behavior, speech delays, and nonverbal communication. Michael demonstrated all of these behavioral tendencies, but also was a happy little bug who loved Paw Patrol, fire trucks, trains, and Halloween.

We established The Michael Lorenzen Foundation to help other children with autism. It is our hope that all children on the autism spectrum have the opportunity to achieve a college education, as we feel Michael would have. We know first hand how much little contributions can add up to big successes."

Souza Lorenzen cautioned people to be aware that children with autism might have difficulty processing the coronavirus crisis — including the requirement to wear a mask.  

“Often times you see a child having what you perceive to be a tantrum.  It could be a meltdown caused by sensory overload,” she said. “Clothes make skin crawl, light makes eyes hurt and a mask could make them feel as if they were suffocating.”