LOS ANGELES, April 25, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In observance of "Teacher Appreciation Day," bestselling author Monica Holloway, of Cowboy & Wills [Simon & Schuster], invites readers to share their photos of the teacher they appreciate to the Cowboy & Wills Facebook page for charity (https://www.facebook.com/cowboyandwills).

Holloway will donate $1 to Fullerton Cares Autism Foundation, a nonprofit supporting autism education programs, for the first 188 likes or posts from May 6-10 as a tribute to the teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals and specialists that bring achievement to special needs students. The figure of $188 is in observance of the 1:88 diagnosis and prevalence rate for autism currently identified by the Centers for Disease Control.

"Teacher Appreciation Day" is "a day for honoring teachers and recognizing the lasting contributions they make to our lives," according to the founding body, the National Education Association.

Says Holloway of the observance, "Autism education has come so far in the past few years and we are thankful to all the educators who support positive educational outcomes for people of all abilities."

Holloway says there are special ways parents can show appreciation for teachers of special needs students:

• Join the conversation - Share your thanks and share your ideas at @monica_holloway
• Volunteer - Help out in the classroom or for a special project
• Write a note - Help your child make a personalized card and include details that show appreciation and recognition
• Bring treats - Share allergy-friendly treats for the special education team at your school
• Ask the team - Find out what is needed directly from your teacher and help fill that specific unmet need

Holloway shared the significance of incredible connections between teachers and their students in her autism memoir Cowboy & Wills, which also described her young son's sometimes challenging journey through preschool and elementary school with a diagnosis of autism.

For media inquires, contact Jess Block, publicist, at 909-706-8525 or jessblockpr@gmail.com.

ABOUT MONICA HOLLOWAY: Monica Holloway is the bestselling author of Cowboy & Wills, a Mother's Choice Award's Gold recipient, and the critically-acclaimed author of the memoir Driving With Dead People, described by Newsweek as "unforgettable," Glamour christened "a classic," and the Washington Post deemed "irresistible." Holloway lives with her son Wills and husband Michael Price, Co-Executive Producer of The Simpsons, in California. http://www.monicaholloway.com/

ABOUT COWBOY & WILLS: Cowboy & Wills tells the story of the golden retriever puppy that changed Monica Holloway's disabled son's life by becoming his very first friend and coaxing him out into the world. Cowboy & Wills is published by Simon & Schuster. http://www.cowboyandwills.com https://www.facebook.com/cowboyandwills

ABOUT AUTISM: According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, autism now affects about 1 in every 88 American children. Autism is a complex condition that affects a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships. http://www.autismspeaks.org