Hi friends and family - I am running the New York City Marathon (my first marathon) on November 3rd on behalf of the Organization for Autism Research, a cause close to my family. I would greatly appreciate your support, whether it be through a contribution to my fundraiser or with your thoughts and prayers while I prepare and run.

My sister-in-law Ella has autism, and seeing the highs and lows of having a family member on the autism spectrum and the devotion of her family to making her life as normal as possible has encouraged me to run on behalf of a charity supporting autism research. The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is a parent-led organization that funds research to enhance the quality of life for autistic individuals and their families. The donations raised just from my participation in the marathon will be sufficient to fund a scholarship for a student with autism to attend college.

WHY RUN FOR AUTISM?
1 in 36 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism. By joining the RUN FOR AUTISM team, you’re supporting OAR’s mission to fund research and resources that help people with autism and their families today.


Here are some of the ways that OAR uses the funds raised by the RUN FOR AUTISM team:

$10 provides a Curriculum in a Box professional development set to general education teachers.
$25 provides 15 copies of A Guide to Safety to families and first responders.
$100 provides the Kit for Kids peer education resource to an entire elementary or middle school.
$150 provides 100 copies of a Life Journey through Autism guidebook sent to a community support group or military installation.
$1,000 provides a research grant for a graduate student studying autism.
$3,000 provides a scholarship for a student with autism to attend college.
$50,000 fully underwrites an applied research pilot study.