Serving as a public school teacher for the past four years has taught me a lot about growth—not just academic progress, but the kind of personal development that happens when students are supported for who they are.

Every year, I work with students who bring different strengths, challenges, and ways of seeing the world into the classroom. Getting to know them, learning their stories, and watching them grow more confident in who they are and what they care about has been one of the most meaningful parts of my work. It’s also a constant reminder of how vital it is to make sure every student has access to the tools and support they need to thrive.

That’s why I’m running my first-ever marathon in support of the Organization for Autism Research (OAR)—and I’m asking for your help.

My goal is to raise $1,100 to support OAR’s mission—and every contribution brings me closer.

Please consider donating to my fundraiser and sharing this page with your family and friends. Every dollar I raise will go toward OAR’s mission of providing research-based resources that support people with autism and the families, educators, and communities around them.

WHY RUN FOR AUTISM?
1 in 31 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.