Friends, family, and all who may come across this page, welcome! I think I should start with answering the main question on everyone's mind. No, this is not spam, clickbait, or some elaborate rouse giving your financial information to some foreign central bank in order to obtain your long-lost inheritance, this is real life (believe it or not).

But all kidding aside, I truly do hope to illuminate a cause and a group of very special people who are near and dear to my heart. They are a group of people whose success and quality of life are directly impacted by the kindness and generosity of others. A group whose diagnosis knows no race, creed, or religion. The kind of people who light up a room and can put a smile on anyone's face they meet. A group of people, who are, frankly, full of seemingly boundless joy, happiness and genuine love in all of their purest forms. If anyone has had the privilege to come across someone with autism, special needs or any developmental disability I'm sure you can relate to at least one sentiment from above.

All the funds raised, big and small, yes, I'm talking about that $5 we would have spent at Starbucks, will go toward making a difference in the lives of people who are in true need of help. I can speak to the impact, firsthand, that the additional services and resources provided to those who are developmentally disabled have on their overall development as children into teens and ultimately into early adulthood. Sadly, these additional services are not available for all those with autism via their school districts or communities. In addition to the additional services provided by Organization for Autism Research (OAR) such as a full scholarship to college, a vocational school, or a cooperative life skills program, a portion of funds raised will also go toward educating people about autism. It should surprise no one that there still is a stigmatization across the country towards children born with developmental disabilities. Each donation will in part go towards providing educators, communities, and schools the means to aid in ending the stigma via educational material and courses, ultimately making those with autism and other developmental disabilities lives a bit easier.

If you made it all the way down here, kudos to you! I really do appreciate you taking the time to learn a little bit about something not that may not cross your mind on a daily basis and if you walk away thinking differently about those with special needs, I've definitely done my job! Every little bit counts and thank you in advance for any support to this great cause. It goes without saying I hope to see you all out there on race day (Sunday, November 7th, 2021)!

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Please help me support  by making a contribution to my fundraiser and sharing this page with your family and friends. Every dollar I raise will advance Organization for Autism Research's great cause! 


WHY RUN FOR AUTISM?
1 in 54 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.
$40,000 fully underwrites an applied research pilot study.