Posting by Leah
Autism Speaks hosted their fourth Autism Speaks to Young Professionals Gala on February 3, 2011 at the hot club Avenue in New York City. This sold-out gala brought together close to 300 young professionals from all industries to help educate and raise awareness of the disorder now affecting one in every 100 American children. The Gala was co-chaired by Amanda Niederauer and Danny Ryan and included an open bar, passed hors d’ouevres, musical stylings of DJ Caleb Loftus and raised over $30,000.
This winter gala was sponsored by RBS, Brooklyn Brewery, Crop Organic Vodka, DonQ Rum, Farmers Botanical Organic Gin, Given Tequila Liqueur, Magner’s Irish Cider, Tito’s Handmade Vodka. The evening helped raise awareness about autism and proceeds from ticket sales go toward funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism.Individual tickets cost $100 per person.
About Autism Speaks to Young Professionals (AS2YP):
Autism Speaks’ goal is to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. A cornerstone of the AS2YP mission has always been to raise awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society. In this vein, Autism Speaks, with the help of Event Co-Chairs Amanda Niederauer, Danny Ryan, and a committee made up of 32 Young Professionals with diverse backgrounds, recently initiated a brand new event series in an effort to reach out to a generation of people who may not be as familiar with the statistics and devastating effects of autism. This group is geared towards young professionals in their 20’s to 40.
AS2YP’s first event took place on August 6th, 2009, at the New York Stock Exchange in the heart of NYCs Wall Street business district and was an unparalleled success, hosting more than 700 people and raising over $43,000 to benefit Autism Speaks.
AS2YP’s first winter soiree was held on January 7th, 2010 at Meatpacking District hotspot SL in Manhattan, and on August 5th, 2010 we more than replicated our first success on the floor of the NYSE, with over 900 attendees joining us to party the night away in the name of autism research and awareness. All-in-all our AS2YP initiative has now raised nearly $150,000 which will be allocated for global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism- bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder.
Autism Speaks aims to bring the autism community together as one strong voice to urge the government and private sector to listen to our concerns and take action to address this urgent global health crisis. It is our firm belief that, working together, we will find the missing pieces of the puzzle. We are proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish and look forward to continued successes in the years ahead.
For more information on the Autism Speaks to Young Professionals Event Series and for sponsorship opportunities please contact Justine at jbenisch@autismspeaks.org.
About Autism Speaks:
Autism Speaks is North Americas largest autism science and advocacy organization. Since its inception in 2005, Autism Speaks has made enormous strides, committing over $160 million to research through 2014 and developing innovative new resources for families. The organization is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. In addition to funding research, Autism Speaks has created resources and programs including the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network, Autism Speaks Autism Genetic Resource Exchange and several other scientific and clinical programs. Notable awareness initiatives include the establishment of the annual United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, which Autism Speaks celebrates through its Light it Up Blue initiative. Also, Autism Speaks award-winning Learn the Signs campaign with the Ad Council has received over $258 million in donated media. Autism Speaks family resources include the Autism Video Glossary, a 100 Day Kit for newly-diagnosed families, a School Community Tool Kit and a community grant program. Autism Speaks has played a critical role in securing federal legislation to advance the governments response to autism, and has successfully advocated for insurance reform to cover behavioral treatments in 23 states thus far, with bills pending in an additional 14 states. Each year Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 80 cities across North America. For more information on Autism Speaks please visit www.autismspeaks.org.
About Autism:
Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that inhibits a person’s ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by behavioral challenges. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in one in 110 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls. The prevalence of autism increased 57 percent from 2002 to 2006. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.
About the Co-Founders:
Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Bob Wright is Senior Advisor at Lee Equity Partners, Chairman and CEO of the Palm Beach Civic Association and served as vice chairman, General Electric, and chief executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal for more than twenty years. He also serves on the boards of the Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, RAND Corporation and the New York Presbyterian Hospital. Suzanne Wright has an extensive history of active involvement in community and philanthropic endeavors, mostly directed toward helping children. She is a Trustee Emeritus of Sarah Lawrence College, her alma mater. Suzanne has received numerous awards, such as the CHILD Magazine Childrens Champions Award, Luella Bennack Volunteer Award, Spirit of Achievement award by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s National Women’s Division and The Women of Vision Award from the Weizmann Institute of Science. In 2008, the Wrights were named to the Time 100 Heroes and Pioneers category, a list of the most influential people in the world, for their commitment to global autism advocacy. They have also received numerous awards such as the first ever ‘Double Helix Award for Corporate Leadership, NYU Child Advocacy Award, Castle Connolly National Health Leadership Award and The American Ireland Fund Humanitarian Award. In May of 2010 they received Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degrees from St. Johns University in Queens and delivered the commencement address as the first married couple to be bestowed such an honor.
