Toys“R”Us/ Babies“R”Us 
The Toys"R"Us, Inc. relationship with Autism Speaks represents the company's largest partnership with a special needs organization. The company's Toys"R"Us(r) and Babies"R"Us(r) locations across North America hold annual in-store fundraising campaigns in conjunction with Autism Awareness Month in April. Since the partnership began in 2007, Autism Speaks has received more than $12 million through money raised during the Toys"R"Us, Inc. in-store and online fundraising campaigns and through donations from the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund and Toys"R"Us, Inc. Also, Toys"R"Us, Inc. employees nationwide participate in the Walk Now for Autism Speaks program.
As part of this overall philanthropic partnership, Toys"R"Us, Inc. created several resources to help parents and caregivers of children with autism. The company annually collaborates with Autism Speaks and the National Lekotek Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making play accessible for children with disabilities, to identify toys that can help little ones with autism develop language, creativity and social skills, among others, while playing alongside siblings and friends. The "Ten Toys That Speak To Autism," a special subset of the annual Toys"R"Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids, provides toy suggestions specifically for families and friends of children on the spectrum. And, since research shows that children with cognitive, emotional or social limitations, including those with autism, are more prone to accidental injuries, "Safe Play Tips" relevant for children with autism also are promoted during the campaign.
Toys"R"Us, Inc. was honored by the PR News CSR Awards for the company's Autism Speaks fundraising initiatives.
T.J. Maxx
Autism Speaks is a proud partner of T.J. Maxx's annual in-store puzzle piece fundraising campaign.
The retailer's almost 900 stores participate in collecting donations – one dollar at a time- to support our mission during a three-week campaign during Autism Awareness month. This year's campaign will run from April 3 – 23. Thanks to T.J. Maxx employees and customers the campaign has now raised over $5 million since its inception. Additionally, T.J. Maxx is a valued sponsor of their hometown Walk Now for Autism Speaks event in Boston, MA.
General Motors/Chevrolet
In 2008, General Motors' Chevrolet division partnered with Autism Speaks to develop an innovative virtual test-drive promotion to raise awareness and funds during April's Autism Awareness month. Help Chevy Help Autism raised $1 million by inviting the general public to take an on-line test drive of North America's Car of the Year, the Chevy Malibu. In addition to the virtual test drive campaign, Chevy's fundraising and awareness efforts on behalf of Autism Speaks included NASCAR events and a Chevy Strikes Out Autism event at Chicago's Wrigley Field as well as participation in several signature events including a Lionel Richie concert at Mar-a-Lago, the South Florida Autism Speaks telethon and the NFL Kickoff-for-the-Cure III.
Corporate Partner Programs
Ask.com
Ask.com, the leading search engine, featured a new homepage theme every week in April for Autism Awareness Month, designed to educate consumers about autism and to raise funds at the same time. Ask.com donated over $25,000 by asking new site visitors to select specially created Autism Speaks Skins as the design for their personalized Ask.com homepage [1]. The Skins displayed a series of questions that challenged consumers' understanding of autism.
Bachman Company
Bachman's supports Autism Speaks through a variety of programs. Bachman has created a unique Autism Speaks' puzzle-piece shaped pretzel with 5% of net proceeds going back to our organization. They also include autism information on many of their other products. They have also recently launched several gluten-free versions of their snacks. Additionally, they donate snacks to multiple walks and other AS events throughout the year.
Bath & Body Works 
In 2008, Bath & Body Works introduced a special Zippo lighter in the same blue color as the Autism Speaks puzzle piece logo and sold out, raising $100,000 in the process. The promotion was featured in full page ads in the NY Times Magazine section and emphasized shining a light on autism.
Build-A-Bear Workshop™
Build-A-Bear Workshop™ and Autism Speaks are teaming up for the seventh straight year in 2011. During the entire month of April, store guests will be able to donate at the register and to get information about autism. Last year, Build-A-Bear associates collected more than $180,000 for Autism Speaks. Build-A-Bear Workshop™ has donated over $400,000 since the campaign's inception.
Capital One
Capital One has teamed with Autism Speaks to create an affinity program for its credit card featuring several designs including our blue puzzle piece logo. The bank offers an Autism Speaks Visa(r) credit card at more than 1,000 Capital One locations and on the Autism Speaks web site. Capital One makes a donation to Autism Speaks for every credit card account that is opened. Autism Speaks receives a further donation for every credit card transaction. Card users can show their passion for autism advocacy every time they make a transaction using the Autism Speaks products. Click here for more information: www.autismspeakscard.org [2].
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. celebrated Autism Awareness Month by contributing $31,000 to Autism Speaks raised through a special ticket sales promotion from April 3-11. The tickets sold were for NASCAR's biggest NASCAR's biggest back-to-back weekends with the 25th running of the upcoming NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 16 and the 50th Coca-Cola 600 on May 24.
Dollar General 
Dollar General, the nation's largest discount retailer with 9,200 stores, is joining forces with Autism Speaks for the second time in 2011 to increase awareness of autism and raise funds for autism research and advocacy during Autism Awareness Month in April. Dollar General will offer customers the opportunity to make donations to Autism Speaks during check-out. In addition, the Autism Speaks puzzle piece logo will appear on Dollar General's NASCAR No. 32 car for the month of April to drive awareness for the campaign. Last year's campaign raised $400,000.
Dover International Speedway
Dover Motorsports introduced Autism Speaks to the world of NASCAR in 2007 by becoming the first track to put the name of a charity on their signature event. Thanks to the continuing efforts of Dover Motorsports leadership, 2010 marked the fourth straight year that Autism Speaks benefited from this high profile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Monster Mile in Delaware. The 2010 Autism Speaks 400 presented by Hershey's® Milk & Milkshakes created autism awareness for tens of thousands of fans live and millions more on a national broadcast.
Fox Sports
Fox Sports chose Autism Speaks as one of its inaugural charities to support when it launched Fox Sports Supports in 2008. The program is an on-air charitable initiative devoted to raising, awareness providing financial assistance and spurring volunteerism for select health related charities through on-air mentions, Public Service Announcements and compassionate involvement in order to improve the quality of life for millions in need. Autism Speaks received incalculable public awareness as the official charity of Fox's NASCAR coverage throughout its racing season.
The Home Depot® 
The Home Depot® is partnering with Autism Speaks to shine a light on autism during Autism Awareness Month in April and World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. The Home Depot® is selling blue Coleman LED lanterns and blue light bulbs offering people across the country the opportunity to raise autism awareness through Autism Speaks' Light It Up Blue initiative. The lantern alternates from white to blue when illuminated. The specially marked Light It Up Blue Coleman products and bulbs are available throughout all of their stores in the United States stores from March 15 through the end of April or while supplies last. A portion of each sale will go to Autism Speaks. The light bulbs retail for $1.65, and $1 from each one purchased, up to $80,000, will benefit Autism Speaks. The Coleman LED lanterns retail at $19.88 and $2 from each, up to $160,000, will go to Autism Speaks.
Landscape Structures 
Landscape Structures, a premier provider of innovative playground equipment, is committed to creating inspiring play experiences for children of all abilities while honoring the environment. Now in its second year partnering with Autism Speaks, Landscape Structures provides special playground equipment that helps engage children's senses and offers developmental benefits at many Walk Now for Autism Speaks events. Additionally, Landscape Structures is promoting Autism Speaks through its network in schools and commercial recreation facilities throughout the country.
Lindt & Sprüngli 
2011 marks the third straight year that Chocolatier Lindt will donate 10 cents to Autism Speaks for every Lindt Gold Bunny sold during the months leading up to Easter- up to a $100,000 donation. Lindt also has celebrating its annual Unsung Heroes of Autism Award honoring three people who have made significant impacts in the autism community. Additionally, for the second straight year Lindt will hold an online auction featuring celebrity-signed porcelain gold bunnies with the signatures of some of the biggest names in entertainment and sports. www.LindtGoldBunny.com [3].
Modell's Sporting Goods 
Modell's, the Northeast's leading sporting goods chain, has raised over $500,000 through its annual in-store Autism Awareness Month fundraising campaign. This year's campaign is marked by a video presentation at Modell's newly renovated flagship store in NYC. Officials from Modell's graciously present the annual check to Autism Speaks on the field prior to a game at Yankee.
Stadium NEST Fragrances 
NEST [4] Home Fragrances launched its Autism Speaks-branded Blue Garden candle in celebration of the 5th Anniversary of Autism Speaks. Sold through Nieman Marcus, NiemanMarcus.com [5], Bergdorf Goodman and many small boutiques across the country, this scented candle will also be used by retailers to participate in the Light It Up Blue campaign for World Autism Awareness Day and Autism Awareness Month. All net proceeds from sales of the candle benefit Autism Speaks.
Pump It Up 
Pump It Up, the nation's largest franchise of indoor inflatable playgrounds, joins together with Autism Speaks for the first time in 2011. On April 7, 2011, more than 150 Pump It Up locations across the country will host the “Great Open Jump,” rallying local communities to raise funds. From 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. that evening, Pump It Up locations will open their doors to the general public for the 3rd Annual Great Open Jump [6]. Families impacted by autism can participate for free in the new Sensory Jump Time program debut from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. at their local Pump It Up on that day.
Scentsy
Scentsy is dedicated to making a difference in every community it serves by going beyond our mission to warm the heart, enliven the senses, and inspire the soul. The Scentsy Family Foundation was created to offer philanthropic support through a combination of scholarships, charitable cause products, and direct donations toward individual efforts and community-based causes. In 2011, Scentsy created the new Scentsy Family Foundation Charitable Cause Warmer to benefit Autism Speaks. Each limited-edition warmer is made available through local Scentsy Consultants for six months only, with all net proceeds benefiting Autism Speaks. Scentsy has donated more than $395,000 through Cause Warmers sold between March and June 2011.
White Castle 
For the second straight year in 2011, all White Castle stores will participate in an in-store puzzle piece fundraising and awareness campaign. The campaign will roll out region-by-region beginning in July. Last year's campaign raised over $360,000. Additionally, White Castle has created a novelty “Slider” scented candle with net proceeds of more than $90,000 benefitting Autism Speaks thus far. Additionally, White Castle has been a strong supporter of their hometown Walk Now for Autism Speaks event in Columbus.
Zales 
Zale Corporation donates $5 for every piece of jewelry sold from its exclusive Shared Heart®collection at Zales Jewelers, Zales Outlet and Gordon's Jewelers stores. This collection features different designs evoking the special love shared by two hearts beating as one. Zale has committed to a minimum donation of $200,000 as a part of the second year of this partnership. Click here [7]to view the collection or here [8] to find a store near you.
- About Us [9]
