Autism Speaks to Wall Street: Third Annual Celebrity Chef Gala

NEW YORK, N.Y. (September 16, 2009) – Autism Speaks Co-Founders Suzanne and Bob Wright will join Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Le Bernardin Eric Ripert and CNBC Squawk on the Street and Street Signs Anchor Erin Burnett to host an evening of fine dining and entertainment for a worthy cause. Autism Speaks to Wall Street: 3rd Annual Celebrity Chef Gala, a large scale VIP dining experience in the heart of Manhattan's Financial District, will bring together the culinary talents of over 80 of the nation's leading chefs on Wednesday, October 14 at Cipriani Wall Street, located at 55 Wall Street, to help increase awareness about autism and raise funds for autism research. Tom Colicchio (Craft Restaurants); Eric Ripert (Le Bernadin); Franklin Becker (Abe & Arthur's); Masaharu Morimoto (MORIMOTO); and Terrance Brennan (Artisanal & Picholine); are among the renowned chefs who will cook tableside meals for their guests.

Autism Speaks to Wall Street: 3rd Annual Celebrity Chef Gala will kick-off with a cocktail reception where seven chefs will serve hors d'oeuvres in the library and on the mezzanine level. Cocktails will be followed by a sit down dinner where fifty of the nation's top chefs will be featured in Cipriani's grand ballroom – one chef per sponsor table – as they each prepare and serve a four-course meal exclusively for their guests. While dining, guests will be treated to a special performance by musical savant Rex Lewis-Clack, a young boy who has overcome the challenges of blindness and autism to produce extraordinary music.

Following the entrée course, dessert will be prepared by thirty renowned pastry chefs, including Karen DeMasco of Locanda Verde, Michael Laiskonis of Le Bernardin, Patrick Lemble of The Four Seasons and Pierre Poulin of Le Cirque.

The event will also feature an exclusive live auction of rare access packages including private dinner parties by the country's leading chefs, luxury culinary-themed getaways and other unique items, in which proceeds will benefit Autism Speaks –the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization. Jennifer & Franklin Becker, Susan & Philip Harris, Susan & Kevin Murray and Alison & Duncan Niederauer will serve as the evening's co-chairs.

Tickets for the event start at $1,500 for limited individual tickets and range to $100,000 for a VIP table. VIP sponsors will receive first choice of chef, premier seating for ten, prime logo placement on the evening's giftbags, a double page ad in the commemorative event journal and a certificate for six to a participating restaurant. For a list of participating chefs confirmed to date, click here.

For an interview with a participating chef or Autism Speaks Co-founders, please contact Jaclyn Benedetto at 212.843.9397 or JBenedetto@Rubenstein.com
For event and ticket information, contact Beth Irving at (212) 252-8584
or Eirving@autismspeaks.org

About Autism
Autism is a complex brain 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 150 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls. The prevalence of autism has increased tenfold in the last decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.

About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, 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. Autism Speaks funds more than $30 million each year in new autism research, in addition to supporting the Autism Treatment Network, Autism Genetic Resource Exchange, Autism Clinical Trials Network, Autism Tissue Program and a range of other scientific and medical programs. Notable awareness initiatives include the establishment of the annual United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on April 2 and an award-winning, multi-year national public service advertising campaign with the Ad Council. Autism Speaks' family services efforts include the Autism Video Glossary, a 100 Day Kit for newly-diagnosed families, a School Community Tool Kit and the distribution of community grants to local service providers. Its government relations department, through its Autism Votes initiative, has played a critical role in securing federal legislation to advance the federal government's response to autism, and has successfully advocated for insurance reform to require insurers to cover medically-necessary autism therapies. Each year, Walk Now for Autism Speaks fundraising events are held in more than 70 cities across the country, as well as Canada and the United Kingdom. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.

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 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 board of directors of the Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation and RAND Corporation. Suzanne Wright has an extensive history of active involvement in community and philanthropic endeavors, mostly directed toward helping children. She serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations and is also Trustee Emeritus of Sarah Lawrence College, her alma mater. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.