June Walks Start Strong
On the weekend of June 6 and 7, five Walk Now for Autism events took place in Altoona, Penn., Oklahoma City, New Britain, Conn., Ontario, Canada and Purchase, N.Y. More than 30,000 people participated, raising over $1.71 million.
On Saturday, June 6, 750 people walked at Blair County Ballpark in Altoona, Penn. at the fifth annual Blair County Walk Now for Autism, raising over $47,000. Following the Walk, many attendees returned to the ballpark to enjoy Autism Awareness Night at the Altoona Curve's game. Special thanks to five-time Walk Chair Amanda Boland and returning Walk Chair Charla Brumbaugh for making the Blair County Walk such a success. Read more and view additional photos
here.
Toys"R"Us' Geoffrey meets and greets members of Josh's Ready Rangers.
3,500 attendees raised $135,000 at the third annual Oklahoma Walk Now for Autism on June 6 at at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Okla. The family-oriented event included inflatable bounce castles and appearances by Star Wars characters and the Red Hawks mascot. Kids were given the opportunity to run the bases at the ballpark and one even slid into home plate! Honored guests at the Walk included Rep. Mary Fallin (R - OK) and Oklahoma's First Lady Kim Henry. Special thanks to Walk
Walkers in Oklahoma City gather outside AT&T Ballpark prior to the event.
Chairs David and Kathy Thompson for the continued success of the Oklahoma Walk. Read more and view additional photos
here.
A record-breaking 6,500 walkers joined the fourth annual Greater Hartford Walk Now for Autism at Walnut Hill Park in New Britain, Conn. on Sunday, June 7, raising nearly $418,000. A number of honored guests participated in the Walk, including University of Connecticut men's basketball coach Jim Calhoun, Congressman Christopher Murphy (D–CT), Connecticut Speaker of the House Christopher Donovan and NBC30 morning anchor Brad Drazen. Special thanks to returning Walk
Members of Aiden's Awesomeness display their banner and their team spirit!
Chair Noreen Simmons for making the fourth annual Greater Hartford Walk such a success. Read more and view additional photos
here.
Families, friends, service providers, schools and corporate teams came from across Ontario on Sunday, June 7, to walk in Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, Canada, for the fifth annual Ontario Walk Now for Autism, where 7,500 walkers raised over $585,000. Prior to the Walk, Autism Speaks Canada Board member Steven Wise challenged popular Q107 morning radio DJ John Derringer $1 per step to complete the Walk route. Derringer did it and secured an additional $10,000. Unity for Autism
7,500 attendees from across Ontario joined the Walk in Nathan Phillips Square on June 7.
Foundation made a surprise pledge of $20,000. A number of special guests including television stars, professional athletes and autism researchers were in attendance. Special thanks to Walk Chairs Jyoti Sanwalka, Scott Chataway and Gideon Sheps for making the Ontario Walk such a success. Read more and view additional photos
here.
12,000 participants were joined by Alaska Governor and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her nephew Karcher, who has autism, at the Westchester/Fairfield Walk Now for Autism held on Sunday, June 7 on the campus of Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y. The eighth annual event has raised $565,000 to date. Special thanks to first year Walk Chair, Ellen Cohen, for making the Walk such a success. Read more about Sarah Palin's appearance
here
and view additional information and photos
here.
Members of the 2009 Grand Club pose onstage for a group photo.
All reported fundraising totals are "to-date" - teams are still raising money and the sites are still accepting donations. The next Walk Now for Autism events will be held this weekend in
Des Moines, Mt. Laurel
(N.J.),
Hawaii, Colorado Springs, Pittsburgh
and
New York City.
Kick-off events for future Walks are taking place all across the country;
click here
to find an event near you.
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