CELEBRATING, SUPPORTING & ENHANCING THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS & FAMILIES AFFECTED BY AUTISM.
The Beginning
On October 2, 2013, one day after his third birthday, our son Carter was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. With the support of many wonderful service providers, programs and teachers, Carter has made amazing progress over the years. The overwhelming amount of support that we received inspired us to help families facing similar challenges. Therefore, we decided to make it our mission to support the autism community and give back in any way possible.
Why We Started
After our first efforts to raise awareness, we were overwhelmed by the support we received. We knew that formalizing Carter’s Crew and forming our own not-for-profit was something we needed to do.
Autism is widely recognized as the fastest growing developmental disability in the US. The individuals, families and communities impacted truly is a wide spectrum, and we have learned autism is terribly misunderstood.
The number of people that we were able to reach and the money we raised in our early years made us realize we could make a true and lasting impact on the autism community. We want to raise awareness and funds to help families facing the spectrum of challenges that can accompany autism.
What we do
When we first learned of Carter’s diagnosis, we did not know what to do or where to go. After working hard to find resources and support, we decided as a family that we wanted to help other families facing similar challenges.
Ultimately, we want to raise awareness. Awareness leads to better understanding, acceptance and support of the entire autism community. To do this, we also need to raise funds. The money we raise will support and create programs to assist individuals with autism and their families.
We plan events, partner with other community organizations, share our story and remain active in the autism community. In our first four years, the Orange Tie Gala has raised over $100,000 and we are excited to continue to expand in the years to come!