FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2018

Making Strides for Autism and the Jumbo Shrimp have partnered to host an Autism Awareness Game and Inclusion Outing on Sunday, June 10, 2018

JACKSONVILLE, FL, May 11, 2018– Making Strides for Autism and the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp have partnered to host an Inclusion Outing for Autism Awareness on Sunday, June 10, 2018 at the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp game versus the Biloxi Shuckers. Funding for approximately 20 families (80 tickets total) with autistic members is provided by the HEAL Foundation. Game day tickets will also be sold to the general public and autism families. 

“HEAL is honored to underwrite 80 tickets to the Jumbo Shrimp Autism Awareness Game on June 10 and congratulates Making Strides For Autism on this very special Inclusion Outing!” – Jason Gurka, Executive Director HEAL Foundation.

As a fundraising event, Making Strides for Autism will receive $4 from each ticket purchased at $9 per ticket. To support the autistic participants in the event, Making Strides for Autism will provide Sensory Bags to inclusion outing participants for use at the game.  They will also set up their Mobile Sensory Room on site to children that may become overwhelmed during the game and need a break.

“We are thrilled to host this inclusive event at the Jumbo Shrimp game. Autism Spectrum Disorder affects nearly 25,000 individuals in Northeast Florida, and it is wonderful to have community groups like the Jumbo Shrimp support our efforts to connect the community to autism.” – Carrence Bass, President/CEO and Founder Making Strides For Autism, Inc.

Funds raised will be used to help provide more Inclusion Outings, Sensory Bags, and their autism employment programs to people on the autism spectrum and their families.  Tickets can be purchased at www.bit.ly/ms4ashrimp using the Password “Autism”.

ABOUT MAKING STRIDES FOR AUTISM:  Making Strides For Autism, Inc. (MS4A) was founded in March 2016.  We're a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a social enterprise business model.  At Making Strides For Autism, Inc., our goal is to create a community that is more welcoming and inclusive for autism families.  We strive to lessen the emotional and financial impact of autism on families and people living in Northeast Florida with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).  We are dedicated to providing support, training, and advocacy to those we serve; creating job training and meaningful jobs for people with autism, and to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on families and society. From Small Steps, To Making Strides: We Connect the Community to Autism. www.makingstridesforautism.org  
 
ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offer affordable family fun at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Their inaugural season garnered the Southern League's Don Mincher Organization of the Year, Promotional Trophy, and Jimmy Bragan Executive of the Year, won by General Manager Harold Craw. To experience the excitement with the terrific value of ticket and group options, call the Jumbo Shrimp at (904) 358-2846 or visit www.jaxshrimp.com.

ABOUT THE HEAL FOUNDATION:  Established in 2004 by Leslie and Bobby Weed, the HEAL (Helping Enrich Autistic Lives) Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Northeast Florida.  Since 2007, the HEAL Foundation has granted over $2 million dollars to the local autism community, assisting thousands of children, teens and adults through specialized programs, camps, educational enhancements, iPads and autism service dogs. HEAL’s newest initiative is iHEAL – iPads Helping Enrich Autistic Lives.  After witnessing the progress students with autism are making with iPads, the foundation was inspired to purchase over 350 iPads to date and donate them to Exceptional Student Education (ESE) classrooms in the counties of Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, and St. Johns.HealAutismNow.org

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If you would like more information about this topic, please visit www.makingstridesforautism.org, contact Carrence Bass at 904.862.6040 or email at info@makingstridesforautism.org.