Fourth Annual Dan Marino Foundation WalkAbout Autism & Expo at Sun Life Stadium, South Florida – on Jan 25 more than 20,000 people are expected to attend the fundraising event.
Many participants are walking to raise money for autism-related needs at schools in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.
Teams from schools in the area and non-profit autism-service providers receive 25 percent of the money they raise for their special-needs programming.
Remaining proceeds go to the Dan Marino Foundation, a non-profit foundation started in 1992 by the former Miami Dolphins quarterback and his wife, Claire. The Foundation was inspired by their autistic son Michael.
Funds raised at previous events have been used to support special projects like summer camp scholarships.
Alicia Perilis. Autism Coach for Coral Cove Elementary of Miramar told the Sun Sentinel:
‘The WalkAbout helps fund supplies for students with autism, such as workout balls and climbing equipment. Roughly 60 of the school’s 800 students live with autism, some in self-contained classes and others in mixed classrooms.’
The Coral Cove team so far has raised nearly $2,000 to help buy iPads. By The team taking part in the WalkAbout they also help to raise autism awareness.
Doreen Hemlock in the Sun Sentinel reports that in 2013, the WalkAbout attracted more than 17,000 people.
Event entry is free.
For more information, visit dmfwalkaboutautism.org.
The original article in the Sun Sentinel can be found here