We know there are many bikers affected by autism--either through their family or by close friends. This event gives them the opportunity to support us in a way that is important and meaningful to them--different from a walk or gala. The money raised by Ride for Autism participants helps fund research and support families in ways that impact them both for their immediate issues and into the future.
Phillip Hain, Executive Director
Autism Speaks, Los Angeles
The Greater Long Beach/San Gabriel Valley Chapter of the Autism Society is grateful to Ride for Autism for the funds that were distributed to us. As a parent-based, all volunteer, organization that provides objective information, rather than direct services, to families with autism, we have used the money to keep our annual conference fees at a minimum. Specifically, we were able to charge only $50 for a two-day conference which featured renowned national and international speakers and included breakfast, lunch and parking fees for the two days. Elsewhere it would be in excess of $200 without meals.
Funds from Ride for Autism also enabled the Autism Society to underwrite over 95% of the costs of a series of six two-hour classes on “Parenting a Child on the Autism Spectrum.”
A portion of the funds is also used to cover expenses for our chapter’s two free monthly parent support groups in Whittier and Long Beach and to pay for Spanish interpreters at our events.
The Board of Directors wish to thank Ride for Autism and its organizers for providing us the means to support families raising a loved one with autism in a manner that provides top quality support at an affordable price to them.
- Penne Fode, President