Did You Know? 1 in 88 children is diagnosed on the autism spectrum, 1 in 54 boys. Every 11 minutes, another child is diagnosed, representing a 78% increase in the last six years and a 1000% increase in reported prevalence over the last 40 years. 88 1 IN 1 IN 1 IN 5000 2500 1 IN 500 1 IN 250 1 IN 110 1 IN 166 150 1 IN 1975 1985 1995 2001 2004 2007 2009 2012 % INCREASE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR 2012 Autism Speaks Inc. Autism Speaks and Autism Speaks It s Time To Listen & Design are registered trademarks owned by Autism Speaks Inc. All rights reserved.
About Autism Spectrum Disorder Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders autism spectrum disorders (ASD) caused by a combination of genes and environmental influences. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by social and behavioral challenges, as well as repetitive behaviors. More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, pediatric cancer and juvenile diabetes combined. Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S. Today, autism costs the United States a staggering $137 Billion a number that continues to grow with the rise in prevalence. In the United States, the total cost of caring for an individual with ASD and no intellectual disability (ID) over his or her lifetime is an astronomical $1.4M per person, and $2.3M for a person with ASD and ID. Non-medical costs account for the greatest expenses. While direct medical costs such as outpatient care, home care, and pharmacy contribute significantly to overall expenses; non-medical costs including special education, child daycare, and especially residential care account for the largest proportion of autism costs.
Our Promise To change the future for all who struggle with autism Autism Speaks has made a promise to fund autism research, advocate for families, and create a passionate community for people affected by autism. The blue puzzle-piece logo communicates this promise to the general public and also identifies Autism Speaks as the leading resource and authority on autism. At its core, the blue puzzle-piece logo represents the hope to find the missing piece of the autism puzzle.
Autism Speaks offers an online resource guide for families affected by autism. It contains over 45,000 local resources from across the country in 75 categories, from developmental pediatricians to after-school programs. More than 22,000 individuals have been served through Autism Speaks Family Service grant programs. 15,000 people annually benefit from the Autism Speaks Autism Response Team, and more than 60,000 tool kits developed by Autism Speaks have been distributed to families with loved ones on the spectrum. Over 500,000 people participate in more than 90 Walk Now for Autism Speaks events annually, helping to raise autism awareness and funds for the organization s many programs and initiatives. Autism Speaks has 1 million+ Facebook fans and more than 70,000 Twitter followers. For every $1 invested by Autism Speaks in pilot research studies, $9 is leveraged in future federal research funding. Autism Speaks awareness efforts are credited with increasing autism awareness among the general population by 45%. Autism Speaks was chosen as one of America s Greatest Brands by the American Brand Council in 2009 and 2011.
Supporting the Mission How your business can help Autism Speaks works with some of the nation s leading corporations to increase awareness and raise funds. In 2011, more than $9 million was raised through such partnerships. Autism Speaks offers its corporate partners a unique, high-profile opportunity to engage on a national and local level with the fastest growing developmental disability health issue of our time. Our team will work with you to develop customized programs to help you reach your cause marketing and philanthropic goals while promoting a positive corporate image, building employee morale and engaging consumers in a cause that has become part of the national and global health agenda. 30 Rockefeller Center New York, NY 10016
Light It Up Blue Sponsorship To celebrate World Autism Awareness Day and Autism Awareness Month, Autism Speaks launched its inaugural Light It Up Blue initiative on April 2, 2010. In 2011, more than 2,000 iconic buildings in over 48 countries on six continents turned their structures bright blue to raise awareness about autism. The Empire State Building, CN Tower, Kingdom Tower, Niagara Falls and the Sydney Opera House are just a few of the most notable landmarks to light up blue. More than 3,000 landmarks and buildings lit blue around the world to help shine a light on autism on April 2, 2012. Many companies used the initiative to show their support of Autism Speaks through Light It Up Blue fundraising campaigns with employees and customers. Benefits include global visibility, public relations opportunities, team building, employee and customer engagement. Walk Now For Autism Speaks Sponsorship In 2011, Autism Speaks largest fundraiser Walk Now for Autism Speaks took place in 90 communities across the U.S. and Canada. Over 500,000 people joined together with family, friends, schools, political figures and corporations to raise $29.6 million. Walk day offers a sense of community and belonging like no other. These events provide an opportunity for education, advocacy, support and compassion. Newly diagnosed families, surrounded by hundreds of families, quickly realize they are not alone. Each Walk event has a Resource Fair that gives local service providers an opportunity to have direct contact with the autism community. Benefits include direct local impact with a dedicated, loyal audience as well as terrific team building and volunteer leadership opportunities for employees.
Autism Speaks U Sponsorship Autism Speaks U is a national program that engages college students in awareness, advocacy and fundraising efforts and events for Autism Speaks. There are more than 55 Autism Speaks U chapters in the U.S. and Canada. Our national philanthropic partners, Alpha Xi Delta and Theta Delta Chi, as well as hundreds of students on campuses nationwide join together to support the mission of Autism Speaks. Benefits include exposure to the philanthropically motivated college consumer. Team Up! with Autism Speaks Sponsorship Team Up! with Autism Speaks is a collection of endurance events that raise funds through team participation. Participants are typically runners, cyclists and other serious amateur athletes that compete to benefit Autism Speaks. In 2011, Team Up! with Autism Speaks raised over $1 million to further the mission of Autism Speaks by participating in key endurance events like the ING New York Marathon. Benefits include showcasing brands to loyal supporters that trend young and affluent. Major Giving Opportunities Autism Speaks Major Gifts program is directed towards individuals, corporations and foundations that contribute $5,000 or more unrelated to a Walk or special events. Major gift donors are invited to support to any program of their choice. In 2011, more than 200 donors contributed over $8 million to research, fellowships, summer camp scholarships, family services and general support. Gift types include direct contributions, stocks, property, bequests and charitable trusts. Larger gifts can be pledged with payments made over a period of years. Workplace Giving Autism Speaks is proud to participate in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) through Community Health Charities (CHC). In partnership with CHC, Autism Speaks works with public and private sector employers to make it easy to support its mission with a contribution through payroll deductions at work.
Employee Volunteering Build employee and customer loyalty by participation in one of our many events throughout the United States. Employee volunteerism can help benefit your company s philanthropic profile while servicing your communities and neighborhoods nationwide. Special Events Sponsorship Special events, ranging from local community events to star-studded national events, raised more than $5.5 million in 2011. These events have become such a success due to the overwhelming support, dedication and generosity of sponsors, volunteers and celebrity friends who give their time and energy to support the Autism Speaks mission. Social Media & Online Fundraising Programs In 2011, Autism Speaks Social Media and Online Fundraising group increased its effort to engage with more stakeholders and supporters in more places than ever before. The Autism Speaks online community has grown exponentially surpassing one million fans on Facebook and over 70,000 followers on Twitter. Foundation Giving The Foundation Giving Program provides opportunities to contribute directly to the program area or project of choice through corporate foundations. Autism Speaks endeavors to match corporate philanthropy goals to program areas.
Testimonials What company executives are saying... Since our partnership with Autism Speaks began six years ago, our customers and employees have embraced this cause, helping us contribute more than $12 million and assisting the organization in reaching significant milestones in research and family services. Jerry Storch, Chairman and CEO Toys R Us, Inc. We re hoping that our customers and employees get the crave to support and give back to an organization White Castle is committed to helping. Jamie Richardson, VP of Corporate Communications White Castle
What customers are saying... Just found out that my godson has autism and I already donated! Love what Toys R Us is doing! Noelle R., Customer Toys R Us & Babies R Us I received a Shared Heart for Christmas two years ago, because it supports Autism Speaks! Beautiful pieces! Karen L., Customer Zales What employees are saying... As a parent of an autistic child with multiple disabilities and a nine-year employee of the Home Depot, I say THANK YOU! Trish D., Employee The Home Depot Awesome Awesome Awesome! Proud to work for Dollar General and be a mom to a special kid! Ann P., Employee Dollar General
AUTISM QUICK FACTS 1 in 88 children is diagnosed with autism 1 in 54 boys is on the autism spectrum OUR MISSION At Autism Speaks, our goal is to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. We are dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its individuals, families and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder. We are committed to raising their funds necessary to support these goals. Autism Speaks aims to bring the autism community together as one strong voice to urge the government and private sector to listen to our concerns and take action to address this urgent global health crisis. It is our firm belief, that working together; we will find the missing pieces of the puzzle. To learn how your company can support Autism Speaks, contact: East Sheila Sullivan, Corporate Development Director 609 228 7312 Anne Juaire, Corporate Development Manager 646 843 5241 A new case is diagnosed every 11 minutes More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, juvenile diabetes and pediatric cancer combined Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disorder in the U.S. Autism costs the nation over $137 Billion per year, a figure expected to significantly increase in the next decade Currently, there is no medical detection or cure for autism Early diagnosis and intervention can lead to better outcomes West & Mid West Shawna Horn, Corporate Development Director 619 849 9782 Email: corporaterelations@autismspeaks.org Autism Speaks Corporate Headquarters 1 East 33rd Street 4th Floor New York, NY 10016 Phone: 212 252 8584 AutismSpeaks.org CorporaterRelations@AutismSpeaks.org 2012 Autism Speaks, Inc., Autism Speaks and Autism Speaks It s Time To Listen and Design are registered trademarks owned by Autism Speaks, Inc. All rights reserved.