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About the Event
Little Friends, Inc. hosted its first annual Step Up for Autism 5K walk and fun run on Sunday, June 28, 2009 along the Riverwalk in downtown Naperville. Designed to raise awareness about autism, a complex developmental disability that affects an estimated 1.5 million Americans, the Step Up for Autism walk was the first of its kind to be held in Naperville. More than 1,600 participants helped to raise more than $145,000 in donations making the 2009 walk and fun run one of the most successful fundraising events in Little Friends history. Funds raised from the inaugural event will benefit children and adults with autism served by Little Friends, Inc. and the Little Friends Center for Autism.
This family-friendly event is a morning of fun for walkers and runners of all ages. Festivities include a three-mile walk and fun run and a one-mile kid-friendly route. The event also features a Resource Fair and a fun-filled Kids’ Area, complete with interactive displays, face painting, moon jumps and much more.
To view photos from our 2009 Step Up for Autism walk, please click below:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40196810@N02/sets/72157621017053043/
Understanding Autism
The most common of the pervasive developmental disorders, autism is a developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurobiological disorder of the brain that impacts development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. An estimated one in 150 children born in the United States will be diagnosed with some form of autism. Experts and researchers across the country agree that autism is now the leading childhood developmental disorder in the United States, affecting an estimated 1.5 million Americans. Currently, there is no cure for autism.
About Little Friends' Autism Services
A leading authority in the field of autism, Little Friends has more than 30 years of experience in working with children and adults living with autism spectrum disorder. Currently, more than 70 percent of the clients within the agency’s Children’s Services Division have a primary diagnosis on the autism spectrum.
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Krejci Academy, the flagship program of Little Friends, Inc., is located in the heart of Naperville’s historic district and has been serving children with autism since the mid 1970s. Of the 120 children currently enrolled at the school, 95 percent have a primary diagnosis on the autism spectrum. Small class sizes, high staff to student ratios and cutting-edge therapies are the reasons that more than 50 school districts across Illinois turn to Krejci Academy as their primary referral source.
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Little Friends, Inc. opened the first group home in the state of Illinois for children with autism in 1980. Home to six children, the Lifeskills Training Center for Children with Autism is a two-year intensive residential program. This nationally and internationally recognized model aims to reunite children with their families within two years by establishing lifeskills and behavior programs in the home.
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The Children’s Center for Autism is a 24-hour therapeutic group home for children with severe autism. Located in Cary, Illinois, the Children’s Center for Autism was the first children’s group home to open in McHenry County and provides state-of-the-art therapeutic, recreational and residential services.
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Little Friends, Inc. has been providing residential services for adults with developmental disabilities since 1976. Keeping in line with best practices that have been established in Illinois and across the country, nearly 120 adults live in 55 homes integrated into communities throughout DuPage County. Our breadth of experience in the field of autism enables us to adapt each environment to the unique needs of each person, enabling him or her to live as independently as possible within their community.
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Since 1968, Spectrum Vocational Services has provided vocational training for adults with developmental disabilities. In recent years, Spectrum’s population has evolved to include a greater number of adults with autism. To better serve this growing population, Little Friends, Inc. has continued to introduce new and specialized training methods and individualized vocational opportunities for these adults. Each year, nearly 300 individuals turn to the agency’s dynamic adult day services program for job placement opportunities within the workshop and at locations through their communities.
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Based upon requests from parents, school districts and other professionals and more than 30 years of experience in providing services for children and adults with autism, the Little Friends Center for Autism was established in 2004. Last year alone, our highly trained and specialized staff:
• completed 83 diagnostic evaluations
• provided training for more than 1,900 professionals from schools and community agencies
• provided training for 600 parents of children with autism
Sponsorship Opportunities
The success of each Little Friends special event relies heavily upon the generosity of local businesses through corporate sponsorship. A variety of sponsorship opportunities are available, ranging from $250 to $7,500. Through our unique sponsorships, your company will be able to choose a level of involvement that will meet your business needs and budget considerations, and generate goodwill by directly impacting lives within your community. By helping to underwrite costs associated with Naperville's first-ever autism awareness walk, you will make a difference in the lives of families living with an autism diagnosis right here in Naperville and the surrounding communities.
To learn more about our unique sponsorship opportunities, please contact:
Kathleen Malecki
Vice President for Development
Phone: (630) 281-1816
E-mail: kmalecki@lilfriends.com
Get Involved Today
By supporting the Step Up for Autism walk, you will help to ensure that Little Friends, Inc. will continue to provide the most dynamic and cutting-edge therapies and resources for the tens of thousands of families across Illinois that live with autism each and every day. You can get involved with the Step Up for Autism walk by:
- Forming a Team of Walkers
- Becoming a Sponsor
- Volunteering on the Day of the Walk
- Becoming a Fan on Facebook
Details about the 2010 Step Up for Autism walk will be posted on this Web page when available. We hope you will join us in June 2010!
Contact Information
To learn more about the Step Up for Autism walk, please contact Special Events Manager Cally Edwards at (630) 281-1882 or via e-mail at credwards@lilfriends.com.
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