Autism Speaks receives vital support from Team Jack Attack, many others

Pam Schiff
Posted 8/27/15

This year marked the third time Team Jack Attack walked in Goddard Park to help raise awareness and funds for Autism.

Jack Kelleher, an 11-year-old sixth-grader from Cranston, was diagnosed with …

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Autism Speaks receives vital support from Team Jack Attack, many others

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This year marked the third time Team Jack Attack walked in Goddard Park to help raise awareness and funds for Autism.

Jack Kelleher, an 11-year-old sixth-grader from Cranston, was diagnosed with autism several years ago, and his family has made it their mission to bring awareness of autism spectrum disorders to Cranston students, teachers, friends and the community as a whole.

This year, Team Jack Attack had 50 walkers and actually came in third place for fundraising.

“A last-minute, anonymous donation of over $500 helped put us over our goal,” said Kerri Kelleher, Jack’s mom.

Jack feels it is important that people learn about autism because everybody knows the word, but many don’t understand what it means.

“Jack thinks that it’s really cool that our team came in third place. He also thinks it’s great that so many people have become a part of our team, and he really likes it when he sees our friends wearing a Team Jack Attack T-shirt anytime during the year,” Kerri said.

“The money that Team Jack Attack raised is being combined with four other Cranston teams that came together to raise $10,000 to earn one of our trainings for Cranston,” said Erica Busillo, development manager at Autism Speaks. “The Cranston training will involve 30 teachers/participants and will take place in Cranston, likely at the Early Childhood Center. The training will be geared specifically toward preschoolers with an autism spectrum disorder. It will be highly customized.”

An additional legislative grant was presented by state Rep. Robert Lancia for $2,500 will allow Autism Speaks to provide five full scholarships to The Autism Project’s therapeutic summer camp.

“Our goal … is to turn no child away from camp due to an inability to pay, and the grant has been extremely important in helping us meet that goal this year,” Busillo said.

For more information, visit autismspeaks.org/site-wide/rhode-island.

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