NYC AUTISM SPEAKS GALA RAISES MORE THAN $66,000

Autism Speaks' third annual Autism Speaks to Young Professionals summer gala, held in NYC, raised more than $66,000 for autism research and advocacy.

Left to right: Brant Duber, Gala committee member; Mark Roithmayr, Autism Speaks president; Amanda Niederauer, Gala co-chair; Jesse Morris, Gala committee member

Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, hosted its third annual Autism Speaks to Young Professionals summer gala on Thursday, August 4, on the Trading Floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The event was designed to bring together young professionals from all industries to help raise awareness about the disorder now affecting one in every 110 American children. The sold-out gala drew more than 800 guests and raised more than $66,000. 

The evening of cocktails, musical entertainment, and hors d'ouevres presented guests with the opportunity take a photo on the historic NYSE bell podium and win US Open tickets, among other prizes, in the evening's raffle. Event co-chairs Amanda Niederauer and Danny Ryan, joined by Autism Speaks President Mark Roithmayr, made remarks about their own personal experiences with autism and thanked the crowd for showing their support for the cause.

To date, Autism Speaks to Young Professionals galas have brought together more than 2,000 young professionals, raising more than $272,000 dollars for Autism Speaks' research and advocacy programs. Proceeds help raise awareness about autism and its spectrum disorders, advocate for the needs of individuals with autism and their families, and fund research into the disorder's causes, prevention, treatments, and cure.