March 2022
Donors and Grantors - Party People!
FACT is so excited to bring back our in-person Party Under the Stars this year on Saturday, May 21st at 6 PM! The Party Under the Stars is back and better than ever with: a newer and bigger venue (YMCA at JT's Camp Grom), food from Baker's Crust and Coastal Grill, open bar, live auction, silent auction, our Cook's Night Off Raffle, Music by Revelation, and more! Check out our event website for more details!

The Party Under the Stars usually attracts around 400 guests, brings in 1/3rd of FACT's yearly budget, and is crucial to our ability to fulfill our mission. These funds allow FACT to host 6 weeks of day camps each summer and 20+ social and recreational programs for individuals with autism throughout the year.

FACT has continued to provide and even expanded its safe in-person programs throughout the pandemic. FACT doubled its year-round programming in Fall 2021 and is now hosting programs 6 days a week, including programs in multiple cities throughout Hampton Roads! We need YOUR help to keep providing this level of quality and affordable programming for local individuals with autism!
FACT has a number of SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES for the Party Under the Stars! Scroll down to the "Registration" section for more details on sponsorship opportunities for you, your business, or your employer! If you have any questions about sponsorship opportunities, call us at 757-422-2040 or email us at info@camp4autism.com!

FACT is also collecting items for both the silent and live auctions. We are looking for new/unused items over $100 and experiences (such as hotel stays, travel experiences, adventure activities, restaurant gift cards, yoga, massages, salons, gyms, cleaning services, etc.). If you have any items you would like to donate or know any local businesses who may be interested in donating, please call us at 757-422-2040 or email us at info@camp4autism.com with the subject line "Potential Auction Item." We greatly appreciate your support and any recommendations!
Interested in VOLUNTEERING for FACT's most important fundraiser of the year? FACT cannot host this event without the support of our volunteers. 

We need 50 volunteers ages 21 and older for the night of the Party Under the Stars. If you or someone you know might be interested in helping us raise 1/3rd of our yearly budget, REGISTER HERE!

Many companies offer employer-sponsored paid time to do volunteer work in your community. Ask your boss or HR person if these opportunities are available at your job! Call us at 757-422-2040 or email us at info@camp4autism.com if your employer is interested in being part of this amazing event!
Additional Upcoming Fundraisers for FACT
OVM's Legum Legacy is hosting their 7th Annual Charity Bash on April 7th at The Shack! FACT is so grateful to OVM's Legum Legacy and OVM Financial for choosing FACT as one of its five charities to support this year! Enjoy access to the open bar and AYCE buffet, live music (DJ), games, and photo booth fun while supporting FACT! Get your tickets HERE and make sure to select FACT as your charity to benefit!
Priority Automotive Charities has selected FACT as one of its charities this year! Make plans for a great evening of family fun, entertainment and giving back at the Annual Priority Toyota Charity Bowl! Show your support and cheer on the ODU football team during their spring football game to raise money for 45 different Hampton Roads Children’s charities! Live music with The Bacon Brothers! Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 9, 2022.
Movers & Shakers - Grayson Smith
Grayson Smith is a bright young man with a big heart! Grayson started volunteering with FACT when he was 10 years old. Grayson's brother Connor is on the spectrum and Grayson was a natural working with FACT's campers. Once he was old enough, Grayson made the jump from volunteer to paid staff and has been a vital member of FACT ever since. He has consistently stepped up and taken on more responsibility in recent years.

At FACT, we like to offer a wide variety of different social and recreational programs so there is a program for every individual with autism, no matter what their interests. Growing up, Grayson and his brother loved nerd culture and it is a major bond they share. Grayson recently approached us about sharing that bond with more individuals on the spectrum by creating a new program that would focus on Comicon. Grayson's Comicon program provides a fun environment where individuals with autism can get together to talk about some of their favorite action figures, superheroes, and pop culture. Grayson took up the mantle of instructor for the program and created a great lesson plan mixing in social discussions between participants, learning how to navigate the sometimes overwhelming environment of a crowded event like Comicon, and creating costumes for the participants to wear when they all go to Tidewater Comicon in May.

As FACT has expanded the number of year-round programs we offer, it has allowed us to offer new and exciting experiences for individuals of all different ages and we are so grateful to Grayson for his years of hard work and creativity in developing a unique and fun program!
Gotta Love this Kid - Miles Cahill
Miles is a local 6th grader who loves to move and groove! He has been a staple during the last year at any FACT program dealing with music.

According to his dad, Miles has always been nervous about performing in front of groups of people. Miles would always freeze on stage at the last minute. However, that all changed when Miles joined FACT's Arts Adventures program in Fall 2021 (special thanks to the Hampton Roads Community Foundation for sponsoring this program). During this free 12 week program, Miles worked with his peers, FACT staff, and our amazing instructor Angela from Arts 4 Learning to get over his stage fright and show off his moves! At the end of Arts Adventures, Miles and the rest of the kids from Arts Adventures got on stage and put on a show for over 50 people! Miles never froze during group dances and even busted out his Michael Jackson routine as his solo performance!

Miles has continued his love of performing and recently rocked out with his dad (with a background cameo from his buddy Watts) to Bohemian Rhapsody during FACT's recent family karaoke night! Check out his performance (and the smile on his face) in the video above!
Upcoming Programs and Events

It is that time of year again! We are very excited to start taking registrations for Camp GonnawannaGOagin'. Registration for campers and volunteers goes live at 8 PM this Friday, March 25th on our Active Registration! Individuals with autism ages 6-18 can register for the weeks starting June 27th, July 11th, August 1st and 8th. Individuals with autism ages 13 and up can register for the weeks starting July 18th and 25th.

Weeks of camp are very popular so make sure to log on and sign up right at 8 PM on Friday or as soon as you can after to secure your spot! If there is a waitlist, please still sign your camper up for the waitlist and we will let more individuals with autism in off the waitlist closer to the start of camp once we confirm we have enough staff.

Speaking of staff, FACT is now taking applications to work both Spring Break and Summer Camp! The more qualified staff we get, the more campers we can take each week of Summer Camp. If you or someone you know might be interested, you can find the application HERE. Completed applications should be emailed to info@camp4autism.com.

Call us at 757-422-2040 or email us at info@camp4autism.com if you need more details.
Additional Programs for Kids with Special Needs
Looking for additional programs for your kid with special needs? Check out our friends over at Aid Another and their upcoming programs!
Volunteer Opportunity for Individuals with Autism
The Virginia Council for Learning Disabilities (VCLD) is holding their annual symposium at Virginia Wesleyan University on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The attendees will include general and special education teachers from across the state. VCLD is looking for volunteers on the spectrum to help out with the event. If you are interested in volunteering please complete the VCLD Volunteer Form or email Mindy Gumpert at mgumpert@vwu.edu.
Autism Research Opportunities
Please consider participating in the below research studies regarding autism. To participate in any of these studies, either click on the flyer or use the contact information provided in the flyer.