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Monthly
Newsletter
HIGHLIGHTS | EVENTS | PHOTOS
MAY 2023
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Autism Tree Football Mentor Alumni Dalton Kincaid Gets Drafted to the NFL & Speaks about Autism Tree on ABC/ESPN | |
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Thanks to Autism Tree-USD Football Player Mentor Alumni & AT Ambassador Dalton Kincaid, Autism Tree was featured on the ESPN National Football League (NFL) Draft on April 27, 2023!
Congratulations Dalton on being drafted to the Buffalo Bills in the first round (No. 25) of the NFL Draft!!! We are very grateful for his support of Autism Tree's mission of helping the autism community live our best lives, huge heart for our children and families, and for spreading love and awareness for autism during National Autism Acceptance Month.
Thank you to ESPN for producing this video feature and special thank you to Autism Tree-USD Athletics Programs Director Jon Hickey for helping provide footage and photos of Dalton and our AT families.
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Questions? Contact RebeccaB@autismtreeproject.org. | |
Join The AT Bloom Collective!
In honor of Autism Tree’s 20th Anniversary, we launched "The Autism Tree Bloom Collective". The Bloom Collective share a common goal of supporting and bringing Autism Tree to the community, are ambassadors of Autism Tree’s mission of helping the autism community live our best lives and represent our four core pillars: Embrace. Connect. Empower. Create. Only the first 100 people to join the collective become GOLD LEGACY Bloomers!
How to join The Bloom Collective? Fill out our Gold Legacy Bloomer Form by clicking the button below and email it to our AT Team at RebeccaB@autismtreeproject.org.
Give. Support. Help a family bloom.
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Number of New Family Intakes
(since January 1, 2023):
286
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Thank You to Autism Tree 20th Anniversary and Lunch & Learn Sponsor: CalABLE! | |
Autism Tree is sending a huge THANK YOU to CalABLE for sponsoring our 20th Anniversary Celebration on April 12, 2023 and continuing to support our virtual educational Lunch & Learn program series.
CalAble is a groundbreaking financial and investment state program that helps you save money - tax-free - to pay for disability related qualified expenses.
Autism Tree and CalABLE provided six (6) Lunch & Learns to our community in 2022. Watch them all on our YouTube channel here. We are thrilled to partner once again with CalABLE to provide our parents and families with information about this valuable and life-changing resource.
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AT Virtual Book Club Hosts International Best Selling Author Angie Kim & Save the Date for our Hybrid Global Neurodiversity Conference on Friday, November 3, 2023! | |
We had an incredible AT Virtual Book Club with International Bestselling Author and Edgar winner Angie Kim! Thank you Angie for taking the time to speak to our book club members and answer questions about her book 'Miracle Creek' and her upcoming novel 'Happiness Falls'.
Special thank you to AT Virtual Book Club Directors and Co-Hosts, Danielle Levy & Otto Lana for leading our discussion and to everyone who joined in with their awesome insights and questions. It is such a blessing to have three best selling authors supporting our Book Club, the MOD Squad's messaging of "Manifesting Our Destiny" and Otto’s message of "Everyone Belongs Here".
We are so grateful to our Neuroscience Conference Chairman Alysson R. Muotri, PhD, our Moderator Roger Bingham, and Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery & Typers Panel Moderator Dr. Michael Levy.
We are excited to have Dr. Michael Levy moderating the Typers Panel with Angie Kim at our upcoming Hybrid Global Neurodiversity Conference on Friday, November 3, 2023!
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Kendra Scott UTC Sip & Shop Fundraiser Raises over $2,000 for Autism Tree! | |
Autism Tree is sending a huge THANK YOU to Board Member & Gold Legacy Bloomer Alexandra Taccone for organizing a wonderful Sip & Shop Mother’s Day fundraiser at Kendra Scott!
Thank you Alexandra - your fundraiser was a big success and raised over $2,000 for Autism Tree! You are truly helping families with autism live their best lives.
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Sign Up for our 9th Annual Bridge to the Beach Family Days and Week Long Camp in June & August 2023!
Calling all Autism Tree Families! You are invited to attend our 9th Annual Bridge to the Beach Family Days on Sunday, June 25th (Mission Bay) and on Saturday, August 5th (Mission Beach) from 8:30 AM-11:30AM. At this family fun day, children are paired with Autism Tree volunteers to try surfing, paddleboarding, kayaking, boogie boarding, sand castle building, or maybe just tanning on the beach! Whatever your beach activity of choice is, you will not want to miss this!
Our 9th Annual Bridge to the Beach Week Long Camp in partnership with the San Diego Junior Lifeguards will be Monday, August 14-Friday, August 19, 2023 at Mission Bay and Mission Beach each day from 8:30 AM-11:30AM. Commitment and attendance to ALL 5 CAMP DAYS is required. Only 30 spots available - first come, first served. Contact RebeccaB@autismtreeproject.org to reserve a spot for your kid today!
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NEW Community Partner Spotlight: National Charity League San Dieguito Chapter! | |
Huge thank you to National Charity League, San Dieguito Liaison Erika Halpern for a fantastic planning meeting! Autism Tree is excited for a NEW community partnership with the NCL San Dieguito Chapter. Huge thank you to our AT Intern Hollis Halpern, who is the President of her NCL class and was the catalyst for this new community partnership!
It is a blessing to partner with NCL San Dieguito Chapter, as they are the 3rd NCL Chapter to partner with Autism Tree in our 20 year history! Our first partnership was with the NCL Del Sol Chapter in 2009 for our AT-NCL Girls Mentor Program, which is still active today and has served over 550 girls with autism. In 2022, Autism Tree partnered with the NCL San Diego Chapter for our Adaptive Arts Program, which has served over 120 children and teens with autism. We are proud to have National Charity League, Inc. as one of our strongest legacy community partners!
NCL San Dieguito volunteers will be helping lead our LEGO Playgroup Program events starting on July 1st, and they have many more ideas on how to serve our children and families! More details about this new community partnership coming soon.
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Intern & Volunteer Highlight: HTHPL Intern Lucca Simpson, New Program Assistant Sierra Singleton, and SDSU Intern Rose Smedley! | |
We are giving a special shout out and welcome to our NEW Autism Tree Interns!
Lucca Simpson on the third week of his five week internship with Autism Tree in partnership with High Tech High Point Loma! Lucca is on the autism spectrum and is a Senior this year.
Sierra Singleton is a graduate of TCU – Texas Christian University and Cathedral Catholic High School alumni! Sierra is originally from Oceanside, majored in Psychology and minored in Child Development during college, wants to become a Therapist/Counselor or Clinical Psychologist, and just accepted a part time Program Assistant position at Autism Tree for the summer!
Rose Smedley is a Senior at San Diego State University majoring in psychology, is passionate about working with children, and loves being outdoors.
Welcome to the team Lucca, Sierra & Rose!
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Weekly Virtual
Lunch & Learn Program
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For: Anyone in our AT community!
On Zoom at 12 PM PST
Scheduled every Wednesday!
Wed, May 24th: Joe Goyos & Moira Allbritton from the Exceptional Family Resource Center
REGISTER
Wed, May 31st: Katie LeFort of Rady Children's Hospital
REGISTER
Wed, June 7th: Kathryn Campion of Positive Action Community Theatre
REGISTER
Wed, June 21st: Serena DeJesus, First Autistic Female MMA Fighter
REGISTER
Wed, June 28th: Lorena Slomanson & Jen Winberry of the Legal Aid Society of San Diego
REGISTER
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Weekly Hybrid
Adaptive Dance Program
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For: Children and teens ages 5-18
Location: Tap Fever Studios in Pacific Beach or via Google Meet at 12 PM PST
Scheduled every Saturday!
Ages 5-10 Class: FULL*
Ages 11-18 Class:
REGISTER
8 week sessions required*
Session 2: May-August
Session 3: Sept-Dec
*Your child or teen are still welcome to join on Google Meet! Email Rebecca@autismtreeproject.org to sign up your child or volunteer.
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In-Person Teen Time Program | |
For: Low Needs Autistic Teens ages 13+ Location: Viejas Arena, 5500 Canyon Crest Dr, San Diego, CA 92182
Wed, May 31st at 3:35PM
REGISTER
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Monthly Virtual Parent Happy Hour | |
For: Parents, Caregivers and Guardians
Location & Time: On Zoom at 6 PM PST
Fri, June 2nd at 6PM PST
REGISTER
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Monthly In-Person LEGO Playgroups | |
For: All ages welcome!
Location: North University Community Branch Library, 8820 Judicial Dr, San Diego, CA 92122
Sat, June 3rd at 10 AM
REGISTER
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Annual Bridge to the Beach Program Family Days | |
For: All ages welcome!
Location: Santa Clara Recreation Center in Mission Bay, 1008 Santa Clara Pl, San Diego, CA 92109
Sun, June 25th
REGISTER
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Monthly AT X Project Sunshine Here To Play Workshop | |
For: All ages welcome!
Location & Time: Scheduled for the second Saturday of every month at 10 AM, location varies
Sat, June 10th at University Community Branch Library at 10AM
REGISTER
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Monthly Musical Playgroup | |
For: Children ages 0-5 years old
Location: Music Therapy Center of California,
Scheduled for every third Saturday of the month!
Sat, June 17th at 1 PM:
REGISTER
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Coming Soon...
Follow us on social media for up-to-date event announcements!
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QUICK LINKS + JOIN OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY | | |
Pictured above: Autism Tree farmily with their USD Baseball Player Mentor at our USD Baseball Home Game on April 23, 2023 | |
Make A Positive Impact
As our community's needs evolve, we remain committed to helping the autism community live our best lives through our four core values:
EMBRACE. CONNECT. EMPOWER. CREATE.
And your gift helps make it possible.
A quick note...
We are still working to raise funds to support our efforts in 2023. If you didn't have a chance to contribute, there is still time! Here's how you can help us make a bigger impact in 2023:
1.) Make a one-time or recurring gift.
2.) Check with your employer to see if they have a matching donation program.
3.) Donate stock, your car, or enroll in AmazonSmile
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AUTISM TREE
Office: (619) 222-4465
4225 Executive Square, Suite 600
La Jolla, CA 92037
Questions? Text or email our team:
Rebecca Barron, Director of Operations:
(909) 815-8520
RebeccB@autismtreeproject.org
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