Pieces Come Together For Autism Speaks
Hundreds of members from the Rider University community came together to make the 10th annual Central New Jersey Walk Now for Autism Speaks event a success on Sunday, October 11, at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor.
Students and faculty members of the Council for Exceptional Education (CEC), Student Education Association (SEA) and Kappa Delta Pi (KDP), the international honor society in education, banded together to form a united School of Education Team. Sixty-four entrants raised more than $1,500 for Walk Now for Autism Speaks, led by co-captains Libby Santini and Ali Toohey, who also serve as co-presidents of Rider’s Kappa Delta Pi chapter.
Toohey, a senior Elementary Education and Journalism dual major from Howell, N.J., said the decision for the three organizations to band together made good sense.
“After each organization voiced their interest in getting involved in the walks last year, I decided that it would be much more effective and collaborative if we combine KDP, SEA and CEC to make one team,” explained Toohey, who will graduate in December. “At Rider, we pride ourselves on campus community, and I thought, ‘What better way to showcase the community within the School of Education than to come together as one collective unit and do our part to support such an amazing cause?’”
While students made up the bulk of the participants, they received key support from their instructors, as well. “This was my first year involved, and I was so impressed by what was really a phenomenal turnout,” said Dr. Heather K. Casey, assistant professor in the Department of Undergraduate Teacher Education. “Our students were there early in the morning, well before the walk started, to do behind-the-scenes tasks like check-in. It’s impressive to see them come together for a cause they believe in.”
Toohey explained that, as future educators, she and her fellow students saw no alternative to doing their part to raise autism awareness and money to combat the disorder.
“As educators, our passion is working for children. We want to provide the best learning environment for our students. In a classroom setting, we are dedicated to providing the best learning environment and accommodating to the students’ individual needs,” she explained. “Sometimes, though, that is not enough. Autism is such a widespread disorder that organizations like Autism Speaks need all of the support they can get. Donating and participating in walks allows us to do our part outside of the classroom as well.”
More than 100 members of Rider’s Greek Life community also participated in Walk Now for Autism Speaks, according to Emma Basilone, public relations representative for the Rider University Greek Council. Rider Greek chapters Alpha Xi Delta, Delta Phi Epsilon, Phi Sigma Sigma, Tau Kappa Epsilon and Sigma Phi Epsilon participated and donated money for Autism Speaks. During the event, walkers were cheered on by Rider University cheerleaders.
Basilone said that the Rider Greek Life community, along with teams from the University’s Department of Psychology and School of Education, raised a total of $3,000. In all, the walk raised more than $160,000. More than 2,500 walkers participated, with 115 teams registered.
“Autism affects so many lives, young and old, and to have the chance to advocate for such a great cause is something that has made my Alpha Xi Delta experience such a life-changing one,” said senior Danielle Gizzo.
Autism Speaks is still accepting donations until December. Donations can be given online at http://www.autismspeaks.org/. Money raised from the walk will benefit the many programs Autism Speaks runs. These programs help fund research, awareness, education, advocacy and legislation to better the lives of the millions affected by autism. According to statistics, one in 91 children is affected by autism spectrum disorders and one in 58 boys has been diagnosed.
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