T-Shirts
T-Shirts will be available on the day of the walk. Volunteers will distribute t-shirts to those walk participants who have turned in a minimum of $100 for Walks held before July 1, 2009 (both pre-event and day of event donations will be counted). The minimum amount to receive a t-shirt after July 1 will be $150. To reduce costs, ensuring that more dollars are directed to the mission of Autism Speaks, t-shirts will be available on walk day only and not mailed to participants who are unable to attend the event. Autism Speaks will do its best to ensure that those participants who are receiving shirts will receive a shirt in the size of their choice. However, when this is not possible, another size may be substituted.

Money raised through Walk Now for Autism Speaks ensures that Autism Speaks can provide funding for research, awareness, advocacy and family services. Without the dollars raised through the Walk Now for Autism Speaks events and other Autism Speaks fundraising initiatives held across the continent, Autism Speaks would not be able to fulfill its mission.

Our participants continue to tell us they want to ensure that as many dollars as possible raised through Walk Now for Autism Speaks go directly to provide critically needed research and family services. We have listened and we agree. Autism Speaks is suspending its Walk Now for Autism Speaks premiums (fundraising incentives) starting in March 2009.

Walkers and donors will know that more of their pledges are having a direct impact on our mission.

For example?

$250 - Can provide four (4) Transition Toolkits
$500 - Can provide nine (9) 100 Day Kits
$1000 - Can provide twenty-five (25) Community School Kits

For those individuals interested in Autism Speaks apparel and other items, our eStore will continue to add new items on a regular basis throughout 2009.