Seventh Annual Spare Some for Autism Celebrity/CEO Kids Bowling Challenge Takes to the Lanes

RALEIGH, N.C. - Jan. 4, 2015 - PRLog -- Spare Some for Autism (SSfA), a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is holding its seventh annual signature fundraising event, the SSfA Celebrity/CEO Kids Bowling Challenge, on Sunday, January 11, 2015, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at AMF Pleasant Valley Bowling Lanes at 5501 Commercial Avenue in Raleigh.

This sponsor-driven event features national and local celebrities and CEOs bowling with children ages 5-17, giving kids with ASD an “opportunity to interact with others, meet new friends and just be themselves.”

“As always, we are so excited about the event and look forward to this year’s festivities as part of a very special celebration,” said Beth Jarvis, Executive Director of SSfA.

Food will be provided, and additional events include silent and live auctions.

“We have Disney tickets, Taylor Swift tickets, Hurricane memorabilia, celebrity signs and trips among the many prizes we’re raffling,” Jarvis said.

Celebrities and CEOs who have confirmed participation include John Forslund, Master of Ceremonies; Bates and Anthony Battaglia, Amazing Race winners; Melanie Saunders, Greenroom Communications; Mike Maniscalso, sports radio personality and Chuck Kaiton, radio play-by-play announcer for the Carolina Hurricanes. Jiří Tlustý, left wing with the Carolina Hurricanes, is the honorary chairperson and will be rolling out the first ball.

Prior to the bowling event, SSfA is again holding a swim clinic with US Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines from noon to 2 p.m. at the William H Sonner Aquatic Center on Jones Franklin Road in Raleigh. Kids will get in the pool (or watch if they like) with Olympic Gold Medalist and NBC Commentator Gaines as he gives instructions and works with the kids to help them feel more comfortable in the pool.

“Proceeds from this year’s event will be going to continue the Bench Buddy Initiative,” said Jarvis. “We have been donating benches to Triangle area schools for the students to decorate and use to help kids who are feeling alone or bullied on the playground. If a child is feeling this way, he or she can go and sit on the bench, and if other children see a child sitting alone, they are encouraged to go sit with him or her and be a "Bench Buddy." We have donated to many area schools both in the public and private sector.”

Since its inception in 2008, Spare Some for Autism has raised over $40,000, using the proceeds to give grants to Wake County School System educators, iPads^® to instructors working with kids on the Spectrum and playground equipment to the Mariposa School for Autistic Children in Cary, as well as scholarships for therapeutic riding for individuals on the Spectrum.

For more information about the event, sponsorships, volunteering and participating, please contact Jarvis at (919) 602-7370 or email beth@sparesomeforautism.org.

Spare Some for Autism was founded in Raleigh, N.C., by Beth Jarvis a local CEO and mother of an autistic daughter. The nonprofit organization’s mission “is to improve the quality of life for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder” and is “dedicated to funding programs that will directly impact the individuals that suffer from ASD and allow them to achieve their highest level of independence within their home, school, and community, all while gaining respect and support for themselves. Spare Some for Autism also seeks to support families affected by ASD by educating them on such topics as literacy and coping with disabilities so that families will be better prepared to support each other.”

For more information on Spare Some for Autism, call (919) 602-7370 or visit www.sparesomeforautism.org.