FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: John Cavanaugh
Autism Society of NC – Mecklenburg County Chapter
PHONE: (704) 598-3933
E-MAIL: aafcoordinator@asncmeck.org


Autism Society Announces Sponsors, Restaurants for Aware Fare

CHARLOTTE, NC – The Autism Society of North Carolina's Mecklenburg County Chapter has formally announced its sponsors and participating restaurants for the Autism Aware Fare event to be held on April 20, 2010.

Sponsors include: The Charlotte Rugby Club, Carolinas Medical Center, Duke Energy, AREVA, Southeast Psych, A Special Needs Plan - Ryan F. Platt, Autism Services of Mecklenburg County, Inc., Darnell Company, Inc., Kincaid and Associates, LLC Attorneys at Law, Dr. Lawrence A. Sladek, D.D.S., P.A. and Dr. Myra Preston. The media sponsor is 107.9 The Link. Partners include Charlotte TEACCH Center and IKON.

There are 43 restaurant locations for this year's event. Restaurants participating include: Brixx Pizza, Brooklyn South Pizzeria, Café 49, Carolina Soda Shop, Charlotte Café, Dilworth Coffee, Dilworth Neighborhood Grille, Le Peep, LuLu, McAlister's Deli, Matt's Chicago Dog, The Melting Pot, Midtown Sundries (Lake Norman), Nothing But Noodles, The Penguin, Pike's Soda Shop, Restaurant X, Rotelli Pizza & Pasta, Summit Coffee, Toast Café, Tony's Pizza (Ballantyne) and Trio.

"We are delighted to see so many sponsors and restaurants that have supported us in the past returning for 2010, and we're encouraged by the new ones as well." says Nancy Nestor, Chapter President. "We cannot do this event without them. And we urge everyone to support these businesses that are so important to this community."

The event, which was first held in 2002, is the main fundraiser for ASNC-MCC and funds local chapter activities including over $24,000 in grants to support local teachers who serve students with autism. It is also a means of communicating with and educating the community about autism. In addition to donating proceeds, participating restaurants will display posters and table toppers with information about autism.

Autism, or ASD, is a neurological disorder for which there is no known cause or cure. It now affects 1 out of 110 children and impacts language and social development as well as the ability to adapt to change. Frequently these difficulties require years of speech therapy or prevent any language development at all. The Autism Society of North Carolina - Mecklenburg County chapter is a non-profit local affiliate of the Autism Society of North Carolina. For information on Autism Aware Fare, contact John Cavanaugh at aafcoordinator@asncmeck.org or visit www.autismawarefare.org.

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