A Day to Remember: Fourth Annual Sunday Funday Recap
We are still riding the high from our fourth annual Sunday Funday, and honestly, we could not be more grateful! Over 500 amazing supporters gathered at Penguin City Brewing Company for a day packed with great music, great food, and an even greater cause. Together, you helped us raise over $150,000 at this year's event!
A Day Full of Fun, Community, and Purpose
The energy in the room was electric from start to finish. Local Youngstown band, RDNA, brought the house down, food trucks kept everyone fueled up, and the raffle baskets and silent auction had people on the edge of their seats all afternoon. We also loved seeing so many guests stop by our educational stations to learn more about Autism Spectrum Disorder and the very real need for supportive housing in our community.
Why It All Matters
As co-founder Amy Shope put it, raising an autistic child into adulthood comes with challenges that most people do not fully see. "A lot of these parents are raising someone with the needs of a toddler into adulthood, and it's just a huge challenge," she shared. "I don't think a lot of people realize what it can do, not only to the entire family, but to the individual."
That is exactly why events like Sunday Funday matter so much. The funds raised will go directly toward two new homes right here in the Mahoning Valley. Our home on Judith Lane in Struthers, OH is set to open in early May, and our second home on Woodfield Court in Boardman, where we broke ground last October, is well on its way. These are real homes, in our community, for autistic adults who deserve a safe and supported place to live.
See You at Year Five!
As co-founder Kevin Shope said, Sunday Funday is really about so much more than a fundraiser. It is about "coming together as a community, celebrating autism acceptance, and educating everyone on the need." Mahoning Valley, you showed up for us in a huge way. Here is to another year of building something bigger, together. We cannot wait to see you at Sunday Funday Year Five!
