The sold-out Starlight Ball in Southampton netted more than $10,000 last weekend!

The Flying Point Foundation for Autism event benefits a camp which takes place in the summer between the end of the extended school year for children with disabilities and the start of the new school year. Its purpose is to provide a traditional camp experience for children and teens with autism alongside typically developing peers and with the support they will need to be successful. It’s a very expensive camp to operate because of the need to be very staff-heavy with highly qualified individuals. This year was the second year, made financially possible through community grants from charitable groups and fundraising efforts. No child is turned away for financial need, plus tuition for those who can pay does not come close to actual costs per camper. Space is leased from the Southampton Fresh Air Home, who share a similar mission and provide a camp experience for physically disabled kids and teens.

The Flying Point Foundation for Autism will also offer respite nights throughout the year in which parents can drop off their child with autism [and sibs] and they will be cared for while parents go out for a date, take a nap, whatever they want to do!  It can be very difficult for parents of children with autism to find a qualified babysitter.

The board of the FPFforA is especially pleased about The Starlight Ball because it was proposed, planned and executed by a parent of one of their campers.

Coming up on the FPFforA calendar is our Wrap It Up for Autism series, in which they set up shop in various places to wrap holiday gifts in exchange for a donation. Last year they set up at Panera Bread in Bridgehampton and Barrister’s in Southampton.

*For more information please go to  www.fpf4autism.org