This team of 30 SWBOCES teachers and families were recently honored by Autism Speaks, a national organization that raises awareness about autism spectrum disorders, for raising more funding than any other service provider during the six years the group has participated in Walk Now for Autism.

A team of 30 SWBOCES teachers and families has been honored by Autism Speaks, a national organization that raises awareness about autism spectrum disorders, after the SWBOCES team raised more funding than any other service provider during the six years the group has participated in Walk Now for Autism.

Leslie Auerbach, the team’s captain and a teacher in the BOCES Program for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Project AIIM, said the national organization surprised her with news that the group had been named Top Service Provider for raising $40,000 over the past six years that it has participated in the Westchester/Fairfield Walk Now for Autism event. This year’s walk was held in June at Manhattanville College. The awards ceremony was held earlier October.

The Project AIIM team, which has grown larger over the years, also won a platinum award for raising more than $13,000 in this year’s walk, through pledges from family members, friends and corporate match programs. At Pocantico Hills School, where Ms. Auerbach works, she hosts a breakfast for staff members in a successful campaign to solicit Walk pledges. Last year, Pocantico Hills staff members contributed $600 in pledges to the team.

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