POINT PLEASANT BEACH — Jersey Mike’s Subs and the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism announced the establishment of a national fund to benefit the autism community, beginning with a $100,000 check to kick off the fund at a launch event held here on Tuesday.
Nick Saravese, executive director of the Flutie Foundation, told The Ocean Star what the Flourish Fund represents for families of individuals with autism.
“We’re setting up a fund called the Flourish Fund, where we’ll be able to provide financial support to families with a loved one with autism,” said Saravese. “So essentially, if your child with autism needs an iPad to help communicate, swim lessons for safety, any sort of sensory equipment — whatever it is, thanks to Jersey Mike’s support, we were able to provide this fund so that these families can apply for such things.”
According to its website, the Flutie Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving “the quality of everyday life for people and families affected by autism…We aim to provide a path for education and/or employment during the day, opportunities for physical and social activity outside of work/school, and the tools to be safe, supported and informed at all times.”
The start of the Flourish Fund, as it is known, was marked by a concert by STARS of the Spectrum, a Flutie Foundation concert series featuring young artists with autism, like Charles “C-Quig” Quigless III and Cierra June Reynolds, who respectively rapped and sang a song called “A Sub Above” written for the occasion.
Several area mayors and autism community groups attended, including Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Doug Vitale, Point Pleasant Mayor Robert Sabosik, Brick Township Mayor Lisa Crate, the Point Pleasant Challenger flag football and basketball teams, Brick Challenger hockey team and Blue Dot Community.
Saravese said that the milestone comes as the Flutie Foundation earned 100,000 Jersey Mike’s Shore Points through its “Meals for Autism” program. Through Meals for Autism, the Flutie Foundation purchases Jersey Mike’s sandwiches for people with autism, their families and the communities that support them. Paralleling the 100,000 Shore Points accrued by Meals for Autism, the Flutie Foundation was formed with $100,000 to start off the newly minted Flourish Fund.
“We have reached 100,000 Shore Points because Jersey Mike’s is the best partner — what they do for us, what they do for so many charities nationwide,” said Saravese. “We’re celebrating our partnership now that we’ve reached this milestone of 100,000 Shore Points…The effort that these guys put in — not only the money raised, but the buy-in they have culturally and philosophically — it aligns so well with us at the Flutie Foundation.”
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