Some partnerships are easy to sum up in a sentence. This one isn’t, because it shows up in so many different ways: a gala table, a race day match, a newsletter photo, and, most of all, the story of one of our own employees and her son.
Acme Corrugated Box is proud to be a long-standing community partner of Autism Cares Foundation (ACF), an organization that has spent 19 years creating sensory-friendly programs, events, and resources for children, teens, and adults living with autism and other social and cognitive disabilities. What started as a company sponsoring a few events has grown into something more personal, and this year we wanted to take a step back and share the full picture of that relationship.
The CARES Gala
Autism Cares Foundation’s annual CARES Gala on April 11th at Spring Mill Manor in Ivyland, PA was one of those evenings that stays with you. Acme was honored to serve as a Gold Sponsor, and representing us that night were Jeff Lucash, Director of Sales & Marketing, and his wife Dana; Brian Trapp, Chief Operating Officer; Chris Blizzard, Director of IT; and Joe Hodges, Director of Operations, and his wife Nadine.
Spending an evening surrounded by donors, volunteers, foundation staff, and families who all show up for the same cause has a way of putting things in perspective. This year’s Gala raised funds to support three areas of expanded impact: family resources that give parents and caregivers better access to guidance and practical tools, the PEP program, which provides adults with autism structured opportunities for social connection and support, and employment services that open doors to greater independence for adults in the autism community.
Race4Resources
The Gala isn’t the only place you’ll find Acme showing up for ACF. We’re also proud supporters of Race4Resources, ACF’s signature fundraising race, where Acme matches funds raised by participants to help extend the impact of every mile run. It’s a simple idea, more support on race day means more resources for the families ACF serves, and it’s one we’re glad to keep backing year after year.
This year’s Race Day is Saturday, September 19th at Bucks County Community College, with doors opening at 8:30am. Runners take on a 5K through Tyler State Park, while the Hero Walk winds through the BCCC campus. Beyond the race and walk, the day features the largest service provider expo in Bucks County, family-friendly activities like face painting and a bounce house, and free food from Outback Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill, and Carrabba’s.
Registration is $30 for the 5K and $20 for the Hero Walk, and joining as a fundraiser is free. Kids 5 and under attend for free. Learn more, register, or donate at race4resources.org.
To share a bit more about why this match matters to us, Jeff Lucash recorded a short video explaining Acme’s commitment to Race4Resources and what the match means for ACF’s programs. Take a minute to watch it here or at the bottom of this article.
Between the Gala, Race4Resources, and the 200+ events and activities ACF runs throughout the year, all open to families in our community, there are a lot of ways to get involved. That’s very much the point: ACF has created a calendar built around inclusion, not exclusivity.
A Personal Connection
Numbers and events only tell part of the story. The rest of it belongs to Marion Gendron, our HR/Payroll Administrator, whose son Joey participates in ACF’s Adult Day Program and is featured on page 4 of ACF’s newsletter.
Marion is also one of Acme’s most consistent supporters of this partnership, and she shared why ACF means so much to her family:
“Autism Cares Foundation (ACF) has been much more than an organization to our family, it has been a source of support, encouragement, and hope. Having a son with autism can come with unique challenges and knowing there is a community that truly understands has made an incredible difference in our lives. ACF has helped us, and Joey, feel less alone by creating opportunities for connection, inclusion, and meaningful experiences. ACF has also given us something that cannot be measured – peace of mind and hope for the future. The kindness, compassion, and generosity of everyone involved with ACF is incredible. We are proud to be part of this community and thankful for the positive difference they continue to make in our lives.”
Marion’s story is a reminder that a partnership like this isn’t abstract. It shows up in the life of someone on our own team, and in the lives of the families ACF serves every day.
What ACF Says About the Partnership
We’re grateful for the chance to support work like this, and we know it means something to ACF too. Larissa Fallon, ACF’s Director of Development, put it this way:
“We’re incredibly grateful for Acme Corrugated Box’s continued support for ACF. Their generosity has allowed us to create opportunities for individuals and families through our events and programming. It’s so inspiring to have a community partner with their level of commitment to service and giving back.”
Why Community Giving Is Part of Who We Are
At Acme, we’ve been part of this region for a long time. We’ve grown alongside this community, and we’ve always believed that a business’s success carries with it an obligation to invest in the people and organizations that make the community worth being part of.
Supporting Autism Cares Foundation isn’t just a line item in a budget. It’s a reflection of our values of believing that doing good work and doing good in the world aren’t separate things. From the Gala to Race4Resources to the everyday work of showing up, we’re proud to play a part in funding meaningful services for so many families.
To Autism Cares Foundation: thank you for 19 years of tireless, compassionate work. And to everyone who attends, donates, volunteers, and helps make events like these possible, we’re glad to be in the room with you.
To learn more about Autism Cares Foundation, explore their full calendar of 200+ annual events, or read more about programs like the Home & Community Program in their newsletter, visit autismcaresfoundation.org.
You can also read ACF’s latest newsletter, featuring Joey and other program participants, here.
