FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 28, 2025) — Family Initiative, a leading nonprofit organization committed to empowering individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families across Florida, celebrated its fifth annual Autism Acceptance Awards Gala on Saturday, raising more than half a million dollars.
The annual event welcomed more than 400 guests and raised $633,500 for the autism community. The Gala honored the thousands of dedicated, passionate individuals working tirelessly to support children, adolescents, and young adults on the autism spectrum. The evening, which wrapped up Autism Acceptance Month, featured dinner, drinks, and both live and silent auctions. Guests celebrated heroes who often go unnoticed — but within our families, they are superstars: loving, guiding, and caring for those they support.
Family Initiative and the autism community are humbled by the ongoing support and generosity of sponsors and attendees. As the prevalence of autism diagnoses continues to rise — now 1 in 31 — the need for support across Florida continues to grow. Awards were also presented at the Gala to four honorees selected by a panel to celebrate the everyday champions of those on the autism spectrum.
Honorees included:
• The Believer Award: Ginny Meyers, Sarasota County Schools
• The Champion Award: Lee County Government
• The Partner Award: Minnesota Twins
• The Dylan Award: Margie Mitchell
Since the last Gala, Family Initiative has expanded Thrive Academy, a private autism specialty school, by opening a new campus and launching several new programs. Proceeds from the Gala will directly support children and families on Family Initiative’s waitlist, expanding its network of clinicians and offering free or low-cost, community based programs. The nonprofit offers a range of social skills programs, clinical services, and community education for children and families across Florida.
Thank you to our major sponsors: Hogwash, EZ Boat Fenders, Fabri-Tech, J Van Hart Provisions, MacKoul Pediatrics, Pristine TLC, Siesta Pebble, The Luminary Hotel and Tito’s.
Other sponsors include: American Metals Supply, Barraco and Associates Inc., Berner Construction, Coastal Building Construction, Coastal Building Consultants, Cook Homes, DeAngelis Diamond, Finemark National Bank & Trust, First Horizon Foundation, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fuse Appliances, Gavin’s Ace Hardware, Hardesty & Hanover Construction Services, Henderson Franklin Starnes & Holt P.A., Independent Marine Surveyors Inc., Insurance Management, Integrity Electric, Jersey Girl, Lee Health, Minnesota Twins, Quality Philly Steaks, REI Siding LLC, Sanibel Captiva Bank, Sanibel Captiva Trust Company, Steven’s Construction, Studio +, Suncoast Beverage Sales, Super Screen, TR Transportation and Unique Technologies.
About Family Initiative:
Established in 2015, Family Initiative Inc. is a Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to supporting children, adolescents and young adults with autism and strengthening their families. Its team of clinicians serves families through a compassionate, personalized approach using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Occupational Therapy (OT) services and Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI). The organization offers social skills groups for all ages, caregiver supports, community trainings, private school education, vocational training & more. FI also provides child welfare support and services across Florida through its Family Impact Program.
Visit FI-Florida.org, or find Family Initiative on Facebook and Instagram
@FamilyInitiative, and on X @FI_Inc.
