On Saturday, October 22, 2021, Family Initiative welcomed over 200 community leaders to its Casino Night fundraiser at the Cape Coral Yacht Club.
The event raised over $175,000. All funds directly support and empower children and families through compassion and innovation. Since 2015 Family Initiative has served over 4000 children and families across the region who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or are dealing with behavioral issues due to trauma and have been placed in the foster care system. In addition to providing individualized occupational therapy services and behavior analysis, Family Initiative hosts a weekly Saturday Social Skills Playgroup which provides a unique, safe, and supportive environment for children to connect with their peers and develop socialization skills, friendships, and a social network through structured activities; a weekly art program that offers a fun and supportive environment for children and young adults to blend creativity with clinical services; a weekly hang out for teens and young adults on the spectrum to talk with their peers about the triumphs and challenges of each day without worrying about knowing the “right words” or the “right way” to engage; ASD Parent Support Group for caregivers to learn more about various topics, gain resources for their family, and connect with other parents; and free community autism screenings and ongoing community trainings.
Attendees at Casino Night enjoyed two hours of casino play including blackjack, poker and craps tables, a silent auction, wild card auction, live auction and a give from the heart auction that raised over $29,000 in direct support of Family Initiative programming.
High Roller sponsors included: Academy Home Developments, Academy Home Kitchen & Bath, American Metals Supply, Beattie Development, Extreme Demolition & Land Clearing, Extreme Painting & Contracting, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, Southern Living Contractors.
Table, Food Truck, Bar and Loot Bag sponsors included: Cook Homes, Dorcey Law Firm, Fabritech, Northwestern Mutual – Glenn Black Financial Group, Super Screen, Van Hart Provisions
Double Down sponsors included: 5 Day Plantation Shutters, Affordable Marble & Granite Florida, AtticMan, BackStreets Sports Bar, Boyle Family Foundation, Fairview Lending, G&C Foods, Grout Magnificent, Horseman’s Landscape, Independent Marine Surveyors, Moran Wealth Management, Raymond Building Supply, RTIO, Razors Edge Landscaping, Russ Berner Construction, Two Co.
Ante Up sponsors included: 10 Twenty Five, Arnold Brothers, Inc. Atlantic Engineering, Artesian Pool Construction, Aubuchon Homes, Decker Group, First Horizon Foundation, Forty Seventh Street Properties, Garretto, Honc Industries, Insurance Management Consultancy, Jewel Stone Tile, JV & RK Properties, Kenneth Strong, Olin Hill & Associates, Paragon Flight, Philly Stk, Pool & Deck Concepts, Premier Water Services, Realtours, Robertson Diversified Services, Siesta Pebble, Stacy Mulicka, Steven & Layton, Inc., Stokes Marine, Top Level Cabinetry, Williamson & Marine Construction, Win Realty
ABOUT FAMILY INITIATIVE
Established in 2015, Family Initiative, Inc. is a Southwest Florida-based 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to supporting children with autism and strengthening their families. Its team of clinicians serves children from a humanistic approach through Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Occupational Therapy (OT) services, and offers autism play groups, teen meetings, parent education and more. In addition, the organization provides child welfare caregiver training and support through its Family Impact Program.
