Blue Tie Blue Jean Ball 2023
Saturday, October 6, 2023
6:30pm
Junior League of Little Rock
The Arkansas Autism Foundation is excited to announce our signature fundraising event, the Blue Tie Blue Jean Ball! We host this evening annually to raise awareness and funds necessary to support our mission: Building bridges to Independence for Arkansans with Autism. The Ball will be a festive evening with dinner, drinks, entertainment, and a wonderful silent auction. The silent auction features our “Master Puzzle Pieces” artwork designed by local artists on a wooden puzzle piece; and may include vacation stays, attraction or event tickets, gift certificates, gift baskets, and many more.
The event attire is semi formal.
Dress up (Blue Tie)
Dress down (Blue Jean)
Please dress what makes you feel best and don’t forget to wear Blue!
Autism Baseball Night with the Arkansas Travelers
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Gates open at 5:35pm
Gametime 6:05pm
Join the Arkansas Autism Foundation for an autism baseball night with the Arkansas Travelers. Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children and a portion of the $18.50 cost is subsidized by AAF. Tickets include all-you-can-eat hot dogs, hamburgers, potato chips, popcorn and drinks available in the reserved Tracks Inn Picnic Area (open 6:05pm-8:05pm) and seats in a reserved area so we can all watch the game together.
Be part of the “Field of Dreams” at the start of the game during the national anthem. This is limited to a small number of families and individuals, so purchase the “Field of Dreams” ticket. This will be given on a first come first served basis.
Autism Basketball Night with the Little Rock Lightning
Saturday, April 29, 2023
5:00pm
Little Rock Southwest High School
9715 Mabelvale Pike
Little Rock, AR 72013
We are excited to announce our 2nd annual Autism Night Out with the Little Rock Lightning! Tickets are $10 for adults and children are free. PLEASE ensure that you register your children. The first 25 children registered will be allowed to do a HIGH-FIVE tunnel with the players.
Autism Festival and Walk
Please join us for our signature community event and support our mission of “Building bridges to independence for Arkansans with autism.”
Saturday, April 8, 2023
10:00am – 12:30pm
Event is FREE but donations are always welcome so please register everyone that is attending in the ticket link. Event includes entertainment, refreshments, fun activities including an Easter Egg hunt for all ages, inflatables and an informational autism resource fair.
Invite your family and friends to walk with us in this one mile family friendly walk. Get decked out in your own team t-shirts and bring your signs and banners to showcase your team and your loved ones!
View the photobooth pictures. https://photoboothetc.smugmug.
Autism Night with the Arkansas Travelers
Join the Arkansas Autism Foundation as we host an autism baseball night with the Arkansas Travelers to provide a fun community outing.
Thursday, June 23, 2022
Gates Open at 5:35pm
Game Time at 6:10pm
Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children and a portion of the cost is subsidized by the Arkansas Autism Foundation. Includes all-you-can eat hot dogs, hamburgers, potato chips, popcorn and drinks in the reserved Pinnacle Structures Pavilion (open from 6:05-8:05pm) along with seats in a reserved area so we can watch the game together. Watch our families that will be part of the “Field of Dreams” at the start of the game during the national anthem.
Please note that only clear bags will be permitted in the park. Please view the Traveler’s clear bag policy here.
Ticket sales are limited for the new rainout date and can be purchased at AutismBaseball2.givesmart.com.
Autism Festival and Walk
Please join us for our signature community event and support our mission of “Building bridges to independence for Arkansans with autism.”
Saturday, April 16, 2022
10:00am – 1:00pm
Event is FREE but donations are always welcome so please register everyone that is attending in the ticket link. Event includes entertainment, refreshments, fun activities including an EASTER EGG HUNT, inflatables and an informational autism resource fair.
Invite your family and friends to walk with us in this one mile family friendly walk. Get decked out in your own team t-shirts and bring your signs and banners to showcase your team and your loved ones!
Participants and volunteers register at AutismFestival.givesmart.com.
Autism Awareness Night with the Arkansas Travelers at Dickey-Stephens Park
The Arkansas Autism Foundation (AAF) will host an autism baseball night with the Arkansas Travelers to provide a fun community outing for families.
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Gates open at 6:10pm
Game Time 7:10pm
Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children and are subsidized by AAF.
Tickets include all-you-can-eat hot dogs, burgers, potato chips, popcorn and drinks available in the reserved Pinnacle Structures Pavilion (open 6:10-8:10pm) and reserved seats in section 205. Guests may also sit in berm seating which is grass seating so people are welcome to bring blankets or chairs if they opt to sit here. All bags entering the ballpark must be in an approved clear bag. View the Travelers clear bag policy at atmilb.com/2Orfu3t.
Ticket sales end on August 16, 2021 and can be purchased at AutismBaseball.givesmart.com.
Race Night for Autism
The Arkansas Autism Foundation is excited to partner with Landon Crawley Racing & I-30 Speedway to bring you… Race Night for Autism!
THIS EVENT IS STILL HAPPENING BUT ON A NEW DATE – SATURDAY, JULY 24th!
The 5/22 date has been rained out. If you have purchased tickets, those will be honored on Saturday, July 24th,
we hope everyone can still plan to attend on the new date!
Thank you all for your excitement regarding our first ever Race Night for Autism!
We look forward to seeing you in July!
We will have a section in the stands together and a sensory tent out front for any child that becomes overwhelmed during the races. Please be sure to register all members of your family that will be in attendance so we have an accurate count.
We have also partnered with an ABA therapist to provide a Social Story and headphone desensitization plan to assist your family with attending the event – they will be posted on our Facebook and Instagram prior to the event.
IMPORTANT NOTE: A parent/guardian is required to attend their child while visiting the sensory tent if needed during the event.
Support our partners some love by following them on social:
@landoncrawleyracing
@I-30speedway
Purchase tickets here: RaceNight.givesmart.com
Blue Tie Blue Jean Ball
Join us for our annual fundraiser!
The Arkansas Autism Foundation is excited to announce our annual signature event, the Blue Tie Blue Jean Ball, will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2021 from 6:30 – 10:00 pm, at the Holiday Inn Presidentail Ballroom in downtown Little Rock. The Ball will be a festive evening with dinner, drinks, entertainment and a wonderful silent auction. We hope to raise over $25,000 to support our mission.
Due to Covid-19 guidelines, the Blue Tie Blue Jean Ball is already sold out! But we are excited to offer 25 Virtual Tickets for $50 apiece. The virtual ticket holders will receive a swag box*, virtual access to the Ball’s program and access to the silent auction.
*Swag box can be mailed to you or picked up Saturday, June 5th at Holiday Inn Presidential from 2:00 – 4:00 pm, where you can get your picture taken on the blue carpet!
Autism Awareness Month
April is National Autism Awareness Month, and the Arkansas Autism Foundation (AAF)is celebrating by teaming up with local businesses to raise awareness. To show your support, all you have to do is visit a participating restaurant or retailer and a portion of the proceeds will go to the AAF.
Raising autism awareness and building understanding and acceptance is particularly important in The Natural State. According to the CDC, in 2020, the prevalence of autism was estimated at 1 in 54 childrennationally, but 1 in 66 in Arkansas. These numbers are up from reported 2019 statistics of 1 in 59 nationally and 1 in 77 in Arkansas.
The AAF was founded in February 2017 by local advocates who wanted to make a direct impact on the autism community in Arkansas.Today, the AAF helps individuals and families with autism throughout their lives, providing autism-friendly events, workshops, resources and training opportunities. The group also works to fund yearly grants for innovative or already existing programs that improve the lives of those affected by autism.
Autism Festival and Walk
Held our inaugural signature outreach event in May of 2017. This wonderful community event includes fun activities, refreshments, entertainment and a large autism related resource fair. We hosted over 450 participants who walked for our cause to raise awareness about autism in Arkansas. In March of 2018 we hosted our second annual Autism Festival and Walk, and it also was another great success with over 1200 participants in attendance.
Autism Awareness Event with the Arkansas Travelers
Hosted an autism awareness event with the Arkansas Travelers. It included a block of seats for families to watch the game together, along with an area for all-you-can-eat hot dogs and hamburgers and we participated in the “Field of Dreams” where several individuals were able to go out on the field for a photo opportunity with the players. One young baseball enthusiast with autism was given a chance to throw the “First Pitch.” Awareness videos were run on the marquee, the announcer shared about the increasing rates of autism and we hosted resource tables with several local organizations. We will continue to offer this as a yearly activity for our supporters.
Blue Tie Blue Jean Ball
Our signature fundraising event.
This lively and fun event includes food, libations, music , an amazing silent auction and has raised over $18,000 to support our mission.
Community Outreach Events
Hosted information tables at Sherwood Fest, HarvestFest, Team Up for Autism Conference, AAROC Zoo Day and Tinkerfest. We host these events to bring awareness to the community, share more Information about autism and collect information about families and individuals in need of more support.
Sensory Friendly Events
Sensory friendly jump event with Altitude Trampoline Park where participants were able to jump in solitude for one hour prior to opening. Sensory-friendly family night at the Museum of Discovery. The Museum of Discovery provided various interactive shows considering sensory issues that might affect some of our children on the autism spectrum. Noise-canceling headphones and a quiet, low-stimulus area were provided.
Sensory friendly visit with Santa! Families had an opportunity to have pictures made and visit Santa one on one with minimal distractions. All of these events were free!!
Teen and Young Adult Socials
Collaborated with Fellowship Bible Church and Young Life Capernaum to provide opportunities for teens and young adults with autism and other special needs to gather and socialize. We provided food and refreshments, and participants had fun playing video games, board games, ping-pong, foosball, pool, and basketball, as well as watching movies. While the youth and young adults enjoyed their fellowship, parents were given the option of having a few hours of respite, or meeting and connecting with other families in a separate area.
Transition Supports for Post-Secondary Education and Employment
Facilitated a seminar for parents and professionals to address the topic of transition supports for post-secondary education or employment. Several colleges, universities, and vocational training programs around the state were invited to share supports and resources available for students with autism or other special needs. For those looking towards employment directly after high school, we found providers of innovative vocational training programs to share, and for those simply wanting support for community integration after completing school, we had agencies talk about those programs as well.
Join Us
It doesn’t matter if the Foundation is participating on a small or big event, we are always looking for friendly, outgoing, enthusiastic people that wants to make a real difference in the world of autism.
The Foundation helps individuals and families with autism and provide autism friendly events.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges.
The Foundation provides autism friendly events and relevant workshops and training opportunities.
We are always looking for friendly, outgoing, enthusiastic people who want to make a real difference in the world of autism.
Arkansas Autism Foundation
11610 Pleasant Ridge Road
Suite 103, #112
Little Rock, AR 72223
