ARROAutism Family Holiday Assistance Project

Rock for Autism 9 in support of ARRO Autism Research and Resources of Oregon & SW Washington is in the books with a grand total raised of $37,801! This puts our 9 year total at $213,772!

A huge thank you to our corporate sponsors Tito’s handmade Vodka, RV Inn Style, GT & Associates, You Rock & Jackie Moore, Waste Connections, The Al Angelo Company & Washington Trust Bank.

We’d also like to acknowledge the contributions of our purveyors Columbia Distributing, Maletis Beverage, Sierra Nevada, Mac & Jacks, Deschutes Brewery, Buoy Beer Co., Pepsi, Odom, Bale Breaker Brewing Co., Pfriem Brewery, Pacific Seafood, Stebo’s, Rinella Produce, Franz Bakery and Sysco Foods.

A massive thank you to everyone who purchased V.I.P. tables for the event. You guys truly make a huge impact on the event.

Thank you to everyone who donated items for the raffle event. Rock for Autism doesn’t happen without all of you!

A huge shout out to all the musicians who performed. Simply put we love you guys! Thank you to Maury Brown for his relentless efforts putting all of the entertainment together!

The biggest thanks goes to all of you who contributed. You simply are the heartbeat of Rock for Autism and your generosity and support never ceases to amaze us! When all of us come together we truly can accomplish great things!

See you next year for Rock for Autism 10!

Holidays are meant to be a time of joy, sharing meals, celebrating family traditions, and enjoying the warmth of togetherness. Sadly, for many families living with autism, this is not the reality.

Winter holidays can be challenging for many families, and those affected by autism often face additional burdens. Some struggle to afford enough food to last through the month, while others cannot provide holiday gifts for their children. Autism can also bring added stressors, such as behavioral meltdowns and heightened anxiety. Right now the uncertainties and disruptions in all the resources on which these families rely heavily are compounding the strain even further.

Autism Research and Resources of Oregon (ARRO) is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization working to support individuals and families with members with Autism. Tax ID 93-1287227. Our website is: ARROAutism.org.

Working to address these issues, ARRO created the Family Holiday Assistance Project in 2007. The funds raised will purchase Kroger gift cards for families living with Autism who are in need. These families are chosen from among Social Services in Oregon and Southwest Washington as being the most in need. One of our families sent us a Thank You note that said, “It was such an unexpected and beautiful gift, and one that was much needed. We are so grateful!”

In 2024 we assisted 781 families with Fred Meyer gift cards so they could buy food, clothing, and small gifts. There are over 16,000 families with Autism in Oregon and SW Washington. We want to help more families this year and we need your help!

You can make an incredible difference for these families by making a donation to the Autism Research & Resources of Oregon, ARROAutism Family Holiday Assistance Project.

Please donate today!

The Family Holiday Assistance Project

That’s where we come in. ARROAutism established this project in 2007 to assist families during the holidays. At the beginning, each family was individually evaluated, and the amount of assistance rendered was based on funds available, and on need.
By 2009 we realized that the need for assistance was far greater than initially realized, so the program was changed to provide a standard amount to each family identified by the county developmental disabilities programs. This has also helped us to reach more than 3,800 families in need!

2007 : 2 Families Helped (special assistance)
2008 : Families Helped (special assistance)
2009 : 43 Families Helped with Gift Cards
2010 : 77 Families Helped with Gift Cards
2011 : 42 Families Helped with Gift Cards
2012 : 20 Families Helped with Gift Cards Plus Donations of Toys
2013 : 52 Families Helped with Gift Cards Plus Donations of Toys
2014 : 80 Families Helped with Gift Cards Plus Donations of Toys
2015 : 100 Families Helped with Gift Cards Plus Donations of Toys
2016 : 150 Families Helped with Gift Cards Plus Donations of Toys
2017 : 182 Families in Washington, Multnomah and Clackamas Counties (combined)
2018 : 218 Families in Washington, Multnomah, Clackamas and Clark counties (combined)
2019 : 276 Families in Washington, Multnomah, Clackamas and Clark counties (combined)
2020 : 244 Families in Washington, Multnomah, Clackamas and Clark counties (combined) (Take that, Covid-19)
2021 : 312 Families in Washington, Multnomah, Clackamas and Clark counties (combined)
2022 : 517 Families
2023 : 773 Families

2024 : 781 Families!!!

2025: Our Fundraising Goal is $200,ooo. A distribution of the total amount raised across 750 Families. (The more money raised, the greater amount each family receives up to $200, and/or increased # of families assisted or both!)

With your help, we can achieve our goal to help more families with Autism in Oregon and SW Washinton who need help during the holidays.

So far, our Family Holiday Assistance Project has helped more than 3,867 families in Oregon and SW Washington.

How Families are Selected

Families in Oregon are nominated by their County Developmental Disabilities Program Case Manager. Washington State’s County DD programs have no such partnership option. Instead, we rely on a local non-profit, Peace NW, operating in SW Washington to help us allocate resources.

Washington State currently has no equivalent numbers available, but we are still able to help families in 5 SW Washington Counties including Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Skamania, and Wahkiakum.

Selected families are given a gift card from Fred Meyer’s to allow a variety of purchases  like food, toys and winter clothing.

The number of families receiving these cards will depend on the amount of funding raised. All families selected will have one or more members with some form of Autism.

Family Thank You Notes

This is a Thank You note from one of our Families with Autism who received a gift card. This is so precious! Please help us to reach more Families in Need! < Thank you so much for including our family and gifting to us. Our sweet “AR” is super excited to pick out snacks. (“Can I get a whole jar of Nutella to myself?”) She struggles to feel comfortable in sneakers and has a favorite pair of slipon ones. She will now be getting a new pair! We very much appreciate your generosity! >

Make a Difference!

Our families need your help! Please donate today so that we can make their holiday brighter!

All donations are gratefully accepted no matter what the amount is. Please make your donation today!