ECAP Autism Awareness Auction

Photography By Rick Cooper

Florida State University’s Early Childhood Autism Program held its yearly fundraising event on April 15. All proceeds from the event benefit the George Butchikas Scholarship Program, that provides funding to families in need of ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) services who do not have insurance or financial means to afford therapy. Since 2001, the George A. Butchikas Foundation for Autism has provided annual donations totaling about $450,000 to the scholarship program, that is used by approximately one-third of ECAP’s clients. The scholarship typically funds a full year of ABA services for Bay County families who do not have insurance or the means to pay for their child’s therapy. “Our autism program here at FSU is the only nonprofit ABA program in Bay County and also the only one that provides a scholarship,” said Dr. Amy Polick, director of the Early Childhood Autism Program. This year’s auction raised $15,000. The program will hold its seventh annual auction during Autism Awareness Month in April next year.