Events

On June 5, 2026, WillPowered Autism proudly hosted our First Annual Charity Fashion Show at the beautiful Lakewood Ranch Country Club. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our sponsors, donors, volunteers, models, and guests the evening was a tremendous success, raising $50,000 to help families access spelled communication through the WillPowered Autism Scholarship Program.

Guests enjoyed a fashion show presented by Monkees of Lakewood Ranch, an exciting silent auction, inspiring speakers, a lively DJ and dance floor and tons of delicious food and drinks.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped make this event possible. Your support is creating meaningful opportunities for families in our community and beyond.

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For our Giving Tuesday 2025 campaign we raised $14,000 to fund scholarships for families learning the process of spelling as communication which helps nonspeaking, minimally speaking, or unreliably speaking individuals (often on the autism spectrum) express themselves by pointing to letters on a board to spell out words. For many families, this process opens the door to communication, academic engagement, autonomy, and a deeper understanding of their child’s thoughts and abilities. 

Our 2024 Giving Tuesday Initiative raised $6,000 to go directly to Smart With Heart Therapeutic Riding Center. Smart With Heart (have SMART WITH HEART linkable)is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit located on a beautiful property east of Lakewood Ranch, Florida and has been providing horse therapy and equine facilitated learning since 1987. Donating to Smart With Heart ensures that they continue to provide 60-70 riding lessons a week to children and adults with disabilities all at no cost at all to the participant. Their program is designed to benefit participants physically, socially, cognitively, and emotionally with the assistance of our equines and volunteers who are trained to work with participants of varying abilities. 

https://smartwithheart.org/