Please click the link below to make a donation to this wonderful cause and help us take one more step towards spreading awareness.
Vendor booth, sensory activities center, live music and food trucks. Packet pickup will be at LRT the Thursday and Friday afternoons before the walk.
We had a great turn out in the past! View the photos from the Chico Walks for Autism 2014 Gallery
View Photo Gallery
"All that you provide is amazing on so many levels- the awareness, the support, the friendships, seeing all the sweet kids and having fun!"
"There was a time when a diagnosis of autism shrunk my families world. Walking with so many other people who love someone with autism not only gives me a wonderful sense of community and understanding, but it also helps others to become more compassionate towards our children. Chico walks for Autism is a wonderful gift to our community. I can't wait until April."
The mission of The Yellow Door is to support to individuals with autism and their families while promoting student leadership and involvement in the Chico community.
The Yellow Door came together out of two desires: to support individuals with autism and their families as well as provide volunteer opportunities and promote awareness to the Chico community. The Center for Disease Control places the current rates of autism at 1/88 children—a number that continues to increase. Individuals with autism and other disabilities and their families often fight for awareness, recognition as individuals and services that are limited. Our hope is to connect students and community members with willing individuals with autism and their families to promote understanding, personal connection and disability awareness. Our intent is through events such as Chico Walks for Autism a greater sense of community and awareness will be developed for all those participating.
The name, "The Yellow Door" comes from an individual with autism that Josie worked with many years ago that liked doors. When asked what their favorite color for a door would be if they could pick, they answered "yellow, because it's like opening a door of sunshine." That positive image is something that The Yellow Door hopes to foster.
North Valley Community Foundation, administrator of The Yellow Door Fund, is a non-profit, philanthropic organization that builds financial resources to meet community needs through grants and programs primarily for residents in the Butte, Colusa, Glenn and Tehama counties. With net assets of more than $4 million, NVCF provides financial and administrative services to donors, professional advisors and nonprofit organizations with the goal of enriching the quality of life of its community members. Since 1986, over 200 individuals, families, businesses, and community groups have established funds at the Foundation. Last year, $377,000 in funds were distributed to benefit the community.
The NVCF office is open Monday – Friday, 8am-5pm and by appointments on the weekends. NVCF is located at 3120 Cohasset Rd., Suite 8 in Chico, California, (530) 891-1150.
Josie is currently the program coordinator for the Autism Clinic at California State University, Chico. She has worked with families with autism and other disabilities in the greater Chico area since fall of 2000. Josie is currently perusing her Ph.D. in Psychology and hopes to increase awareness and support through individuals with autism and their families through her work with The Yellow Door.
Rhea is currently a clinician for the Autism Clinic at California State University, Chico. She has worked with families of individuals with autism and other disabilities through numerous programs since fall of 2010. Rhea is currently pursuing her Masters of Arts degree in adapted physical education and will be completed in spring of 2014. She is also pursuing her teaching credential so she can eventually become an adapted physical education specialist. Rhea has a genuine passion for what she does and has fostered meaningful relationships with many families in the Chico area. She hopes to spread awareness and acceptance to the public while promoting independence and self-advocacy for the individuals she works with.
Kevin was an undergraduate student majoring in Anthropology. He is currently serving as the VP of Philanthropy and Community Service for California State University, Chico's Interfraternity Council and is an intern through the Greek advising office. Kevin's goal is to unite the Chico State student body with the rest of the Chico community by promoting autism awareness. Kevin hopes to host a variety of events where student organizations and Greek life can raise money and spread awareness for individuals and families affected by autism while simultaneously rewarding students who exemplify ambitious involvement with the Chico Community.
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