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Emerald Coast Autism Center announces launch of the 2023 ONE Campaign

Emerald Coast Autism Center is launching the Eleventh Annual ONE Campaign to provide scholarships to students with autism. As the national incidence rate of autism has risen to one in 44 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the prevalence of autism continues to grow at an alarming rate, according to the ECAC. “With such a high […]

Emerald Coast Autism Center is launching the Eleventh Annual ONE Campaign to provide scholarships to students with autism. As the national incidence rate of autism has risen to one in 44 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the prevalence of autism continues to grow at an alarming rate, according to the ECAC.

  • ECAC’s ONE Campaign is an annual effort to raise funds and awareness of autism within Okaloosa and surrounding counties.

“With such a high incidence rate, more and more of us are connected to someone whose life is affected by autism,” said Heidi Blalock, CEO of ECAC. “Many of us know one individual who has autism, perhaps it is a son, daughter or grandchild that is the one.”

The 2023 ONE Campaign is starting with the eleventh annual ONE Run 5K on Saturday, April 1st, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. at Emerald Coast Autism Center, located at 80 College Blvd. East, Niceville, Florida. 

The 5K will take on the theme of “Building Bright Futures” as the funds raised from the run will go towards ECAC’s scholarship fund and participants will get a glimpse of the future home of the Emerald Coast Learning Center. The 5K route will be held on the beautiful grounds of Northwest Florida State College, followed by an after-party with food, music, and raffle drawings for incredible prizes from local businesses.

The ONE Campaign will continue its efforts with a golf tournament at Blackstone Golf Course in Mossy Head, FL on Friday, September 29, 2023, with a 9:00 a.m. shotgun start. The proceeds from the ONE Campaign will go directly to the ECAC Scholarship Fund, which will help families who otherwise could not afford the services their children need.

“Our goal is to provide scholarships to families in need so that they can receive the support and services they need,” said Blalock. “We are committed to building bright futures for students with autism and their families.”

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“The Big U! The NMU supplied the unlicensed crew and when we lost this ship and its jobs and when U.S. Lines went bankrupt, we were on our way to...”
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“Highschool is finna be more crowed now. We need another highschool not a middle or elementary school.”
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“This is bittersweet. I spent a wonderful week in Cay Sal Banks on the Pilot in 2006. I will have to go pay her a visit soon....”
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“I agree with Jerome. What will this accomplish since both ends are only 4 lanes?”
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“The parking lot at McGuires would disappear along with the parcel that Destin purchased at the bridge.. Flooding on Okaloosa Island would close an expensive update to 98 , at...”
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“This will not make a difference for traffic passing through the center of Destin along Rt. 98. The smart option is to complete the Brooks Bridge and intersection in Ft...”
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“Doesn’t it still end up with 4 lanes on either end after bridges? Seems more aesthetic than a traffic plan. Which is nice too but does it increase the function?”
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“It would be a money pit let’s sink it for the tourists who we don’t have enough of so more will come”
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“Traffic moves pretty well on that stretch of 98, I don't see the need to waste the money. Maybe do something to deal with the traffic in Destin, and Mary...”
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