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.”