NFL Hall of Famer AND FORMER MIAMI DOLPHINS QUARTERBACK DAN MARINO TO HOST THE 6TH ANNUAL DAN MARINO FOUNDATION WALKABOUT AUTISM & EXPO, BROUGHT TO YOU BY WALGREENS, AND PRESENTED BY BADIA SPICES

MIAMI, FLORIDA – On Saturday, January 23rd, 2016 from 8am to noon the south Florida autism community will join Dan Marino and the Marino Family at Sun Life Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins for the 6th Annual Dan Marino Foundation WalkAbout Autism & Expo, brought to you by Walgreens, presented by Badia Spices. Last year this marquee event gathered over 20,000 supporters who participated to help raised autism acceptance and much-needed funds in support of local programs for children and young adults living with autism.

Now in its six year, the DMF WalkAbout Autism & Expo has raised more than $2.6 million through the generous support of participants, donors, school, corporate and non-profit teams and corporate sponsors. Those corporate sponsors include, Walgreens, Badia Spices, the Miami Dolphins, Sun Life Stadium, Centerplate, Publix Super Markets, South Florida Ford, Greenspoon Marder Law, Chase, Panera Bread, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, Nova Southeastern University and Everglades Holiday Park to name a few. As well as our media partners Comcast, Clear Channel Outdoor, iHeartMedia, and Lifestyle Magazine. All proceeds raised stay in the South Florida Community.

The DMF WalkAbout Autism & Expo kicks-off with a family friendly festival-infused atmosphere, followed by a walk led by members of the autism community who gather to promote awareness for this worthy cause. After the walk participants will experience the resource Expo with more than thirty exhibitors and vendors, musical entertainment from local school bands, as well as DJ 1Tre. Our participants will have the opportunity to meet Miami Dolphins players, Alumni, and Cheerleaders. Kids will enjoy the children’s corner which will be well equipped with Dolphins Football Fun Skills Course, fun rides, games and give-a-ways from Walgreens. The Publix Hospitality Village will offer delicious food and beverage sampling compliments of Badia Spices, PepsiCo, CenterPlate and The Produce Connection.

“We are really looking forward to the 6th year of The Dan Marino Foundation’s WalkAbout Autism,” said, Dan Marino, Chairman of The Dan Marino Foundation. “This event brings together the autism community for a day of celebration. And the funds raised from the event are important to advancing the Foundation’s work, supporting innovative programs that provide pathways to independence for children, teens and young adults with Autism, emphasizing their differing abilities, not disabilities.”

All proceeds raised through this event stay in our local community and benefit The Dan Marino Foundation, Marino Campus as well as, participating Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties Schools, and non-profit autism service providers. Last year our Top Three Fundraising School Teams included Cypress Bay High School, Baudhuin Pre-School PTO, and Blue Lake K-8.

For more information, please visit dmfwalkaboutautism.org .

About The Dan Marino Foundation: The Dan Marino Foundation, Inc., a 501(c) 3 organization was established in 1992 by Dan and Claire Marino, motivated by their experiences in raising their son, Michael, who is diagnosed with autism. The Foundation’s mission is “empowering individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.” For over 24 years, the Foundation has served individuals with disabilities in South Florida and raised more than $55 million to create unique and impactful initiatives in the community. Among these first-of-their-kind initiatives are the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Dan Marino Outpatient Center, the Marino Autism Research Institute, Marino Adapted Aquatics, Summer STEPS Employment Programs, Virtual Interactive Training Agent Program (VITA-DMF), and now Marino Campus. For more information, please visit danmarinofoundation.org , marinocampus.org or vitadmf.org .

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