Council Rock North Students Dance for Autism Cares Foundation

Luke Costello, a high school junior, strongly believes that each of us can greatly improve our corner of the world.

As such, he and the school’s Autism Cares Foundation (ACF) Club, are heading up a massive dance fundraiser in order to change the lives of children and adults with autism and other special needs.

Costello, the ACF Club President at Council Rock High School North, is gearing up for a Rock-A-Thon dance at Council Rock High School North on Friday, March 29, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. More than 500 students are expected to participate in this fun-filled event. Tickets to the event cost $25 per student, and T-shirts will be sold for $5.

Costello, a 17-year-old from Newtown and junior class treasurer, wants to be of service and give back to his community, and his passion project is the nonprofit Autism Cares Foundation, (ACF).

For 11 years, ACF has provided special events, programs and life enrichment opportunities to children and adults with autism and other special needs in their families.

The ACF Club at Council Rock High School North was started during Costello’s freshman year and he quickly joined the club.

“It was my first exposure to Autism Cares Foundation and I literally fell in love with it,” he says. “I am passionate about Autism Cares Foundation because of all of the work it does for individuals who live in my community. I have seen the faces of people who live with autism light up time and again at all of our events.”

The goal for Rock-A-Thon is $30,000, and Costello said it is definitely an attainable goal. Several smaller community fundraisers have already brought in $5,000, including $300 in donations from a recent basketball game, where the ACF Glee Club sang a heartfelt rendition of The National Anthem.

Other community fundraisers have included those at Chipotle, Jules Pizza, Smoothie King, Nothing Bundt Cakes, GreenStraw, and Orange Theory -- all driven by the efforts of the students.

“The student body and the community are really pulling for us, and we appreciate all of this,” says Costello. He wants to go to business school after high school graduation and continue to connect his work and life goals to ACF.

Three teachers at the school have been instrumental in helping the students planning this fundraiser: the club’s teacher-advisor Allison Marbo, and teachers Michael Fink and Ben Battiste,

“An event like this is crucial for the students,” Costello explains. “We need an outlet outside of school, and here is a safe environment for 500 students to go and make a big social impact of raising $30,000 to help others. It is a big ‘Wow!’

He also understands that the exposure for ACF is an important aspect of the event. “ACF knows it has the support of our student body and from the ACF events that I have attended, I can see that what this foundation can do what this amount of money is nothing short of incredible.”

"I love our Autism Cares Foundation club because it is where you are able to see the immediate effects of your volunteer work,” said Grace DiGiacomo, 17, ACF Club Membership Officer. “The feeling I get from making a person's day special in unparalleled!"

Linda Kuepper, Co-Founder and CEO (volunteer) of Autism Cares Foundation, is appreciative of the efforts of the students on behalf of ACF.

“On behalf of the more than 5,000 people who we serve annually we thank Luke, the ACF Club and Council Rock High School North from the bottom of our hearts,” Kuepper said. “I plan to be there, along with some of our participants, to see the tallies, and give a heartfelt thanks to everyone who participates in Rock-A-Thon.”

Allison Marbo, special education teacher and the high school’s ACF Club advisor, says she is extremely proud of how the club has grown during the past three years, from just a small group to 100 active members.

“It is heartwarming to see the number of students that have such a passion to work with people with autism and truly make a difference in other’s lives.”

For Marbo, and the ACF Club, this year’s Rock-A-Thon has "provided a platform to spread the mission and values of ACF, and to inspire our students to raise money such for such a deserving cause."

“By our students coming out to Rock-A-Thon on March 29th, not only will they be making a difference that day,” she says, “but they will be helping to build a brighter future for those with autism.”

For further information, please contact: Autism Cares Foundation.