The event welcomed families with autism from around the area.
By
Jessica Salmond
| 3:33 p.m. April 23, 2016
East County
Neighbors
Share
Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy celebrated autism awareness month with a family day to conclude its autism awareness campaign.
Managed by Matt Bruback, creator of the Miracle Belt, the campaign raised awareness for the last month with murals at both SMART and Rosa Fiorelli Winery. The event drew families from as far as Englewood and North Port to participate. With the help of 50 community sponsors, the event purchased 125 Miracle Belts that will be given to community autism organizations, including SMART and Beyond the Spectrum.
Amanda Stults of North Port brought her daughter, Stella, who has autism.
“It’s nice to go to events where people understand what she may and may not do,” she said.
Helena and Lawrence Downyok of Sarasota
Cherry Zimmer volunteered to help sell raffle tickets.
Dylan Wade Cox, Natalie Palumbo, Matt Bruback, Darrin Simone and Jody Jorgensen
Adriana, Franny, Nancy and Joe Basile drove up from Englewood to attend the event.
Nancy Basile wore her autism awareness earrings for the event.
Gabriel Doney of Lakewood Ranch with his grandma, Jean Doney, who is visiting from Pennsylvania
Abby Koch of Bradenton offers a necklace to mural artist Natalie Palumbo and event coordinator Jody Jorgensen.
Isabella Thomas of Sarasota and Abby Thomas of Bradenton give necklaces to Englewood resident Melissa Harris and her daughter Kailey Evans.
Madison Koch of Bradenton gets a horse painted on her hand by Sally Mamalis.
Stella Stults enjoys a lollipop with mom Amanda Stults of North Port.
Katie Greenwood, Darian Abbas and Trish Houser of Rusty Bucket. Abbas is dressed like a pickle because it's the restaurant's signature addition to its meals.
Gavin Duran of Sarasota got a scary face painted by Sally Mamalis.
The Eddie James band — Eddie James, Jamie Gee and Jack Berry — played jazz for the event.
