Easterseals Midwest and Valvoline Instant Oil Change Raise $15,000 for Local Families Living with Autism

Easterseals Midwest and Valvoline Instant Oil Change Raise $15,000 for Local Kids with Autism

In celebration of Autism Awareness Month, the nonprofit Easterseals Midwest partnered with Valvoline Instant Oil ChangeSM to raise awareness and support for children, teens, and adults with autism.
In April, participating St. Louis-area Valvoline Instant Oil Change locations hosted Easterseals’ Bright Futures for Autism campaign. Valvoline customers made donations to Easterseals and signed hundreds of colorful pennants that decorated each store’s walls. The Bright Futures campaign raised $15,000 to support Easterseals’ therapy, training, and support services for people with autism.

“Through our partnership with Valvoline Instant Oil Change, we connected with thousands of people across the region and engaged them in our mission to change the way the world defines and views disability,” said Wendy Sullivan, Easterseals Midwest Chief Executive Officer. “We thank Valvoline Instant Oil Change for their dedication and passion at every step of this journey. With their support, more Missourians with autism will now have the resources and support to live empowered, active lives in the community.”

“We are pleased to partner the Easterseals Midwest to both increase awareness of autism and help the organization with their fundraising efforts,” said Valerik Demirchian, St. Louis Market Manager of Valvoline Instant Oil Change.

Autism affects 1 out of every 68 children, and costs families an average of $60,000 in extra support each year. Easterseals Midwest provides individualized therapies, parent training, social skills development, pre-employment and employment training to help individuals with autism reach their full potential at every age.
For many, these programs are life-changing for both the individual and their family.

Nicholas, a student at Easterseals Midwest’s St. Louis Early Childhood Academy, was above average in speech and movement as an infant. He was bright, active, and engaged with the world around him. Howeveer, at 1 years old, he stopped hitting milestones and seemed to retreat from the world around him. At 26 months old, Nicholas was diagnosed with autism and came to Easterseals. By that time, he was no longer talking, and his motor skills lagged behind. Now Nicholas attends our Early Childhood Academy, a school readiness program designed for children with autism under the age of 5 and has seen wonderful success. The greatest joy? Nicholas finally said “Mommy” at four years old—something his mother wasn’t sure she’d ever hear.

About Valvoline | Valvoline™, a leading supplier of premium branded lubricants and automotive services, has been serving American motorists for more than 150 years. Its operating segment, Valvoline Instant Oil Change, ranked as the #2 quick-lube chain in 2016 by number of stores, with more than 1,070 company-owned and franchised locations in the U.S. Its industry-leading model is built to deliver a quick, easy and trusted experience to every customer, every day. Visit www.vioc.com to learn more.

About Easterseals Midwest | Easterseals Midwest is a nonprofit organization changing the way the world defines and views disability by making profound, positive differences in people’s lives every day. The organization employs 1,700 employees delivering services to more than 4,600 individuals statewide through four divisions: Autism Services, Community Living Services, Early Childhood Services and Employment Services. For more information, visit eastersealsmidwest.org.