Mom Who's Spent Years Raising Autism Awareness Recognized By Local Business

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — A Water Mill mom whose son has autism has spent years working to raise awareness and funds — hoping to find a cause and a cure.

And now, Kim Covell's tireless efforts have received recognition: Sabrosa Mexican Grill, a family-owned chain of restaurants with locations in Water Mill, Riverhead, Lake Ronkonkoma and Commack, recently recognized the Flying Point Foundation for Autism as its June Charity of the Month with a $500 donation to support its work with children living with autism on the East End.

The donation is the latest in a multi-year campaign by Sabrosa to support hyper-local charities that has seen more than $50,000 contributed to non-profit organizations over the last three years.

“We are grateful to Sabrosa for its support of what we do for children with autism and their families,” said Covell, president of the Flying PointFoundation for Autism, a nonprofit organization founded in 2008.

“The donation will help us continue to offer programs such as our day camp, which provides a traditional camp experience for those with autism but with the necessary support. Camp Flying Point connects the two —support and fun," she said.

Camp Flying Point serves approximately 50 to 60 children, age 6 to 21 years, with an eight-day summer camp that teaches social and communication skills alongside their including typically developing siblings and peers.

The camp never turns away a camper due to financial constraints. Prior to camp, siblings of those with autism are invited to the foundation's SibPower program that celebrates the contribution that typical siblings make in a family impacted by autism.

In addition to the camp, the Flying Point Foundation for Autism also offers recreational programs throughout the year, teacher grants for items that might enhance the classroom experience for a student with autism, scholarships for graduating seniors with autism and for typical seniors who have demonstrated a commitment to the cause. Awareness programs, including an annual first responders training are also offered.

“We know Kim and see the impact she and everyone at Flying Point have had on our community,” said Donna Andreassi of Sabrosa Mexican Grill. “They are working every day to provide programs for kids who have autism so that they may participate in activities that many of us take for granted.”

Although it is located in Southampton, NY, Covell said the foundation gets calls from much farther westward on Long Island. Since it started inn 2008, the foundation's reach has grown geographically and programmatically, she said.

"People are starting to hear about us," said Covell.

And that's in large part due to her longtime devotion to her mission.

For example, in June, 2016, she and a team participated in the "Bike to the Beach" event, which kicks off in Battery Park City and ends up in Westhampton.

Bike to the Beach is a non-profit group that organizes 100-mile cycling events from major cities to the beach, to raise funds and awareness for autism.

For years, Covell, whose son Dylan has autism, said he's known about the organization because her non-profit, Flying Point Foundation for Autism, has received funding from the event's proceeds.

"It's about understanding and acceptance. Really understanding."

As a spectrum disorder, meaning that those with autism are impacted in a "jumble" of ways — her husband calls them “snowflakes” because no two are exactly alike — Covell says, "It can be difficult to make sense of the fact that the young man headed off to college has the same disorder as the young man who requires 24-7 supervision and help tying his shoes."

Covell said working to raise funding for autism is a deeply personal mission. "It’s a part of my life and will be until the day I die. It’s about taking this huge part of my life and doing something positive with it — that’s what inspired me to start the Flying Point Foundation for Autism. It’s a fairly safe bet that every one knows someone impacted by autism. It’s about more than awareness; I think we are way beyond that. It’s about understanding and acceptance. Really understanding. Thinking about the impact that autism has on an individual and a family."

Lead photo courtesy of Sabrosa.

Photo of Kim Covell and Dylan courtesy of Kim Covell.