Hair of Fame salon owner Maritza Rivera presents Erica R. Kearney, M.A., BCBA, Executive Director at the May Center School for Autism and Developmental Disabilities in West Springfield, Mass, with a check for $6,800. The funds will help support the National Autism Center’s programs and services.

Hair of Fame Salon Raises $6,800 to Help May Institute’s National Autism Center Offer Critical Information and Services

06/14/14

Randolph, Mass. – Representatives from Hair of Fame salon in Springfield, Mass., have presented May Institute’s National Autism Center with a check for $6,800 to support programs and services that benefit individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
 
ASD is a neurological disorder that affects the development of the brain, causing difficulty with communication, learning, and social interaction.
 
The money was raised at the salon’s first independent hair show – Past, Present & Future – held at the Paramount Theater in Springfield. It was held during Hair of Fame's 10th anniversary in business. In addition to “highlighting hairstyles from yesterday and today, and showcasing those of tomorrow,” the event included fundraising raffles and entertainment provided by Frankie Negron and B.A. Star. 
 
“We are extremely grateful to receive this funding,” said Hanna Rue, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Executive Director of the National Autism Center, and Vice President of Autism Services for May Institute. “It will help us continue to address the needs of children with ASD and their families by supporting our research initiatives and helping us raise the level of awareness about a disorder that affects approximately one in every 68 children in our country.”
 
“We wanted to celebrate our success and the success of Hair of Fame by giving back to an organization that is providing support and awareness to this growing issue that currently touches so many lives,” said salon owner Maritza Rivera. “We feel extremely proud that we got involved and hope that, as a result, more people will do the same.”
 
About the National Autism Center
The National Autism Center is May Institute’s Center for the Promotion of Evidence-based Practice. It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving children and adolescents ASD by providing reliable information, promoting best practices, and offering comprehensive resources for families, practitioners, and communities.
 
An advocate for evidence-based treatment approaches, the Center identifies effective programming and shares practical information with families about how to respond to the challenges they face. The Center also conducts applied research as well as develops training and service models for practitioners. Finally, the Center works to shape public policy concerning ASD and its treatment through the development and dissemination of national standards of practice. For more information, call 800.778.7601, or visit www.nationalautismcenter.org.