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Community Corner

A PIECE OF MY HEART AUTISM AWARENESS EVENT!

Yolanda Ortiz-Sutton, Neighbor
A Piece Of My Heart has put together a three day event at Five Towns College in Long Island, NY (http://www.ftc.edu/ ) where students can engage in a basketball game against Farmingdale College, listen to upcoming artist perform, party and dance for a great cause. This event is geared to spreading #AUTISM awareness to the students of Five Towns College, Farmingdale State College, and Stony Brook University however it is open to the public. The event has an entrance fee of as little as three dollars and all the proceeds will go to the Autism Speaks Long Island Chapter. The event takes place April 24th through the 26th in light of April being Autism Awareness month. 

A Piece Of My Heart was founded by Brittney Melvin also know as Brittney Crush, who is a independent recording artist and a student of Five Towns College. Brittney has an autistic little brother and wants college students to become aware of autism and its traits so that they think twice the next time they judge someone with special needs. “When you have someone in your immediate family with autism, it changes how you look at life and how you look at people” says Brittney Melvin. The event is being sponsored by Five Towns College, small businesses and emerging clothing lines such as Royal Tribe Apparel and College Girl Cosmetics. This event will have company tables for people to purchase products from and other interactive activities for the public to participate in. "I’m very excited for this event. I’m anticipating it to be one of the best events this semester and a lot of people are looking forward to it,” says Five Towns College student Domenic Pelligrini.

Autism is the fastest growing serious developmental disability in the United States. The mission of A Piece Of My Heart is to bring awareness to autism in a fun and interactive way. It hopes to be able to create a friendly fun environment where people can be informed and encouraged to help those with disabilities instead of judging them or out casting them. Its goal is to one day be an annual three day event reaching hundreds of people nationwide but for now, Five Towns College is the first stop.

Contact Brittney Melvin at 860-655-8282, Brittneycrushmusic@gmail.comApieceofmyheartautism@gmail.com

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