Sixth Annual ‘Tee it Up for Autism’ gets to the Green

The sixth annual ‘Tee it Up for Autism’ charity golf outing didn’t let the rain keep them from raising awareness and money.

The outing featured special guests from the Real Housewives of New Jersey Jacqueline and Chris Laurita. Jacqueline said she came all this way because she believes in the cause.

“We have a son also diagnosed with Autism, our youngest son,” said Laurita. “So I think it’s important get communities involved in helping and educating them, helping people that need help just getting families the help they need, just to give their kids the right tools they need to thrive.”

President of the National Autism Association of South East Ohio Shannon Coconis said the event raises about $35,000 each year and 90 percent of those funds help local families in right here South East Ohio.

“They can use that for treatments and therapies that are not covered by insurance in Ohio,” said Coconis. “So a lot of these families, if it weren’t for our grant, their kids would go without so this is really important and this is our biggest fundraiser of the year.”

150 came out to participate in the outing and Coconis hopes to see the same positive outcome that they’ve seen in past years.