press release

GAMERS RAISE OVER $20,500 FOR AUTISM RESEARCH

Arlington, VA- August 16, 2011- The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is excited to announce the success of Summer Games Done Quick a fundraising event presented by Speed Demos Archive.  From August 4-6, 2011, thousands of gamers world-wide watched as 25 players in Utah played 50 games in over 60 hours during this online event.  Donations made participants eligible for prizes, voting for particular games and players, and types of play. 

This incredibly successful event raised over $20,500 for autism research.  This money will be used towards a Speed Demos Archive sponsored study to be chosen this October.

Speed Demos Archive chooses a beneficiary for each marathon game fund raiser.  OAR had the honor of being the beneficiary for this Summer 2011 event.  Mike Uyama, event organizer and creator of Speed Demos Archive, chose OAR because of its focus on applied research. “When Mike called me in May about the fund raiser, I had no idea how involved, organized, and generous the gaming community is,” notes Allison Gilmour, Director, Programs and Community Outreach at OAR. “I am blown away by the success of the Summer Games and the numerous messages I received from participants about autism touching their lives.  It was great to see participants excited about, not just the event, but also autism research.”

OAR is grateful to all participants who helped raise money for autism research and spread autism awareness throughout the videogame community.  To read more about Speed Demos Archive presents Summer Games Done Quick, please visit http://speeddemosarchive.com/marathon/.

ABOUT OAR: The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is a national, nonprofit organization formed and led by relatives of children and adults with autism and Asperger Syndrome. OAR is dedicated to promoting research that can be applied to help families, educators, caregivers, and individuals with autism find much-needed answers to their immediate and urgent questions.

Since 2001, OAR has awarded more than $2.2 million to fund 118 applied research studies and published six community-friendly resource guides in its Life Journey through Autism series. OAR introduced the Schwallie Family Scholarship Program offering college and vocational school scholarships to individuals with autism spectrum disorders in 2007, and in 2009 and 2010 produced Operation Autism, www.operationautismonline.org, a web-based resource for military families touched by autism, and a companion resource guide, Life Journey through Autism: A Guide for Military Families.

For more information about OAR, please visit www.researchautism.org.