Miami Beach Lights Up Blue for Autism Awareness Month 2017
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OFFICE OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, Tel: 305.673.7575 PRESS RELEASE
Tonya Daniels, E-mail: tonyadaniels@miamibeachfl.gov
Melissa Berthier, E-mail: melissaberthier@miamibeachfl.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2017
Miami Beach Lights Up Blue For Autism Awareness Month
— Also Hosts Surf Camp for Children with Autism —
Miami Beach, FL: In commemoration of United Nations-sanctioned World Autism
Month, Miami Beach will be glowing in a blue light throughout the month of April
beginning at sundown tomorrow. Miami Beach City Hall, Historic City Hall, Pennsylvania
Avenue parking garage, North Shore Bandshell, Normandy Fountain, Julia Tuttle and 71
Street welcome entrance signs, and South Pointe Park’s pylon lights will all shine blue.
Light It Up Blue is a unique global initiative that kicks-off Autism Awareness Month and
helps raise awareness about autism. In honor of this month, many iconic landmarks,
sporting venues, museums and bridges are among the thousands of buildings around
the world that light up blue to raise autism awareness.
Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy L. Morales, whose daughter has a form of autism,
said, “By shedding the light on autism, we can work towards improving the future of all of
those affected.”
The City of Miami Beach also recognizes that to improve the lives of those with special
needs, it requires more than shining a light -- one must nurture, teach and respect.
For the last nine years, the City of Miami Beach has teamed up with the University of
Miami – Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (UM-
NSU CARD) to host a spring break surf camp for children with autism spectrum
disorders (ASD). Participating children spend the week focusing on swimming skills,
basic oceanography, meteorology, and open water surfing. This year’s camp will run
from Sunday, April 9 through Friday, April 14.
The City of Miami Beach encourages all commercial and residential buildings to light it
up blue in April.
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