This past February, Florida Rock Stars held its third annual South Dade Food & Rock Festival in order to raise awareness and funding for autistic children in Homestead. Event organizers Richard DiBenedetto and Mickey Filippucci presented Mayor Steven C. Bateman with funds raised at the event to be used towards the Homestead Autism Resource Center.
“There are no options for after school activities for children with autism,” said Mayor Steven Bateman, whose son Austin is diagnosed with autism. “This is why we are working towards creating an Autism Resource Center in Homestead, which would offer after school programs to teach life skills to our children with autism.”
The Vice-President of Resource Development of the Special Olympics in Miami-Dade County Cheryl A. Lawko was also present during the meeting when Florida Rock Stars presented the donation. Special Olympics is one of the organizations that could potentially partner in the future with the Homestead Autism Resource Center to create after school programs involving sports. This Friday, at 8:30 am is the Homestead Law Enforcement Torch Run of the Special Olympics starting at 891 N Homestead Blvd Homestead, FL 33030
