{"id":247101,"date":"2026-04-26T07:25:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T07:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/247101\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T07:25:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T07:25:13","slug":"society-family-initiative-6th-annual-autism-acceptance-awards-gala-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/247101\/","title":{"rendered":"SOCIETY: Family Initiative 6th Annual Autism Acceptance Awards Gala"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t <a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridaweekly.com\/audio-articles\/player\/audio-article-1111121\" onclick=\"_paq.push([&#039;trackEvent&#039;, &#039;Article&#039;, &#039;Article Playlist&#039;, &#039;\/\/audio-articles\/player\/audio-article-1111121&#039;]);\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> Open Audio Article Player<\/a> \t\t\tFamily Initiative hosts 6th Annual Autism Acceptance Awards Gala in downtown Fort Myers at Caloosa Sound Convention Center<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridaweekly.com\/author\/By+DAVID+WISHTISCHIN\" onclick=\"_paq.push([&#039;trackEvent&#039;, &#039;Author Byline View&#039;, &#039;By DAVID WISHTISCHIN&#039;]);\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">By DAVID WISHTISCHIN<\/a><br \/>FLORIDA WEEKLY\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1111125\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1111125\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DSCF0301-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1111125\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Family Initiative\u2019s Co-Founders, President, David Brown and Vice President, Anjali Van Drie. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n<p>On April 25, 2026, Family Initiative hosted the 6th Annual Autism Acceptance Awards Gala. The gala broght the community together for an evening of celebrating individuals and organizations making a difference in the lives of children and families affected by autism. Guests enjoyed a lovely cocktail reception, exciting silent and live auctions, delicious bites and an inspiring awards presentation.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridaweekly.com\/articles\/fort-myers-ae\/society-family-initiative-6th-annual-autism-acceptance-awards-gala\/dscf0336\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DSCF0336-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large lazyload\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1111153\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/683;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tFort Myers Mayor, Kevin Anderson and Krista Anderson. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<br style=\"clear: both\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridaweekly.com\/articles\/fort-myers-ae\/society-family-initiative-6th-annual-autism-acceptance-awards-gala\/dscf0334\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DSCF0334-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large lazyload\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1111149\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/683;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tGannon Gifford, Madison Hamlett and Luke Hamlett. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<br style=\"clear: both\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridaweekly.com\/articles\/fort-myers-ae\/society-family-initiative-6th-annual-autism-acceptance-awards-gala\/dscf0330\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DSCF0330-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large lazyload\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1111145\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/683;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tRich Verblaauw, Kim Verblaauw, Krystal Hunt-Branch and Aaron Hunt-Branch. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<br style=\"clear: both\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridaweekly.com\/articles\/fort-myers-ae\/society-family-initiative-6th-annual-autism-acceptance-awards-gala\/dscf0319\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DSCF0319-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large lazyload\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1111141\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/683;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBen Linscott and Natalee Linscott. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<br style=\"clear: both\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridaweekly.com\/articles\/fort-myers-ae\/society-family-initiative-6th-annual-autism-acceptance-awards-gala\/dscf0305\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DSCF0305-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large lazyload\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1111129\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/683;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tCindy Santarelli and Cal Santarelli. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<br style=\"clear: both\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridaweekly.com\/articles\/fort-myers-ae\/society-family-initiative-6th-annual-autism-acceptance-awards-gala\/dscf0318\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DSCF0318-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large lazyload\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1111137\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/683;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tMichael Kukurelo, Lindsay Kukurelo and Jose Kukurelo. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<br style=\"clear: both\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridaweekly.com\/articles\/fort-myers-ae\/society-family-initiative-6th-annual-autism-acceptance-awards-gala\/image-4-25-26-at-8-39-pm\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"673\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Image-4-25-26-at-8.39\u202fPM-1024x673.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large lazyload\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1111157\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/673;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tTaylor Montreuil and Emily Montreuil. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<br style=\"clear: both\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridaweekly.com\/articles\/fort-myers-ae\/society-family-initiative-6th-annual-autism-acceptance-awards-gala\/image-4-25-26-at-8-38-pm\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"673\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Image-4-25-26-at-8.38\u202fPM-1024x673.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large lazyload\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1111161\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/673;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tGabe Rizzi and Cathy Rizzi. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<br style=\"clear: both\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridaweekly.com\/articles\/fort-myers-ae\/society-family-initiative-6th-annual-autism-acceptance-awards-gala\/image-4-25-26-at-8-38-pm-1\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"673\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Image-4-25-26-at-8.38\u202fPM-1-1024x673.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large lazyload\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1111165\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/673;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tTravis Richardson, Nicole Pavone, Jaycee Barrett, Brooke Gaither, Austin Macon, Victor Caricabel and Gisselle Padilla. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<br style=\"clear: both\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridaweekly.com\/articles\/fort-myers-ae\/society-family-initiative-6th-annual-autism-acceptance-awards-gala\/image-4-25-26-at-8-38-pm-2\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"673\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Image-4-25-26-at-8.38\u202fPM-2-1024x673.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large lazyload\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1111169\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/673;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tMatthew Menosky, Amber Menosky, Kristy Offerman, Kevin Offerman, JoDee Offerman and Wayne Offerman. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<br style=\"clear: both\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridaweekly.com\/articles\/fort-myers-ae\/society-family-initiative-6th-annual-autism-acceptance-awards-gala\/image-4-25-26-at-8-37-pm-2\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"673\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Image-4-25-26-at-8.37\u202fPM-1-1024x673.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large lazyload\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1111177\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/673;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tJessica Copeland, Garret Copeland, Aaron Hunt-Branch, Krystal Hunt-Branch, Kelli Saiz and Neal Saiz. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<br style=\"clear: both\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridaweekly.com\/articles\/fort-myers-ae\/society-family-initiative-6th-annual-autism-acceptance-awards-gala\/image-4-25-26-at-8-37-pm\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"673\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Image-4-25-26-at-8.37\u202fPM-1024x673.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large lazyload\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1111173\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/673;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tCorrissa Logan and Mike Silverman. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<br style=\"clear: both\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.floridaweekly.com\/articles\/fort-myers-ae\/society-family-initiative-6th-annual-autism-acceptance-awards-gala\/dscf0317\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DSCF0317-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large lazyload\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1111133\"  data- style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/683;\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tCaroline Brown, Zach brown, Jamie Hipner and Tracy Hipner. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<br style=\"clear: both\"\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Open Audio Article Player Family Initiative hosts 6th Annual Autism Acceptance Awards Gala in downtown Fort Myers at&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":246864,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[209,211,210],"class_list":["post-247101","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cape-coral","tag-cape-coral","tag-cape-coral-headlines","tag-cape-coral-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247101","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=247101"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247101\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/246864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=247101"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=247101"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=247101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}