Great Wolf Lodge is “going blue” during the month of April, collaborating with Autism Speaks in a drive to raise at least $70,000 for World Autism Month. Guests at any Great Wolf Lodge Resort throughout the nation, including Wisconsin Dells, can receive a set of blue wolf ears for a $5 donation to Autism Speaks at check-in instead of the usual grey wolf ears.
“Since blue is the color most associate with World Autism Awareness Month, we took our signature gray wolf ears and made a limited edition blue version featuring the Autism Speaks logo,” said Jason Lasecki, Director of Corporate Communications at Great Wolf Lodge. “The blue wolf ear campaign is the first true, brand-wide campaign we’ve done with Autism Speaks, but we’re working together on other ways to partner not only this year, but for 2020 and beyond.”
Lisa Goring, Strategic Initiatives and Innovation Officer at Autism Speaks, said autism effects about 70 million people across the globe, and World Autism Month is an opportunity to bring attention to autism. Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, effects about 1 in 59 children, according to Autism Speaks. The Mayo Clinic says symptoms of autism include difficulty with communication, challenges with social interactions, and limited and repetitive patterns of behaviors, among other symptoms.
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“We’re focused every day on promoting solutions for people with autism across the spectrum and throughout the life span,” Goring said. “This year, we’re inviting the global community to join us in increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism and their families, and creating a more inclusive world for all.”
Goring said the partnership with Great Wolf Lodge is a continuation of a tradition to partner with companies, national landmarks, and households to “Light It Up Blue” as a means of showing support, understanding, and acceptance.
“We have a number of parents with children on the spectrum who tell us that Great Wolf Lodge is their child’s favorite place to visit,” Lasecki said. “We are absolutely delighted that so many children on the spectrum find our resorts to be welcoming and inviting, and wanted to show our support for their community.”
Lasecki said Great Wolf Lodge has created 10,000 blue wolf ears for the campaign. With each set of wolf ears available for a $5 donation, the resorts are hoping to raise at least $50,000. Great Wolf Lodge has also initiated a social media campaign, during which the resort will donate an additional $5 for each guest who posts a picture of themselves wearing blue wolf ears to their social media channels using #GreatWolfCares, up to $20,000. One hundred percent of proceeds from the campaign are going to Autism Speaks.
“The funds raised will help support Autism Speaks’ mission of supporting individuals with autism and their families, and increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism,” Lasecki said. “We’re happy to have a small part in supporting that mission, and engaging our guests and pack members along the way.”
Resources on autism, from diagnosis through adult life, and ways to volunteer or donate are available at autismspeaks.org. Autism Speaks is undergoing a new public service campaign aimed at lowering the age of diagnosis, with resources available in English at screenforautism.org and in Spanish at detecciondeautismo.org.