RENTON, Wash. -The Seattle Seahawks announced today the team will donate 10% of sales for every regular priced hat and knit cap sold in April at Seahawks retail stores to Ben's Fund,in support of Autism Awareness Month. The four retail stores are located at CenturyLink Field, downtown Seattle, Renton Landing and Alderwood Mall. Fans will also be able to make an in-store donation at checkout.
The team launched an online charity auction that offers one-of-a-kind Seahawks memorabilia with 100% of proceeds designated for Ben's Fund. The online charity auction will run from Tuesday, April 4 to Thursday, April 13. Fans can also make a cash donation through the site. Visit Auctions.Seahawks.com and click the tab "Ben's Fund". The items will include the following:
31 Kam Chancellor autographed football
3 Russell Wilson autographed replica helmet
16 Tyler Lockett autographed Action Green replica jersey
In 2012, John and Traci launched "Ben's Fund" in partnership with Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT) of Washington. Named after their oldest son who was diagnosed with autism when he was three years old, Ben's Fund provides grants to families across Washington State to help cover costs associated with medical bills, therapies and numerous other aspects of supporting a child, or children, on the autism spectrum. With the support of the Seahawks and community, they have collaborated to raise more than $2 million and provided over 900 grants to families in the state of Washington.
In 2015, the Seahawks announced a partnership with Autism Friendly Locations to provide toolkits to make CenturyLink Field and gameday activities more user friendly for fans on the spectrum. The toolkits include noise cancelling headphones, earplugs, sensory toys, detailed schedule and identifier badge. Fans can pick-up the toolkit at guest services located in the Field Plaza just south of The Pro Shop on the Field Level. The NFL adopted the program at this year's Pro Bowl in Orlando.
Throughout the first week of April, the arch lights on the roof of CenturyLink Field will be blue as part of the Light It Up Blue campaign. Bring awareness and support to @FEATofWA by tagging photos of @CenturyLink_Fld blue arches with #LIUB (Light It Up Blue) and #BensFund. For more information, visit Seahawks.com/BensFund.
About Ben's Fund
"Ben's Fund" provides grants to families across Washington State to help cover costs associated with medical bills, therapies and numerous other aspects of supporting a child, or children, on the autism spectrum. For more information, visit Seahawks.com/BensFund.
About Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT) of Washington
FEAT of Washington is a non-profit organization that strives to reach families with a child or children on the autism spectrum, providing support, guidance and resources for families in the community. For the past 15 years, FEAT has been developing, creating and inspiring autism programming for Washington's children solely to achieve one purpose - to help those children reach their full potential. Visit featwa.org to learn more.
Prime Time celebrity waiter event raises money for Ben's Fund, is now in its fifth year.
Quarterbacks coach Carl Smith and quarterback Russell Wilson congratulate each other after the game.Â
