Ahmad Islam, Co-founder of Award-Winning Marketing Agency, commonground, Rallies Supporters for 2012 Chicago Walk Now for Autism Speaks

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May 08, 2012, 01:58 ET

CHICAGO, May 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Autism advocacy hits home for Ahmad Islam, one of the city's top business leaders. Islam, co-founder and managing partner of Chicago-based marketing agency, commonground, and Chicago Autism Speaks board member, is the father of nine-year-old Gabriel, who was diagnosed with autism five years ago. Islam is rallying support from colleagues, friends, family and his professional network to participate in the 9th annual Chicago Walk Now for Autism Speaks event. The walk will be held Saturday, May 12 at Soldier Field. Registration begins at 8 a.m. The walk officially begins at 10:30 a.m.

2012 marks the third year Islam and his team will participate. For the past two years the team was known as Team Gabriel. This year the team will walk under the auspices of Team Gabriel's Horn. The name change coincides with the launch of Gabriel's Horn Foundation, a family foundation established by Islam and his wife Debra, to honor their son and all autistic children from African American and Latino communities.

"Statistics show that the average white child is diagnosed with autism around the age of two or three while the average African American or Latino child is diagnosed around the age of six or seven, proving the disparity between white and multicultural communities is large, and awareness and resources within underserved communities are often scarce," said Islam. "The foundation has been organized to promote advocacy and awareness for and within communities of underserved multicultural families who are impacted by autism. Debra and I want all families to know that there are resources; people and information out there that can help them do what ultimately is in the best interest of the child. Gabriel's Horn Foundation gives us the platform and opportunity to align closely with organizations like Autism Speaks to implement activities targeted toward multicultural families."

Islam's goal for this year's Chicago Walk Now for Autism Speaks event is to have 90 people walk as part of Team Gabriel's Horn to commemorate Gabriel's 9th birthday. "Gabriel and his six-year-old sister, Selena, are very excited about this year's walk," said Debra Islam. "When we get out there the day of the walk, it becomes very tangible for Gabriel because he sees everyone wearing Team Gabriel's Horn t-shirts and he understands that all of these people are here to support him." Each year the team wears unique t-shirts that highlight special facts about children with autism. No two autistic kids are the same but we can learn love from them all is this year's theme.

Team Gabriel's Horn will also participate in the Houston Walk Now for Autism Speaks event on October 13. Through Gabriel's Horn Foundation, the Islam family plans to raise $25,000 between both cities. In addition to family, friends and co-workers, two commonground clients, American Family Insurance and the North Star Lottery Group, will lend their support by serving as corporate sponsors for the 2012 Chicago Walk Now for Autism Speaks event.

For more information about Gabriel's Horn Foundation, visit: https://www.facebook.com/TeamGabrielChicago

Gabriel's Horn Foundation on Twitter: @GabrielsHorn1

To join Team Gabriel's Horn and participate in the May 12th walk, visit: http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=993815&lis=0&kntae993815=D9B88D1049564EB2A7EAD041B0F42797&team=5042552&tlteam=0

About commonground

Founded in 2004 by Sherman Wright and Ahmad Islam, commonground has grown from four to more than 70 employees in the nearly eight years since its inception. The agency's portfolio includes such clients as The Illinois Lottery, The Coca-Cola Company, Miller Coors, Bacardi USA, American Family Insurance, Nike, Jordan Brand, Wrigley and Baxter. commonground offers clients an integrated scope of services including brand strategy, cultural consulting, account planning, advertising, event marketing, consumer promotion, shopper marketing, digital/mobile solutions, content and property development.

Website: www.discovercg.com; Twitter: www.twitter.com/discoverCG; YouTube: www.youtube.com/DiscoverCG; Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/commonground/128763285983?sk=wall

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SOURCE commonground