IMUSA Honored by Autism Speaks

MIAMI, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- With Manny Gaunaurd as team captain, IMUSA USA received the Diamond Medal Award from the Miami-Dade Chapter of Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization. The Diamond Medal Award honors the chapter's greatest supporter.

As the first cookware company to support Autism Speaks, IMUSA USA's partnership makes significant monetary contributions to research, develops gluten-free recipes for autistic children, and sponsors local fundraising activities. IMUSA started its participation earlier this year as a visionary sponsor by raising nearly $20,000 during the Walk Now for Autism Speaks campaign.

Gaunaurd, president, IMUSA USA, was also named a 2011 Walk Co-chair of the organization's largest fundraiser for the Miami chapter. Spearheading IMUSA's corporate mandate to bring families and communities together, Gaunaurd and his Miami-based IMUSA team, collaborative partners and friends led several fundraising and awareness campaigns that netted the local chapter nearly $60,000 and tremendous visibility through media coverage.

IMUSA USA in conjunction with Sedano's, a Florida-based grocery chain, raised more than $35,500 for Autism Speaks during an Autism Awareness Month campaign. The fundraising program took place in 30 Sedano's supermarkets in Miami-Dade and Orlando.

Autism Speaks isn't the only beneficiary. "Autism affects our community and our customers. IMUSA is a proud sponsor of Autism Speaks. With our network of clients and friends, the IMUSA USA family gains a sense of satisfaction through community efforts that raise awareness, gather funds and advocate on behalf of Autism Speaks," said Manny Gaunaurd.

"Manny's passion is evident in how quickly he's become fully engaged and a leader in the Miami-Dade autism community," said Cathy Kanefsky, Autism Speaks' national director of chapter development. "His involvement has grown incredibly fast in a year, from being the top level corporate Walk sponsor and championing a team in 2010, to serving as the 2011 Walk Chair. His successful efforts this year resulted in an additional $35,500 to his team total through a relationship with Sedano's."

• Autism spectrum disorders affects four times as many boys as girls. The diagnosis has increased tenfold in the last decade.
• Autism is a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.
• More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes, and cancer combined.

For more information about IMUSA and their social responsibility programs, visit http://www.imusausa.com.

SOURCE IMUSA