Doug Flutie Jr., Foundation for Autism Nominated for Philanthropy Award

The Framingham-based Doug Flutie Jr., Foundation for Autism has been nominated as a finalist for the Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy. The Patterson Award is created by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Winners will be recognized on Sept, 25 at a ceremony in Princeton, N.J., where the Johnson Foundation will host a celebration of sports philanthropy, inviting 2013 award applicants, past winners and the review committee to an exclusive day of learning, networking and recognizing excellence in the field.

Steve Patterson was a champion on and off the basketball court. In the sports world, he is widely known as a member of three national championship basketball teams at UCLA, as an NBA player, and as head coach at Arizona State University. However, his actions off the court are what prompted the RWJF to create the first-of-its-kind award in 2005. The Steve Patterson Award celebrates and promotes the selfless service of those within the world of sports whose passionate efforts make a difference in the lives around them.

 “The Doug Flutie Jr., Foundation for Autism is thrilled to be nominated as a finalist for such a prestigious award in sports philanthropy,” said Lisa Borges, Executive Director of the Doug Flutie Jr., Foundation for Autism. “The Foundation’s mission is to help families who have a loved one living with Autism Spectrum Disorder and we are committed to increasing the awareness of the challenges that these families face on a daily basis.”

The 2013 Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy finalists are:

• Category 1: San Francisco 49ers and Portland Timbers
• Category 2: Jimmie Johnson Foundation, Tony Hawk Foundation and Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc.
• Category 3: USTA Serves, Inc. and LA84 Foundation

The Patterson award from RWJF, the nation's largest philanthropy devoted solely to improving the health of all Americans, celebrates and promotes those in the sports world who are improving lives by leveraging the unique influence of sports. This year’s finalists join an impressive and growing list of sports organizations and individuals who are answering the call to give back.

The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc. was established in 1998 by Doug Flutie and his wife, Laurie, in honor of their 21 year old son, Doug, Jr. who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. Autism is a neurological disorder that impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills.  Autism now affects one in 88 children in the United States, and the numbers diagnosed continue to dramatically climb. 

The Flutie Foundation's mission is to support families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder.