Whiz Kid: Spencer Savitz, Head of Tyler's Team, Raises $200K For Autism Awareness

This Week's Whiz Kid: Spencer Savitz, 15

Grade: Sophomore

School:

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: I have organized a team for the Walk Now for Autism Speaks for the past three years, naming the team "Team Tyler" after my brother Tyler who has autism. In those three years, Team Tyler has raised over $200,000 ($103,000 last year alone), and we have been the top team in The Walk for the past two years. I have also made speeches at The Walk for the past two years at Soldier Field in front of about 15,000 people each year.

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: One of the lessons I have learned from this experience is how to motivate a team and keep the team members focused. I had to inform people about recent updates to our team, how we as a team and as individuals were doing, I gave people weekly tips on how to raise money, and I offered incentives such as prizes for raising the most money during a certain time period. I sent out weekly emails and called people who didn’t respond, and we gave all team members team t-shirts and asked them to commit to raising money and walking, so I knew who I could count on to walk with our team and who I should assist in raising money. I had to encourage everyone to get started, but once they began, they were fully focused and motivated on doing whatever they could to raise money for Team Tyler.

I also learned a lot about the creativity and commitment of our team members. I learned that if kids are well-informed, and especially if they know someone with autism, they are more than willing to help. Both my friends and Tyler’s friends have raised thousands of dollars, using their own, creative ideas. They inspired others, raised awareness for a

utism, and brought their friends to the team. We had people conduct bake sales, send out letters and emails to family friends, talk to their parents’ business associates, collect loose change from friends and neighbors, sell Autism Speaks bracelets and puzzle pieces at restaurants, stores, Starbucks, and at their school, and ask local businesses to sponsor our team. From all of these efforts, my friends and Tyler’s friends have raised more money than we could have ever imagined.

Finally, raising money for The Autism Walk has taught me some great lessons about awareness and compassion. I can tell you that many people are aware of what autism is, and have some awareness about its prevalence, but when you tell them that 1 in 110 children born today will be diagnosed with autism, and that the number is 1 in 70 for boys, you see an expression of disbelief. When you tell them that more children will be diagnosed this year with autism than AIDS, Diabetes, and Cancer combined, they ask if you are sure about your statistics. And when you tell them that you have a brother or friend with autism, they reach into their wallets and offer to help.