Welcoming Back an OAR Staff Member
It’s not often that an employee leaves a job and then returns, but that’s exactly what Sean Flynn, OAR’s new manager of endurance fundraising, did. Flynn will manage all of OAR’s endurance events, which include OAR’s signature RUN FOR AUTISM program, triathlons, and events like Tough Mudder, a team-oriented obstacle course designed to test physical…
In Memoriam: Suzanne Wright
by Michael Maloney, OAR Executive Director OAR is saddened to learn of the death of Suzanne Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks, on July 29. She was a remarkable woman and a champion for all families impacted by autism. Along with her husband, Bob, Suzanne founded Autism Speaks in 2005, after their grandson was diagnosed with…
IMFAR Showcases Latest Treatments, Interventions, and Processes
The 15th annual International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) took place from May 11 to 14 in Baltimore, Md. More than 1,000 attendees from over 40 countries across the globe, including several of OAR’s Scientific Council members, research grantees, and friends, convened to exchange and disseminate the latest findings in autism research. This four-day conference…
OAR Welcomes Summer Interns
Julia Selman and Rebecca Bradley began summer internships with OAR last month. Both will work on projects related to programs and outreach. Bradley will be a senior at the University of Maryland this fall where she is majoring in psychology. Selman, who will be a junior at the University of Richmond, is also pursuing a…
OAR Earns Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator, America’s largest charity watchdog organization, awarded OAR its coveted four-star rating in its latest ratings announced June 1. This is the sixth time that OAR has earned this top distinction. OAR earned the coveted rating as a result of its strong financial health, sound fiscal responsibility, and commitment to accountability and transparency in…
Two Interns Joined OAR Staff in January
Meghana Shetty and Lindsay Goodman began internships at OAR in January. Goodman will be with OAR until the end of April while Shetty will stay until the end of May. Shetty is a 2014 Northwestern University graduate who is currently applying to graduate schools. “Having studied neuroscience and psychology in college, I was immediately attracted…
New Director Plans to Put Marketing Experience to Work for OAR
At first glance, OAR’s newest member of its Board of Directors, Christine Searight, may not seem to fit. She has no direct tie to autism and she doesn’t work in an autism-related field. Dig a little deeper, though, and you will hit a rock-solid commitment to helping people with autism and their families overcome challenges…
Fall Intern Is Enjoying Her OAR Experience
Welcome Ellery Spahr, OAR’s fall programs and outreach intern. Spahr started September 4 and will work at OAR through the semester until December 3. Her primary responsibilities are managing social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) and drafting articles for The OARacle. She spent some time at the beginning of the school year reaching out to…
New Business Manager Joins OAR
Kristen Essex joined OAR at the beginning of October as business manager. She looks forward to working with OAR in “most aspects of the day-to-day management of the organization,” including helping out with grant writing and other fundraising initiatives. She is already at work on ideas for the annual campaign. Essex was previously the publisher…
