NFAR 2026 Community Project Awards!
Announcing the 2026 Community Project Awards!
We’re excited to announce the NFAR Community Project Grantees for 2026!
Each year, funds raised by the Race for Autism help to support autism programs and new initiatives in our community. Together, we have supported 140 Community Project initiatives, increasing the learning, social, training and employment opportunities for neurodivergent individuals in San Diego.
The Awardees include:
| Organization Name | Project Number | Project Title | Grant Award | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vista Hill. Stein Education Center | P-26-101 | Stein Education Center Workability Program | $5,500.00 | The Workability Program, previously supported by a state grant from the State of California will provide SEC students 16 years of age and older with the opportunity to participate in paid employment opportunities for the 2026/2027 school year. |
| Unscripted Learning | P-26-102 | Unscripted Learning | $7,500.00 | Will support the Connections Program in the coming year, a transformative improvisational theatre program that equips teens and young adults with ASD with vital social and life skills during a pivotal stage of their development. |
| Girls Rising | P-26-103 | Every Girl Rising | $10,000.00 | Funding will help to fill the critical gaps in training, resources, and accessible programming to ensure that every neurodivergent girl is supported , and that every Mentor is fully equipped to help her thrive. |
| Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center | P-26-104 | RAD Stable Connections Social Club | $3,500.00 | The RAD Stable Connections Social Club is an inclusive, neurodiversity-affirming equine-based social program designed to provide meaningful and structured social opportunities for individuals with autism and/or varying disabilities who are currently on our waitlist for mounted therapeutic riding services. |
| Community Connections Program | P-26-105 | All Abilities Inclusion Training | $8,600.00 | To expand the reach of their All Abilities Inclusion Training, designed to equip community organizations across San Diego with the specialized skills necessary to foster genuine inclusion and safety for individuals of all abilities. |
| Community Connections Program | P-26-106 | Empowering Teens on the Autism Spectrum: Building Connections, Confidence, and Community | $7,200.00 | Teen-specific groups tailored for social-emotional learning (SEL) and peer connections are scarce, leading to isolation, heightened anxiety, reduced self-esteem, and barriers to independence. Families echo this need: teens crave safe spaces to build real-world skills and friendships, while parents seek guidance to foster growth at home. With funding, Autism Society San Diego (ASSD), in partnership with College Living Experience (CLE), will provide a one-year pilot of concurrent, bi-monthly support group for parents and teen enrichment group for teens 15+ to address this need. |
| Community Connections Program | P-26-107 | Spectrum Socials | $5,000.00 | With funding support, Spectrum Socials will expand into the community, offering participants a wider range of activities such as attending live theater performances, going to sports games, exploring museums, visiting theme parks, and participating in recreational outings. By bringing these real-world experiences to participants, the program can provide higher-quality experiential learning opportunities that build connection, and allow Autism Tree to scale the program. |
