TOWSON, Md. – Towson University volleyball head coach Don Metil announced that the Tigers raised $1,769.75 dollars through its "Aces for Autism" program in 2016.
 
The funds raised by the Tigers throughout the course of the fall season were donated to Autism Speaks, Autism Service Dogs of America, Center for Autism and Related Disorders at Kennedy Krieger Institute, Generation Rescue, the Hussman Center and Surfers Healing.
 
"As we (volleyball team) entered our fourth year of the 'Aces of Autism' program, we wanted to continue push our efforts towards a cause that affects a number of individuals within the Towson University family and community, who have some relationship with a person diagnosed on the autism spectrum," said Metil. "It's great to see all our athletes working for the same cause and I think this combined with our blue Autism jerseys that we wore for the third set of home matches really helped bring awareness to an important cause. As our mission grows and develops further, we look forward to doing our part to help put back the missing pieces in the autism puzzle."
 
The autism cause is one that hits close to home for Metil as one of his children was diagnosed with PDD-NOS, which is on the autism spectrum.
 
The "Aces for Autism" fundraiser asked fans to pledge either a flat amount or to take the TU Team Challenge and pledge per Towson's kill, block, dig, assist or ace season totals.
 
Autism affects 1 in 68 children overall and 1 in 42 boys, according to Autism Speaks, an advocacy organization. The average family spends $60,000 per year in care, and Maryland is one of 16 states that lacks health insurance coverage for autism. It is one of the many reasons "Aces for Autism" means so much.