Hi, I'm Michala!

I love my little brother, Evan. He has autism, a condition that 1 in every 150 American children and 1 in every 94 boys battle each day. In fact, more kids will be diagnosed with Autism this year than cancer, diabetes and aids combined! Doctors don't know the cause or cure, and there's just not much hope due to limited funding for research and treatment. Click here to read about UPCOMING EVENTS! Read here about What local churches are doing!
michala's story

With just $7.35 cents and a passion to help kids like her brother, Evan, Michala Riggle, age 12, started doing the only thing she knew how to do...make bracelets. See what happened!
how peeps are helping

Since Michala originally recruited her mom, dad, friends and family, thousands of people have joined the effort all around the world. It seems like everyone's life has been touched by autism in some way... More about peeps here.
Michala on Myspace! Michala on Youtube! Michala on Flickr!
 
Michala's story continued
Her youngest brother, Evan, is autistic. In February 2006, Evan began receiving IV infusions of an amino acid called Glutathione. Evan was the 1st Glutathione IV patient at Kosair. He gets these IVs every week and they have been very helpful in Evan's battle to overcome autism. Evan responded so well to this medical treatment that Kosair physicians decided they wanted to do a medical study using the same IV protocol on more kids with autism, but they didn't have the money to do it. Even though Evan, was already getting this very helpful therapy, Michala wanted other kids battling autism to be able to get these IVs as well.
She gave her mother $7.35 and said, "It's not enough but you can have it for the study." She continued, "I'm going to make more bracelets and I'm going to raise that money."Michala believed that thousands of beaded bracelets sold for $3.00 each would raise the $200,000 that Kosair needed to conduct the study. Michala, full of hope and ambition was ready to take on the challenge and raise the needed funds one bead and one bracelet at a time! Realizing the magnitude of such a goal, Michala's brother, Dawson, said to her, "Michala - you can't raise $200,000 making bracelets!" Michala's response: "Dawson - it's like playing a ball game. If you go into the game thinking you are going to lose - game over. "You gotta believe!"
 
Our New Goal


God did indeed multiply the volunteers, the bracelets and the money! "In just 6 months, Michala and her "Peeps", through sales, donations and a one-time $100,000 gift from a private family foundation that did not previously know Michala, raised nearly $300,000 for the fund that Kosair Children's Hospital named, "The Michala Riggle Glutathione Autism Research Fund". But that wasn't all...having already reached and surpassed the original goal for the autism study at Kosair, Michala now believes she can raise $300,000,000 to build a world-class autism center in Louisville! What a dream.
To date, Michala and her team have: raised over $350,000.00, created a private foundation(Michala Riggle Beat Autism Foundation, Inc.), assembled a Board of Directors and announced part two of her fundraising plans: Sell one million bracelets in every state, build the most comprehensive, autism research and treatment center in the world and eradicate autism forever! The infrastructure and logistics to fulfill this $300 million dollar challenge are nearly in place and a national campaign will launch before years end. The name of the center will be the:"We Believe!" International Autism Research and Treatment Center
 
How can People Help?


Just for example, here are some great real-life stories about how people are joining the fight against autism with Michala:A 4th Grade Teacher in Indiana teaches Economics Unit using Michala's Project.She taught them how to find a $50.00 investor (to buy beads and string), make your product (the class made bracelets), market your product (the class created and distributed flyers about Michala's project and the bracelets that they made and would be selling for her). Then, they sold their bracelets at home and at school events and sent a check for their proceeds to the Michala Riggle Beat Autism Foundation!
A 1st Grade Teacher in Illinois teaches students in impovished community that EVERYONE has something they can give back using Michala's Project. She taught a few lessons about Autism.....what it is......how it affects people's lives. She told her students about Michala and her project that's raising awareness and money for autism research and treatment.She held a "Beading Party" and made bracelets for Michala.Sent Michala the bracelets they made to add to Michala's collection of bracelets to sell! Many more great stories are out there (check out the Case Studies PDF here), and yours is one of them! Thank you to everyone for your help!
 

Well, for the moment, we have to take your orders by telephone or email: 502.618.1792 and email info AT beadingtobeatautism.com. Don't be sad, though---we're working on seriously beefing-up the site's ability to help folks get bracelets, easily!
You can also contact us by snail mail at:Michala Riggle Beat Autism Foundation, Inc.PO Box 991264Louisville Kentucky 40269-1264



 

Michala has "Peeps", young and old, all across America and beyond! You too can become one of "Michala's Peeps" and help her fulfill her dream of building the "WE BELIEVE International Autism research and Treatment Center" and eradicate autism!!! Like Michala says, "You Gotta Believe!" Help spread the good news of Michala's inspiring story! Tell your family and friends!
radio show!
 
 

--National TV appearances on "Good Morning America" and The Ellen DeGeneres Show" --Many local and national media interviews and appearances on tv, radio, and in print, including "American Girl Magazine" --Named the 2008 "Kentuckian of the Year" by Kentucky Monthly Magazine --Honored by Kentucky Governor, Steve Beshear, with a "Special Governor Citation" --One of 12 kids world-wide selected as a 2008 Build-A-Bear Huggable Hero! --Chosen as a Kohl's Kid Who Cares Regional Winner Michala's success and continued vision has gained her much acclaim!
--Home of The Innocents "Child Friend of the Year 2008" Award --Awarded a "Certificate of Appreciation" and special "Coin" from US Military Base Fort Knox Office of the Garrison Commander --Youth in Philanthropy Award by Kosair Children's Hospital Foundation --Jeffersontown Optimist Club Youth Appreciation Week Citation --Kentucky Department of Education "Commissioner's Citation for Excellence" Kentucky PTA Student Leadership Recognition Received the Jeffersontown Elementary School "Christa McAuliffe Challenger Award" for Outstanding 5th Grader