UnLocking Autism

[Guest guest]

Football legend and sports commentator Dan Marino invites you to kickoff the

" Power of 1.5 " Political Autism Conference, Wednesday, April 21st, 2004, on the

steps of the U.S. Capitol. The Dan Marino Foundation will join with Unlocking

Autism, Cure Autism Now, the GRACE Foundation of New York, and Talk Autism for

the official opening of the conference. Following the news conference, the

future hall-of-famer invites you to a congressional reception hosted by the Dan

Marino Foundation and Unlocking Autism.

Kickoff News Conference Wednesday, April 21st, 2004 at

3:30 pm

U.S. Capitol Building steps

Washington, D.C.

Dan Marino will demonstrate the growing epidemic proportion of children being

diagnosed with autism by throwing a football pass the Unlocking Autism's " Open

Your Eyes " photo collection project. The massive display is expected to stretch

the length of five football fields.

About the Conference

The Power of 1.5 Conference is an effort by Unlocking Autism to bring together

hundreds of delegates from every state, to be trained in the art of " grass roots

politics " . This year's conference will focus on education and increased funding

for autism research concentrating on two major bills before Congress this

session.

" and I know from experience how important it is as parents to have the

resources available to children with autism and we know how difficult it is for

many parents to afford the services their children need...it's important that

our congressmen know.they can make a tremendous difference in the lives of

children with autism. " Dan Marino, Chairman of the Dan Marino Foundation

" This community so desperately needs to realize the potential and power behind

focused grass roots activity. With more than 1.5 million children and adults

affected by autism in the United States, simple math indicates that

approximately 10 million citizens of voting age are associated with them. That

is a considerable voter impact and if focused, could represent significant

political power. " Partin, Chief Executive Officer of the Dan Marino

Foundation.

About the Congressional Reception

Immediately following the press conference, The Dan Marino Foundation will

sponsor a Congressional Reception at the Capital City Brewing Company. Invitees

include conference attendees, Congressmen, Senators, senior staff and members of

the Congressional Autism Caucus.

About the Dan Marino Foundation

The Dan Marino Foundation was founded by sports legend Dan Marino and his wife

in 1992. The Dan Marino Foundation funds medical treatments, outreach

services and disease research to more than 5,000 children per month with chronic

illness and developmental disabilities. The Dan Marino Foundation partnered with

Miami Children's Hospital in 1998 and opened the Dan Marino Center in Weston,

Florida.

For More Information

For more information on The Power of 1.5 Political Autism Conference, and to

find out how you can register to be a delegate for your state, visit the

Unlocking Autism website at www.unlockingautism.org or call toll free (866)

366-3361.