Go Long For Luke

In 2013, Go Long For Luke was founded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and on September 29, we hosted its very first event at The Park at East Hills in Roslyn, New York. More than 120 kids ranging from ages 6 to 18 came together to play in a community-wide flag football event, surrounded by families, friends, and supporters that filled the sidelines all day. The day was full of energy, we even had a DJ that kept the crowd going, numerous food trucks, a silent raffle auction, and an electric atmosphere that made it feel so special. In our very first year, we raised over $25,000 and donated a portion of the proceeds to Autism Speaks, the largest autism advocacy organization in the United States. It was the moment that a small idea at the kitchen table became something real, and we knew we had to continue and see it through. 

In 2014, Go Long For Luke hosted its second flag football event on September 14 at The Park at East Hills in Roslyn, New York. The energy from the year before carried right into this one, but with even more momentum and growth that was impossible to ignore. More than 140 kids took the field to play flag football, and over 400 people came out to support, which showed that our community was only growing and becoming more passionate about our mission. The DJ, food trucks, and silent raffle were all back, including the hit of the event: snow cones, a fan favorite that no one saw coming. The atmosphere was so joyful from start to finish, and the community's support was overwhelming. That year, we raised over $40,000 and once again donated a portion of the proceeds to Autism Speaks. 

On September 20, 2015, Go Long For Luke held its third flag football event at The Park at East Hills in Roslyn, New York, and it was another year of spectacular growth. The turnout was bigger than ever, with over 150 kids playing flag football and more than 500 people in attendance, but one of the most exciting additions that year was having two full female teams instead of just one. It was a moment that meant a lot to us and added a whole new energy to the day. That year, we raised over $50,000, and the event received national recognition when it was featured in Sports Illustrated Kids, which published a feature on the event and the mission behind Go Long For Luke. Seeing our story told on such a national stage was a moment none of us will ever forget. 

Go Long For Luke hosted its fourth flag football event on September 18, 2016, at The Park at East Hills in Roslyn, New York, and it was a year that was so special. What made it even more meaningful was that this would turn out to be the last event held in New York. Three young adults, all on the autism spectrum and employed by Spectrum Design, a customized apparel company, were honored with an Outstanding Achievement Award for designing and creating the reversible performance jerseys worn by all the players at the event. Watching them receive that recognition in front of hundreds of people turned out to be one of the most emotional moments in the history of Go Long For Luke, as the recipients were crying as they accepted their awards. It was a perfect example of exactly what this organization stands for: creating opportunities, celebrating everyone, and showing the world what individuals with autism are capable of when given the chance to shine. 

On September 22, 2018, Go Long For Luke took its mission to a brand new city. After my family moved to Atlanta in 2017, we brought the event south for the very first time, hosting our fifth flag football event at Chastain Park in Atlanta, Georgia. It was an exciting but also nerve-racking moment to introduce Go Long For Luke to a whole new community, but the response was so incredibly welcoming. That year, we raised over $20,000 and laid the foundation for what we hoped would be a lasting presence in Atlanta. The year also marked a major milestone for me personally, as it was the first time I participated in television interviews with local ABC and FOX affiliates to share the story of Go Long For Luke and help spread awareness about our mission to a brand new audience. 

Go Long For Luke hosted its sixth flag football event on November 3, 2019, at The Weber School in Atlanta, Georgia, and it was a day filled with lots of excitement. That year, we were joined by Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Christian Blake, who came out to play football alongside the kids and brought an amazing energy to the event. We had over 300 people in attendance and raised over $25,000, with a portion of the proceeds donated to The Jacobs Ladder School in Atlanta, which is a specialized SAIS-Cognia accredited school and therapeutic center that welcomes children with neurobiological challenges, autism, and learning differences.  

After taking time off during the COVID-19 pandemic, Go Long For Luke came back on March 27, 2022, in the biggest way possible. We had our seventh flag football event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons and United, and the energy that day was unlike anything we had ever experienced before. There were over 175 people playing flag football, and more than 1,000 people were in attendance, which showed just how much the Atlanta community supported our mission. For the first time ever, the event was also live-streamed, allowing all of our supporters from across the country to tune in if they could not make it in person. We ended up raising over $100,000 that year, which was our biggest fundraising event to date.

After my family moved to Boca Raton, Florida, in 2023, it did not take long for Go Long For Luke to follow. On August 27, 2023, we hosted our first-ever flag football event in Florida at Calossa Park in Boynton Beach, marking a new and exciting chapter for the organization. About 100 kids took the field that day to play flag football, and while it was a smaller event by design that was thrown together in about a month, the goal was to plant our roots in a new state and introduce Go Long For Luke to a whole new community. This is only just the beginning of what we hope to build in South Florida for the years to come.