DAPHNE, Ala.—Cheers and gasps from fans and the voice of television sports announcers mingled with the chatter of Spanish Fort High School students at Baumhower’s Wings Restaurant Monday as the crowded eatery held an autism benefit where 10 percent of sales from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. will go to Project Reach.

Project Reach has 18 students with autism spectrum disorders ranging from low- to high-functioning capabilities. The program provides education for children with autism spectrum disorders throughout Baldwin County from preschool to high School, Spanish Fort High School teacher Scott Parks, the project’s sponsor, said, adding, “Spanish Fort High School serves as the only unit for high school in the county at this time.”

Also Monday, Volvo Rents presented its first donation to the Project Reach program from the rental of its autism boom. For the past four months, 20 percent, or $2,236, of the business’ rent payments from use of the boom—painted to help increase autism awareness—went toward Project Reach.

Mike Sanford—the Volvo Rents general manager who presented the check to Parks—said the issue hits close to home.

“My son has autism and he’s going to be going through the Spanish Fort school system,” he said. “I wanted to reach out to the program.”

Another part of the club that Sanford appreciates is Project Outreach, an organization Parks describes as, “integrating neuro-typical students with neuro-diverse students into a variety of settings to help better serve the common good of both groups.”

Sanford said he believes this aspect will help his son during high-school years in “social interaction with peers, different functions and real world scenarios.”

Parks agreed.

“Project Outreach was formed as a service club to allow typical students to have a local focus at our school,” he said. “We have seen children take an interest in helping their fellow students with autism and other disabilities and have had an overall general positive interaction on our school and community.”

Many Project Outreach students were at Monday’s event, which netted $420.

Kyndel Tarziers, 16, the club’s secretary, said, “We plan outside school activities for students with autism and Down syndrome. It breaks down barriers between students.

“We have school parties for Halloween and Christmas during lunch breaks—we do things like decorate pumpkins and stockings.”

Katie Creighton, 14, was also proud of the work they do in the organization.

“We welcome in the mentally-handicapped students; we eat lunch with them and do fundraisers and just socialize with them.”