Purdue Bell Tower to be bathed in blue to raise awareness of autism
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue's Bell Tower will be lit up in blue from April 1-8 to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day on Saturday (April 2) and national Autism Awareness Month.
Sorority Alpha Xi Delta sorority's philanthropic affiliation is Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, which will be spreading awareness in the international campaign "Light It Up Blue."
Purdue will light up the bell tower as part of a campaign that asks people and organizations to light up their homes or buildings in blue Friday (April 1) and Saturday. The Empire State Building in New York City and the CN Tower in Toronto are among the buildings that have been lit up in blue.
Pledges to light up homes or offices in blue can be made by visiting https://www.lightitupblue.org
According to the Pinning Down Autism website, 67 children are diagnosed per day, said Jessica Simpson, program vice president of Alpha Xi Delta's Purdue chapter and a sophomore in health and human sciences.
The sorority will try to raise awareness through April by passing out blue ribbons and puzzle piece pins around campus and hosting "Xi Marks the Spot," a competition based on the TV show "The Amazing Race," among fraternities, sororities, organizations and independent club teams.
Writer: Amanda Sliepka, 765-496-3006, asliepka@purdue.edu
Source: Jessica Simpson, jsimpso@purdue.edu
Ellie Voith, public relations vice president of Alpha Xi Delta, evoith@purdue.edu
Lita Clark, philanthropy chair at Alpha Xi Delta, llclark@purdue.edu