It Takes a Village: Thank You to Our Autism Walk Volunteers

Families Who Went Above and Beyond

The Urias Family

Alejandra, Carlos, Aryanna, Arismay, and Aritza Urias were among the first to arrive at 5:30 AM and stayed through the very end. From managing the Kid Zone and traffic control to assisting with setup, teardown, and everything in between, they were an essential part of our team.

A very special thank you to Carlos Urias, owner of Miner’s Pest, for generously donating over 150 burritos from Mr. Burros to feed our volunteers.

The Wagner Family

Mike, Patty, and Avery Wagner also arrived before sunrise and stayed until the last table was packed. They served as route transporters, emergency contacts, and Kid Zone attendants. And, of course, they brought along a crowd favorite—Deadpool!

The Sandoval Family

Abe, Erika, Alanniz, and Aylani Sandoval helped with traffic control, overflow parking, route transport, and even some character appearances. Like others, they arrived early and stayed until the end. Their support on setup and cleanup was especially appreciated.

Smooth Arrivals: Parking Control & Traffic Flow

Getting over a thousand attendees into the event site safely and efficiently was no small task, but thanks to the incredible parking control team, it was executed with precision and care.

Abe Sandoval and Carlos Urias served as team leads, coordinating early morning traffic, ensuring overflow lots were utilized smoothly, and keeping things moving throughout the day. Their leadership helped prevent bottlenecks and made sure every walker, volunteer, and vendor had a safe and stress-free arrival.

Thank you to our parking and traffic control attendants: Andrew Dahl, Ernie, Josue Molina, Kayleen, Jammal Sepulveda, Juan Avila, Julian Avila, Michael Islas, and Mr. Puente.

The parking team didn’t just direct traffic, they were the first friendly faces people saw as they arrived, and they helped set the tone for a positive experience. We are incredibly grateful for their early arrival, hard work, and attention to safety.

Set-Up & Clean-Up Crews: The First to Arrive, the Last to Leave

These behind-the-scenes heroes made it all possible. Our Set-Up Crew, led by Yean Diaz, hit the ground running before sunrise—building the event from the ground up and making sure every station, sign, and booth was in place. From tents to tables to bounce houses, they brought the walk to life.

The Clean-Up Crew was equally incredible, staying late to make sure Gateway Park was spotless and ready for regular use. Their hustle, teamwork, and positive energy helped us leave the space better than we found it.

We couldn’t have done it without this powerhouse team. Thank you for showing up early, staying late, and doing the work no one sees but everyone benefits from. You’re the reason everything flowed so seamlessly.

Raffle Booth

A huge thank-you to Bianca Umphress, who took the lead at the raffle table and managed hundreds of ticket sales throughout the day. Her organization, energy, and ability to engage with attendees helped make the raffle a standout feature of the event. With support from her team, Bianca kept things running smoothly and made sure every participant had a chance to walk away a winner. We’re so grateful for her leadership and dedication! Thank you to Bella Ortega, Senia Cuevas, Juliana, and Carolina Jimenez for helping make the raffle a true success!

Registration Table

Thanks to a team of dedicated volunteers, registration and t-shirt distribution ran flawlessly—no small feat with more than a thousand attendees to welcome. Special recognition goes to Letti Banuelos and Ashley Dahl, who served as team leads at the registration tables, keeping everything organized and efficient from the earliest check-ins to the last name on the list.

Supported by an incredible crew who worked nonstop to make sure every walker got their shirt quickly and with a smile. Thank you: Lysbeth Puente, Lala Diaz, Ingrid Herrera, Andrea Villalobos, Judith Rascon, Leslie Amezcua, Aaliyah Johnson, Mati Saldana, Aryanna Ramirez, and Liz Lugo.

We’re deeply grateful for everyone who played a part in making the morning feel smooth, welcoming, and well-managed.

Provider Booth Check-In: Welcoming Our Partners

The provider area was a key part of the Autism Walk experience, offering resources, activities, and community connection and it all ran seamlessly thanks to the leadership of Jenny Carranza. Jenny kept check-in running smoothly, ensured every provider had what they needed, and created a welcoming and organized space for both vendors and attendees alike.

Anahi Ramirez supported Jenny throughout the morning and was instrumental in helping providers get set up, answering questions, and keeping the area running with ease. Their teamwork made a big difference and set a positive tone for our partner organizations.

We’re also grateful to Dr. Lesley Doherty and Dr. Naseha Fathima for their support in this area. Together, this team made sure providers felt valued and supported while helping families connect with the services available to them.

Command Center Operations

Behind the scenes, the heart of our event pulsed from the Command Center, where logistics met leadership and calm met chaos.

Mandie Gillmor led event operations from the Command Center, ensuring every piece of the day came together. She coordinated EMS and security coverage, managed radio traffic and communications, coordinated and supported media personnel, and stepped in wherever needed to keep the walk running smoothly.

Diana Ortega managed our volunteers with organization and care. She checked in team members, ensured every area had coverage, and made sure each volunteer had what they needed to succeed. Diana also supported vendor management and contributed to the seamless operation of the event overall.

Yean Diaz was a constant presence—floating throughout the event, stepping in to support any area that needed coverage. From managing the vendor area to assisting with transitions between walk segments, Yean was an essential part of our day from start to finish.

Heart of the Walk: Berenice Diaz & The Strong Beginnings Project

At the core of this event’s growth and impact is Berenice Diaz, the driving force behind the Autism Walk and the visionary founder of The Strong Beginnings Project. Since 2017, Berenice has nurtured this walk from a grassroots idea into one of Yuma’s most meaningful community events and this year was truly the best it’s ever been.

Not only did Berenice lead the Strong Beginnings Project booth, where she passionately shared the mission of the nonprofit and raised awareness about the critical work being done for children with autism and other special needs—she also opened the walk with a powerful, heartfelt ceremony that set the tone for a day filled with unity, hope, and joy.

Her relentless belief in the power of community is what brought this event to life and what continues to carry it forward year after year. We are endlessly grateful for her heart, her vision, and her unwavering commitment to making Yuma a place where all children and families feel seen, supported, and celebrated.

To Anyone We Missed

Please know how truly thankful we are for every single person who contributed to the walk. Whether you helped out for 20 minutes or stayed the entire day, your effort mattered. Your presence helped make families feel welcomed, supported, and seen—and for that, we are so grateful.

Thank you for being a part of something bigger than all of us. We can’t wait to walk with you again next year.

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