AST’s Jacquie Benestante (far left) presenting the Top
Individual Fundraiser award to the Ver Meer Family. (From
2nd left – Jesse, Parker (with sign), Stephanie, Reid, and big sister Addie).
Stephanie and Jesse Ver Meer have been part of the Texas Autism Walk since 2018. Shortly after their 4-year-old twins, Reid and Parker, were diagnosed with Autism, Stephanie learned about the Autism Society of Texas (AST) from the boys’ ABA therapy clinic, a sponsor for the Walk that year. She signed the family up to walk and they all had such a great experience, they’ve continued to come back every year.
At the 2025 Texas Autism Walk on April 26th, the Ver Meer family was recognized as the Top Individual Fundraiser, exceeding their $1,000 goal and raising $1,410 for AST programs. “Our second year is when we decided to start fundraising,” Stephanie says. The decision came with the realization that Reid and Parker, now 11, will continue to need resources and support as they grow older. According to Stephanie, “That is what makes fundraising more important to us every year.” The Ver Meer family has enjoyed every Walk, but were especially pleased with this year’s event. “The location was great and we loved how spaced out and open the fair was,” Stephanie shares. The vendor turnout was the best yet and we found a few new booths that were helpful, such as the swimming options. The boys’ favorite part is to get signatures on the bingo cards and they love the prizes, too. Addie, our 14-year-old daughter, loves to help her brothers navigate the fair and she has started to help fundraise with us. She hopes to be a volunteer next year!”
The money raised through individual and team fundraising for the Texas Autism Walk allows AST to offer our support programs, recreation activities, and resource navigation free of charge to everyone who needs them. The Walk is about so much more than fundraising (or walking), though. It is about creating a world where everyone in the Autism community is connected to the support they need, when they need it. Our thanks to all of this year’s fundraisers, sponsors, vendors, walkers, and volunteers who helped move us all closer to this world.