The Eagles Autism Foundation is excited to announce that Nouryon, a global specialty chemicals leader, has generously committed $300,000 in support of the organization's mission to advance autism research and care.

As part of this sizeable investment, $250,000 will go toward funding a matching gift for new and current Eagles Autism Challenge participants, and the first $250,000 in online donations will be matched, dollar for dollar, until the total has been reached. It is the largest matching gift in the Foundation's five-year history. The remaining $50,000 will serve as a sponsorship for the Eagles Autism Challenge on Saturday, May 21.

"Nouryon is proud to align with the Eagles Autism Foundation and support the work it is doing to transform the lives of individuals and families affected by autism," said Charlie Shaver, Chairman and CEO, Nouryon. "Our hope is that our donation can inspire additional philanthropy and engage new donors. The Eagles Autism Foundation has been at the forefront of funding innovative research and fostering an environment that promotes inclusion, compassion, and acceptance. These are values that Nouryon is also committed to and the Eagles Autism Foundation is a testament to prioritizing this important work and serving as a voice for the autism community."

Championed by Eagles Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie, the Eagles Autism Challenge presented by Lincoln Financial Group is a one-day bike ride and family-friendly 5K run/walk that begins and ends at Lincoln Financial Field. The event features three cycling routes – Wawa Junior 10-Mile Ride, Wawa Shorti 30-Mile Ride, and Wawa Classic 50-Mile Ride – the FreedomPay 5K Run/Walk and FreedomPay 5K Sensory Walk. It is supported by the entire organization, including players, coaches, team legends, cheerleaders, and SWOOP. Participants returning to the stadium from their routes are greeted by family and friends on the field where an awards ceremony awaits. There is also a virtual participant option for those who want to fundraise but are unable to ride, run, or walk on event day.

"Nouryon's incredibly generous donation comes at an exciting time, as we are now less than 30 days away from our fifth annual Eagles Autism Challenge," said Ryan Hammond, Executive Director, Eagles Autism Foundation. "With it being a milestone year for us, we really wanted to take our commitment to the next level. Thanks to Charlie and the entire Nouryon team, we have been able to do that. We are fortunate to work with great partners like Nouryon that are aligned with our mission and commitment to the community. We believe that this matching gift will engage new participants, connect us to new donors, and generate even more excitement heading into May 21. On behalf of Jeffrey Lurie and the Eagles, we thank Nouryon for their inspiration and support."

"When the Eagles first approached us with the opportunity to join their efforts to take action for autism, we immediately said yes," said Michael Finn, Executive Vice President, Business Affairs and General Counsel, Nouryon. "They are a storied franchise that has always been a great representative of the NFL, the City of Philadelphia, and its worldwide fanbase. We are thrilled that our matching gift, along with Nouryon's employee engagement in the Eagles Autism Challenge, will ultimately contribute to a half-million dollars in new funding for the Eagles Autism Foundation."

The fifth annual Eagles Autism Challenge presented by Lincoln Financial Group will take place on Saturday, May 21, 2022. Since launching in May 2018, the Eagles Autism Challenge has raised more than $12 million, with one hundred percent of participant-raised funds benefitting institutions conducting innovative autism research and care. Through these fundraising efforts, a total of 56 research projects and community grants have been supported.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in 44 people living in the United States is on the autism spectrum. Autism is a complex neurological and developmental condition that expresses itself differently in each individual. The spectrum can range from having challenges in the areas of social skills and nonverbal communication to repetitive interests and behaviors. While it has become one of the fastest-growing developmental disorders in the country, it has historically been underfunded, misunderstood, and under-researched.

For more information or to register for the Eagles Autism Challenge, visit EaglesAutismChallenge.org. All new participants will have 50% of their registration fee waived by using promo code "EAC22" when signing up.