Temecula to Light City Hall Blue for Autism Awareness

Blue lights will shine on Temecula City Hall Tuesday to mark World Autism Awareness Day, it was announced.

The public is invited to join the city of Temecula and Our Nicholas Foundation from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 2 at , for the unveiling of the “Light It Up Blue” Autism Awareness Campaign, a global initiative that kicks off Autism Awareness Month.

Temecula will join many iconic landmarks—such as the Empire State Building—hotels, sporting venues, concert halls, museums, bridges and retail stores across the nation to "Light It Up Blue," according to a news release.

“Our lives are all touched in one way or another by Autism," Temecula Mayor Mike Naggar stated, referring to a new Center for Disease Control report that indicated 1 in 50 school-aged children are being diagnosed with autism, with a continued prevalence in boys. This is up from an estimated 1 in 88 children in a 2008 CDC report, Naggar stated.

"I’m very proud that Temecula City Hall will be lit up blue joining communities across the nation to shine a light on Autism and I encourage our local businesses and citizens to do the same," the mayor stated.

Light refreshments will be served in the Conference Center at City Hall following the unveiling of the blue lights Tuesday.

RSVPs are highly recommended. For more information, contact Yvette Martinez, inclusion services specialist for the city of Temecula, at 951-693-3902 or Yvette.Martinez@cityoftemecula.org.