Athletes Against Autism

About Athletes Against Autism

Athletes Against Autism (AAA) is a group of athletes, personally touched by autism, who are harnessing their efforts into one voice in order to raise awareness and funds for autism research, treatment and education programs.

AAA is an initiative of Autism Speaks. Founding members are NHL hockey players Olaf Kolzig, Byron DaFoe and Scott Mellanby. As fathers of children with autism, they realized the importance of using their status and influence to make an impact on the many families affected by autism across North America.

Awareness events at sports venues and other fundraising events are held throughout the year.

Past Events

January 30, 2009
New Jersey Devils Awareness Night

March 8, 2009
Atlanta Thrashers Awareness Night

March 8, 2009
New Jersey Nets Awareness Night

March 12, 2009
Toronto Maple Leafs Awareness Night
Read more and see photos

March 26, 2009
Nashville Predators Awareness Night

Upcoming Events

April 4, 2009
Carolina Hurricanes Awareness Night

April 9, 2009
Tampa Bay Lightning Awareness Night

Founding Members

Olaf Kolzig, Toronto Maple Leafs

Byron DaFoe, former NHL goaltender

Scott Mellanby, former NHL player

Member Athletes

Stu Barnes, Dallas Stars
Dain Blanton, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Champion, US Olympic Gold Medalist
Mike Blowers, former MLB Infielder
Sam Boghosian, former NFL Coach
Tom Bradley, Defensive Coordinator, Penn State Nittany Lions
Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings
Fred Brown, former NBA Player
Bill Caudill, former MLB Pitcher
Will Clark, former MLB Infielder
Jimmy Conrad, Kansas City Wizards
Darwin Cook, former NBA Player
Julio Cruz, former MLB Infielder
Rick Darnell, former NBA Player
James Donaldson, former NBA Player
David Eckstein, St. Louis Cardinals
John Egan, former NBA Coach
Ernie Els, PGA Golfer, 1994 & 1997 US Open Champion, 2002 British Open Championship
Scott Erickson, former MLB Pitcher
Tom Flores, former NFL Coach
Doug Flutie, former CFL and NFL Quarterback
Eric Fonoimoana, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Champion, US Olympic Gold Medalist
Don Ford, former NBA Player
Scott Gomez, New York Rangers
Tom Gorman, former ATP Player
Jim Gott, former MLB Pitcher
LaMar Green, former NBA Player
Chanda Gunn, USA Women's Ice Hockey
Grady Hall, former MLB Player
Travis Hall, former NFL Player
Jeff Halpern, Dallas Stars
Albert Hannemann, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Champion
Eric Hanson, former MLB Pitcher
Dany Heatley, Ottawa Senators
Dave Henderson, former MLB Outfielder
Chris Hetherington, former NFL Player
Denny Hocking, former MLB Player
Scott Jackson, Houston Texans
Casey Jennings, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Champion
Avery Johnson, Former NBA Player
Brent Johnson, Washington Capitals
Norm Johnson, former NFL Kicker
Steve Jolley, former MLS Player
Andruw Jones, Atlanta Braves
Mark Knudson, former MLB Player
Bill Krueger, former MLB Pitcher
Travis LaBoy, Arizona Cardinals
Mike Lambert, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Champion

Scott Lane, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Champion
Victor Martinez, Professional Bodybuilder
Axel Merckx, Professional Cyclist
Hugh Millen, former NFL Quarterback
Kevin Millwood, Texas Rangers
Ryan Nece, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Korky Nelson, former NBA Player
Heather O'Reilly, USA Women's Soccer
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Matt Pettinger, Vancouver Canucks
Paul Posluzsny, Buffalo Bills
Bill Ranford, former NHL Goaltender
Ed Ratleff, former NBA Player
Wade Redden, Ottawa Senators
Robert Reid, former NBA Player
Dan Roundfield, former NBA Player
Campy Russell, former NBA Player
Mark Rypien, former NFL Player
Sergei Samsonov, Montreal Canadiens
Jesse Sapolu, former NFL Player
Mike Sherrard, former NFL Player
Robert Smith, former NBA Player
Sinjin Smith, Hall of Fame Volleyball Player
Patrik Stefan, NHL Player
Sheldon Souray, Edmonton Oilers
John Patrick Sullivan, former NFL Player
Greg Swindell, former MLB Pitcher
Jeb Terry, San Francisco 49ers
Foots Walker, former NBA Player
Curt Warner, former NFL Player
Mike Weir, PGA Golfer, 2003 Masters Champion
Derek West, former NFL Player
Brian Willsie, Los Angeles Kings
Lance Zeno, former NFL Player