The Waterloo Middle School RESPECT Team recently made a $1,000 donation to AutismUp, a Rochester-based non-profit organization that supports people with autism and their families. The check was presented to AutismUp representatives during the school’s Town Hall assembly on Nov. 24.

The RESPECT Team consists of sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students at Waterloo Middle School who strive to be role models in their school and support their community through service projects. The group chose to support AutismUp because they are locally run, and support families and students throughout the Finger Lakes. Their support of AutismUp dates back to 2024, when they organized their first Autism Walk at Tom Coughlin Stadium. 

“We weren’t able to raise as much money as we would have liked at our first walk,” said Mrs. Vivian Becker, who serves as faculty advisor of the RESPECT Team. “That was a learning experience, one that motivated them to think about how to make our second Autism Walk more successful.”

For the second Autism Walk, held in June 2025, the students were able to leverage donations from several local businesses and participants in the event.

“This gift is the result of two years of student-led service work and fundraising,” said Mrs. Becker. “I am proud of their tenacity and giving spirit.”