CHUCK E. CHEESE STEPS UP COMMITMENT TO KIDS WITH AUTISM FOR WORLD AUTISM MONTH

Family entertainment brand to host national Sensory Sensitive Sunday event on April 30; also expands workforce training and Autism Friendly Designation program

IRVING, Texas, March 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chuck E. Cheese, the Nation's No.1 family entertainment center, is celebrating its ongoing commitment to kids with autism and their families during April, World Autism Month with a national Sensory Sensitive Sunday event at all 460 U.S. and Canada locations on Sunday April 30. Chuck E. Cheese fun centers nationwide will also host a month-long fundraiser for Autism Speaks, the nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a more inclusive world for all people with autism. and as part of an extended partnership, launch autism-friendly workforce training and inclusion programs.

Now in its sixth year, the Sensory Sensitive Sundays™ program at Chuck E. Cheese was developed in partnership with the Center for Autism and Related Disorders to create a quieter dining and arcade experience for kids with autism and sensory needs. Through this program, select fun centers open two hours early on the first Sunday of each month for sensory- sensitive fun with dimmer lights, and lower volume fora calmer environment to enable kids with sensory sensitivities to enjoy the Chuck E. Cheese experience to the fullest. A specially trained staff works to ensure every guest at each event has a safe, fun-filled visit.

Since the program was launched on World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, 2017, Chuck E. Cheese has held more than 18,000 sensory-friendly events.

"Our Sensory Sensitive Sunday program is the only one of its kind on a national scale and is just one of the many ways we deliver on our mission to make Chuck E. Cheese the place Where Every Kid Can Be A Kid," said David McKillips, CEO of CEC Entertainment. "In addition to our sensory-friendly events, we further our mission by fostering an inviting workplace culture through inclusive workforce education and training programs to better serve our Teams, Guests and Communities."

Chuck E. Cheese is and continues to be a proud employer of people with autism in roles ranging from cast members to manager levels, providing a welcoming environment for everyone, from first-time job seekers to those pursuing life-long careers.

To support its team members, guests and the other autistic community members, Chuck E. Cheese has extended its collaboration with Autism Speaks to include several strategic initiatives:

• Workplace Inclusion Now (WIN)™, an employment initiative created by Autism Speaks that, brings together people with autism and related conditions, communities, and employers to build and support an inclusive, welcoming workplace culture. In addition, Chuck E. Cheese fun centers will educate employees about autism and how to create more inclusive experiences for autistic guests, earning an Autism Friendly Designation from Autism Speaks upon completion of trainings.
  
  
• Creating and sharing meaningful, collaborative content on Chuck E. Cheese channels highlighting the importance of neurodiversity inclusion.
  
  
• Annual World Autism Month fundraisers benefiting Autism Speaks, which invests 89 cents of every dollar to funding research, advocacy, programs, and services to help people with autism reach their full potential.

"For more than five years, we've proudly collaborated with Chuck E. Cheese to drive understanding and inclusion for children with autism and their families", said Keith Wargo, President & CEO, Autism Speaks. "In working together to implement a new education and training program, we've taken another step forward in creating more inclusive opportunities for autistic individuals throughout the lifespan, from childhood through adulthood making a world of difference for all people with autism."

World Autism Month fundraisers include Cotton Candy for a Cause, where Chuck E. Cheese will donate a portion of proceeds from cotton candy sales up to $50,000, to encourage understanding and raise funds in support of people with autism. In-store guests , website visitors or App users are welcome to round up their purchase to the next dollar at checkout to donate the difference in support of creating a kinder, more inclusive world. Additionally, 10% of profits from all sales from the Chuck E. Online Shop during the month will be donated to Autism Speaks for its advocacy, support and  research into advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions

For more information on Chuck E. Cheese Sensory Sensitive Sundays and participating fun centers, visit https://www.chuckecheese.com/sensory-sensitive-sundays/. 

About CEC Entertainment, LLC.  
CEC Entertainment, LLC. is the nationally recognized leader in family entertainment and dining with its Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza brands and virtual kitchen concept, Pasqually's Pizza & Wings. Chuck E. Cheese is the place where half a million happy birthdays are celebrated every year, and where families make positive, lifelong memories through fun, food, and play. It's the place Where A Kid Can Be A Kid® with a commitment to providing a fun, safe environment, and helping to protect families through industry-leading programs such as Kid Check®. As a strong advocate for its local communities, Chuck E. Cheese has donated more than $20 million to schools through its fundraising programs. Peter Piper Pizza features dining, entertainment and carryout with a neighborhood pizzeria feel and "pizza made fresh, families made happy" culture. Peter Piper Pizza takes pride in delivering quality food and fun that reconnects family and friends. Created in 2020, Pasqually's Pizza & Wings offers a distinct, customized eating experience outside of a restaurant environment that amplifies classic pizza and wings and operates out of 400 ghost locations nationwide. The Company and its franchisees operate a system of nearly 600 Chuck E. Cheese fun centers and more than 120 Peter Piper Pizza venues, with locations in 47 states and 19 foreign countries and territories. For more information, visit chuckecheese.com, pasquallyspizza.com, and peterpiperpizza.com. 

About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is dedicated to creating an inclusive world for all individuals with autism throughout their lifespan. We do this through advocacy, services, supports, research and innovation, and advances in care for autistic individuals and their families. To find resources, join an event or make a donation, go to www.AutismSpeaks.org. Learn more by following @AutismSpeaks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
Kendra Byrd, SPM Communications 
[email protected] 
817-329-3257

Francesca Cascardo
Senior Manager Communications & Public Relations
Autism Speaks
[email protected]

SOURCE Chuck E. Cheese