Ryan Murray’s Chuck E. Cheese’s video promotes autism awareness

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Chuck E. Cheese’s, a popular kids’ restaurant chain that offers pizza, rides and games, bills itself as a place “Where A Kid Can Be A Kid.” Although eight-year-old Ryan Murray of Edgartown has never been to one, he’s seen television advertisements while watching programs on PBS.

Recently, Ryan, who is autistic, produced his own Chuck E. Cheese’s advertisement on his classroom’s iPad, featuring the words from the television commercial’s slogan. His teachers were delighted that he had done it all on his own.

“They were so amazed they sent it home to me and I thought it was good enough to email Chuck E. Cheese’s cooperate office,” John Murray, Ryan’s dad, wrote The Times in an email.

Mr. Murray told Chuck E. Cheese’s management that he would share Ryan’s commercial with them, if they in turn would donate to autism awareness, either through the Island Autism Group (IAG) on Martha’s Vineyard or similar programs across the country.

“They said they would consider it and are willing to do something for the IAG,” Mr. Murray said.

In a phone call the day after he sent the video, Mr. Murray was told the president of the company loved it and instructed his staff to post it on the company’s Facebook page for the month of April.

The more hits and comments Ryan’s commercial gets, the more support Chuck E. Cheese will give to the IAG’s programs.

View it online at facebook.com/OfficialChuckECheese/app_203351739677351

IAG is a nonprofit organization that provides music for preschoolers, therapeutic riding, sensory camp, equipment for sensory therapy and iPads for children on the spectrum. The group is holding a fundraiser April 26, 7:30-10 pm, at the Wharf Pub in Edgartown, with music by Mike Benjamin, food and a cash bar, and lots of local vendors, who donated items for a raffle. More information is available online at islandautismgroupinc.com.