Signature Event
The annual Swing for Autism golf outing at Bruce Hills Golf Club in Bruce Township — foursomes, sponsorships, raffles, and 100% of proceeds going directly to children and families on the spectrum.
Future hopes
Built by parents. Powered by Michigan.
Play for Autism Foundation supports children and families on the autism spectrum across Michigan — building toward a future where every child has a place to play, grow, and belong.
Concept rendering — the future Play for Autism Sports Complex.
Our story
How Play for Autism started
Play for Autism Foundation was founded by Tristan and Nicole Parrish out of Chesterfield, Michigan — parents who saw what their own family needed and what too many Michigan families were going without. What started as a single golf outing among friends has grown into a year-round community of 480+ members across the state.
[Founding-year story — pending. Suggested copy: a short, specific moment that pushed Tristan & Nicole to start the foundation. Replace this paragraph with the family's own words once we have them.]
Our flagship event — the annual Swing for Autism golf outing at Bruce Hills Golf Club — turns four in 2026, but the mission goes well beyond one day on the course. Every dollar, every volunteer hour, every sponsor handshake compounds into the next event, the next family supported, the next inclusive moment in Michigan.
Photo pending
Candid portrait of Tristan & Nicole Parrish — co-founders, at a Swing for Autism event or at home in Chesterfield.
What we do
Three ways we show up for families
One annual event drives the year, but the mission lives in the months in between.
Community Events
Sensory-friendly gatherings that bring autistic kids, siblings, and parents together — three community events hosted to date, with more on the calendar each year. Built so every family can show up exactly as they are.
Year-Round Family Support
Direct giving and resource connections for Michigan families on the spectrum — from sensory tools to event scholarships to a community of 480+ members who get it. [Specific impact dollar amount — pending.]
Who we serve
Michigan families, every corner of the state
Children and families on the autism spectrum — siblings, parents, grandparents, caregivers, neurodivergent adults — across Michigan. We're rooted in Macomb County and Metro Detroit, but the work reaches families from Bruce Township to the Upper Peninsula. Whether that's a community event, a sensory-friendly outing, or a connection to the right resource, we want every Michigan family on the spectrum to know they're not navigating it alone.
A note on language: We use both identity-first (“autistic person”) and person-first (“person with autism”) language — honoring how each family describes themselves. If you tell us your preference, we'll honor it.
By the numbers
Small foundation, real momentum
The proof shows up in turnout, repeat sponsors, and the dollars that reach families on day one.
Trust & transparency
Where the money goes — and the paperwork to prove it
501(c)(3) Nonprofit
Play for Autism Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
EIN: pending
The 100% promise
Every public dollar — ticket, sponsorship, donation — goes to children and families on the autism spectrum. Operating costs are covered separately so the public total reaches families intact.
Concrete impact
Three Swing for Autism outings, three community events, 480+ Michigan members, and a growing circle of local sponsors. [Audited financials / Form 990 link — pending.]
The people
Founders, board, and the volunteers who carry it
Play for Autism is run by a small, hands-on team plus the broader Michigan community that shows up year after year.
Photo
pending
pending
Tristan Parrish
Co-Founder
[Founder bio — pending. Suggested: 1–2 sentences on Tristan's connection to the mission, day job, and what he runs at PFA.]
Photo
pending
pending
Nicole Parrish
Co-Founder
[Founder bio — pending. Suggested: 1–2 sentences on Nicole's connection to the mission and what she runs at PFA.]
Board photo
pending
pending
[Board members — pending]
Board & Volunteer Leads
[Add 2–4 board / volunteer-lead names with one-line bios. A real candid group photo from Swing for Autism beats a polished headshot every time.]
Get involved
Three ways to be part of it
Pick the one that fits where you are right now.
Attend Swing for Autism
Join us at Bruce Hills Golf Club for the 4th Annual Swing for Autism in summer 2026. Foursomes, dinner, and a day that funds the whole year.
See the eventSponsor or donate
Sponsorships start at $200; one-time donations start at $25. 100% of public dollars reach Michigan families on the spectrum.
Donate todayVolunteer
From event-day setup to community-event support, our volunteers make every program possible. Tell us how you'd like to help.
Volunteer with us