Citi Field To Be Lit Up Blue For Autism Awareness

To help kick off Autism Awareness Month, Citi Field will be one of more than 300 buildings and landmarks around the world to "Light It Up Blue" on April 1st and 2nd. Autism Speaks' Light It Up Blue (LIUB) campaign serves to raise awareness of the ongoing fight against autism, which now afflicts 1 in 110 children and 1 in 70 boys.

The Mets' organization has long supported the efforts to educate people about autism, hosting Autism Awareness Day at Citi Field—and, before that, Shea Stadium—each year. The Mets will be in Florida battling the Marlins this weekend, but Citi Field will still be lit up blue.

Here's the official press release from Autism Speaks:

On the evenings of April 1 and 2, 2011, prominent buildings across North America and the world — including the Empire State Building in New York City and the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada — will turn their lights blue to raise awareness for autism and to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day on Saturday, April 2.

We’re aiming to light the world blue all throughout April — city by city, town by town — by taking action to raise autism awareness in our communities.

Read more about autism and go to LightItUpBlue.org to make a donation.

If you or someone in your life has been affected by autism, please share your story in the comments.