SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

Watch: John and Traci Schneider celebrate Year 6 of Ben’s Fund

Apr 5, 2017, 9:57 AM | Updated: Apr 6, 2017, 10:55 am

It’s Year 6 of the annual Celebrity Waiter fundraising event held by Seahawks general manager John Schneider and his wife Traci. To celebrate, the couple will be doing – well, the same thing they’ve always done.

“If it’s not broke, we’re not gonna fix it,” Traci told 710 ESPN Seattle’s “Brock and Salk” on Monday.

RELATED: Seahawks’ GM says Sherman trade talk is ‘real’ on ‘both sides’

The sold-out fundraiser benefits the Schneiders’ organization, Ben’s Fund, which provides grants in partnership with Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT) of Washington to families around the state who support a child or children on the autism spectrum. The grants cover costs associated with medical bills, therapies and other resources the child may need.

The Schneider’s 14-year-old son, Ben, was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3, and they became autism advocates after seeing firsthand how expensive it is to raise a child under these circumstances.

“We want (other parents) to know they’re not alone,” Traci told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson. “And people get it. We know how isolating it can be, we know what a struggle it is and we know how hard it is on the whole entire family itself. Just so they can feel that and know that, it truly does help you get through the day sometimes.”

According to the Center for Disease Control, about 1 in 68 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder. Traci said Ben’s Fund has given over 1,100 grants across the state.

The event is set for April 20 at El Gaucho in Bellevue but an online auction went live Tuesday morning. Among the items for bid are an autographed Tyler Lockett jersey, Kam Chancellor football and Russell Wilson helmet.

A general view of Nuuk, Greenland, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via ...

Associated Press

A timeline of US President Donald Trump’s interest in Greenland

President Donald Trump’s interest in a U.S. acquisition of Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, first became publicly known in 2019. Here’s a timeline of events that led to a crisis between Washington and its European allies. Aug., 2019: During his first term, Trump expresses interest in buying Greenland for the U.S., but […]

2 hours ago

The flag of the United Nations flies during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN he...

Associated Press

Messy, troubled, unpredictable: Diplomats describe a world in turmoil as UN opens annual meeting

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — There is not much that diplomats can agree on these days. But if asked about the state of the world ahead of the annual meeting at the U.N. General Assembly, heads of state and government and ministers alike will describe a globe in massive turmoil. With two escalating wars raging in […]

3 hours ago

FILE - President Donald Trump gestures as he addresses the 80th session of the United Nations Gener...

Associated Press

Trump returns to UN at a moment of anxiety about Iran, AI and the future of world body itself

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump is set to address the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday at a tumultuous moment for the world — and for his presidency. The global economy has been shaken by his decision to launch a war against Iran. Anxiety about the social impact being wrought by artificial intelligence is […]

3 hours ago

Currency traders work near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) and the f...

Associated Press

Asian benchmarks mostly rise after Wall Street’s rally

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares mostly rose early Tuesday, as the market mood turned positive from the overnight rally on Wall Street. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 02% in early trading to 8,748.20. South Korea’s Kospi jumped 1.6% to 7,120.25. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained nearly 0.6% to 25,185.26, while the Shanghai Composite rose 0.4% to […]

3 hours ago

landlord...

John Curley Show

‘Where’s the emergency for the landlord?’: Curley questions Spokane’s new rent ordinance after fire

KIRO host John Curley had a question after the Spokane City Council passed a new tenant protection ordinance. What about the landlords?

5 hours ago

DOJ - Snohomish...

Jason Sutich

Convicted child rapist pleads guilty to enticing 2 more minors for sexual abuse in Snohomish County

A registered sex offender living in Snohomish County pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of enticement of a minor for his sexual abuse of two 14-year-old teens.

5 hours ago

Watch: John and Traci Schneider celebrate Year 6 of Ben’s Fund