• Scoring Goals for the Community is hosting a 7 p.m. hockey game fundraiser at the Stouffville Arena on Sept. 27.
  • Proceeds will support For Little Monkeys Charity, which builds sensory rooms for autistic and neurodiverse children.
  • The specially designed rooms help kids regulate, relax, and learn new skills.
  • A fundraising goal of $20,000 has been set, which would provide two new sensory rooms for local families.
  • Over $10,000 has already been raised, and the game will include a silent auction, 50/50 draw, and chuck-a-puck.
  • Tickets can be purchased for $5, and donations can be made online.

 

Scoring Goals for the Community returns to Stouffville ice this weekend in support of For Little Monkeys Charity, a local organization that fundraises, designs, builds, and donates sensory rooms for autistic and neurodivergent children. The exhibition game takes place Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at 7 p.m. at the Stouffville Arena, with tickets available for $5 online.

For Little Monkeys Charity president Natalie Abkarian Cimini co-founded the organization with her husband, Michael, during the COVID-19 pandemic. With two children diagnosed with autism, the couple sought not only to raise awareness and promote acceptance, but also to provide meaningful support for families with neurodiverse children.

“I actually wrote a children’s book about autism…and we felt like we could do more,” Cimini said. “That led to the inception of the charity. Our projects primarily serve children who have autism, but we also serve the broader neurodiverse community.”

A sensory room is a carefully designed space that helps autistic children regulate how they process and respond to the world around them. Outfitted with swings, trampolines, crash pads, tunnels, mats, lighting effects, and other interactive elements, the rooms offer a safe and supportive environment where children can both calm themselves and engage in skill-building activities.

Beyond providing a retreat from sensory overload, the rooms can act as therapeutic tools, rewards for positive behaviour, or opportunities to practice independence. Because the specialized equipment comes with significant costs, For Little Monkeys Charity works to make them accessible for families.

The team volunteers their time to design and build each room. Saturday’s game carries a fundraising target of $20,000, which Cimini said would deliver two new sensory rooms for children on their waitlist.

“We build these rooms in their homes. It helps them with fine and gross motor skills, creativity, communication, and a variety of other skills,” Cimini said. “In addition to the sensory rooms, we also carefully curate sensory kits that we donate to families with neurodiverse children. 250 sensory bags were recently donated to the Markham-Stouffville Hospital Pediatric Unit.”

For Little Monkeys Charity also invests in broader community projects to expand access to resources. Initiatives have included adding accessibility features and equipment to local playgrounds, including the recently opened Sugar Maple Park, and donating sensory elements to the Lendery and Adventure Zone at the Stouffville Library.

“We just hope the community will come out to support a good cause and cheer on the volunteer players who have been fundraising in advance of the game. We want them to feel supported,” Cimini said. “Most of the players have come forward because they’re either touched by autism or they know someone who is on the spectrum, and they feel like this is a great way to give back.”

With a week to go, the charity has raised more than $10,000 toward its goal. Donations can be made online, and Saturday’s game will feature additional fundraising activities, including chuck-a-puck, a 50/50 draw, and a silent auction.

“This is a great family-friendly event, and we will, of course, have Ollie and Kiki, our mascots, in attendance,” Scoring Goals for the Community founder Sam Daskalopoulos told Bullet Point News. “We’re glad it can support such an important cause, and we hope the Stouffville community will come out and join us in that effort.”

Cover image provided by and used with permission from For Little Monkeys Charity