When visitors pull up to 12 Shenandoah Road on a December night, windows down, tuned to 106.9 FM, the show is free. There is no ticket, no fee, no donation required. But for the past several years, we have kept a donation jar near the road, and every single dollar that goes into it goes to one place: The Autism Project.
We want to tell you a little more about where that money goes — specifically, about a summer camp called Camp Wannagoagain — because we think it will give you a sense of just how much even a small contribution can mean.
🌳 What Is Camp Wannagoagain?
Camp Wannagoagain is The Autism Project's one-week Monday through Friday day camp for children and teens with autism. Running during the summer, it gives kids a place where they can simply be themselves — swimming, hiking, doing arts and crafts, making friends — in an environment specifically designed to support them.
For many of these children, it is one of the only summer programs available to them. A Monday–Friday day camp with specialized staff, adapted activities, and a patient, structured environment is something most mainstream summer programs simply cannot provide.
Camp Wannagoagain provides all of that. And the name says it all — kids want to come back.
That is the cost to give one child a full week of day camp — Monday through Friday — in a program designed specifically for kids with autism. Donations at the Lewis Christmas Light Show go directly to making this possible for Rhode Island families who need it most.
🎁 Why The Autism Project?
We chose The Autism Project as our charity because they are local, transparent, and do real work in our community. They are a Rhode Island nonprofit that has been serving families affected by autism for decades — not just through Camp Wannagoagain, but through year-round education, support groups, workshops, and advocacy.
When we looked for a charity to support with the show, we wanted something where:
- 100% of our donations go to the cause — not to overhead or administrative fees
- The impact is local — the families we are helping are our neighbors
- The need is real and ongoing — not a one-time campaign
The Autism Project checked every box.
🏦 What We Have Raised
Since we began donating to The Autism Project, the Lewis Christmas Light Show community has raised thousands of dollars for their programs. Here is a summary of recent contributions from the show:
- 2025: $2,000
- 2024: $2,000
- 2023: $2,700
- 2022: $2,000
- 2021: $2,000
- 2020: $1,000
At $450 per child, those donations have helped send dozens of Rhode Island kids to Camp Wannagoagain over the years. That is something our whole family is proud of.
🌅 How You Can Help This Season
When you visit the show this November and December, look for the donation box on the property. Cash donations of any amount are welcome — every dollar goes directly to The Autism Project. No amount is too small.
If you want to give more, or if you cannot make it to the show but still want to support the cause, you can donate directly to The Autism Project at theautismproject.org.
And if you want to tell your friends about the show — that is free too. The more people who visit, the more people drop a few dollars in the jar, and the more kids get to go to Camp Wannagoagain. That is how this all works.
🎁 Support The Autism Project
Can not make it to the show this year? You can still help send a child to Camp Wannagoagain. Every $450 covers one child's full camp experience.
Visit TheAutismProject.org →We will see you on Shenandoah Road. Thank you, as always, for making this more than just a light show.