Stand Up For The Autism House: A Benefit Starring Comedian Auggie Smith - Dec. 11th at 7pm (doors 6)

Award-winning comedian headlines Boise fundraiser for Idaho's first Autism Family Resource Center

We are thrilled to host "Stand-Up for the Autism House," a benefit performance starring nationally touring comedian Auggie Smith, on Friday, December 11, 2026. Proceeds from the show will support The Autism House Foundation as it opens an Autism Family Resource Center in Star, Idaho — a physical place where autistic individuals and their families can find guidance, connection, education, advocacy, and sensory-friendly support under one roof.

Auggie Smith is one of the most decorated comedians on the American club circuit. He is also a devoted dad to 3 children, 2 of whom are on the autism spectrum. In 2010, he became the first comedian to win both the San Francisco Comedy Competition and the Seattle International Comedy Competition in the same year. He headlined the debut episode of Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham," competed on NBC's "Last Comic Standing," and has been a longtime fixture on "The Bob & Tom Show." His DryBar special, “Old Dad”, has over 1 million views.

"I've spent years encouraging people to come to the lounge for some worthwhile laughs," said Jen Adams, owner of The Comedy Lounge. "Raising money for The Autism House makes it an unbeatable reason. A comedy room is special. It can bring together a group of a hundred or more strangers who all want to feel seen and understood. That is not far off from what The Autism House is building; only they're doing the much harder version of it, every day, for families who need somewhere to start."

THE NEED

The Autism House Foundation is designed as a starting point, not another system for families to decode. The center will offer resource navigation, peer and family support, IEP and school advocacy guidance, educational programming, sensory-friendly events, and connections to local providers.

The need is measurable. CDC monitoring data from 2022 found that autism is identified in approximately 1 in 31 eight-year-old children. But identification is only the first hurdle: research has found that 55 percent of caregivers of autistic children reported difficulty accessing needed services, and 86.7 percent reported a lack of care coordination among the schools, providers, therapies, and insurers they are expected to navigate at the same time.

The research also points toward the solution. A meta-analysis of more than 13,000 parents found that greater social support was associated with reduced parenting stress and improved quality of life, and studies of parent-support programs have documented reduced isolation, increased confidence, and improved family functioning.

"I built this nonprofit because of the lack of resources available when we received our kiddos' diagnosis. I knew if we needed it, we weren’t the only ones that needed connection, resources, education, community, and so much more," said Dana Batts, Founder/President of The Autism House Foundation.

Funds raised will support the buildout and furnishing of sensory-friendly spaces and family gathering areas, educational and resource materials, technology, programming and workshops, and the supplies and infrastructure required to operate the center.