UNCF Evening of Stars Bring Awareness To Autism

Six-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and star of WE’s “Braxton Family Values,” Toni Braxton, looked stunning at the 36th “UNCF: An Evening of Stars” which was taped at Atlanta’s Civic Center on April 12, 201,5 wearing Istanbul-born designer Zeynep Erdogan’s sheer appliqué top and fringe skirt, from her A/W 14 collection full of similar sheer creations. Neatly placed on her waist was an Autism Speaks Puzzle Pin, with her sons, Denim Cole and Diezel Ky, standing on each side of her. Her youngest son, Diezel, was diagnosed with autism at age 3.

Three years ago, Braxton became the global autism ambassador, and in 2007, she was named Autism Speaks’ national celebrity spokesperson, saying she “became determined to join Autism Speaks in its battle against this devastating disorder when autism became a part of my family’s reality.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism spectrum disorder affects one in 68 children (or 14.7 per 1,000 8-year-olds) and one in 54 boys in the U.S.