Chuck E. Cheese celebrates National Deaf Awareness Month by launching a fundraiser in support of the American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC).
Throughout September, at all Chuck E. Cheese centers across the U.S., visitors can donate through FreedomPay’s Gateway to Giving program at checkout. When guests give $1, $3, or $5, they support the organization’s tools, which are freely given to families.
“Language access changes the trajectory of a child’s life, and community changes how a family experiences that journey,” says Katie Chubb, Executive Director of the ASDC. “This partnership reflects a shared belief: every child deserves to be fully included, whether that’s in the classroom or at a birthday party. Thanks to partnerships like Chuck E. Cheese, we’re able to put free, Deaf-led resources directly into families’ hands, right when they need them most.”
ASDC’s resources include a Deaf Mentor program that connects families with successful Deaf adults for inspiration. ASDC also provides a knowledge center and helps guardians advocate for 504s and IEPs. Additionally, the organization hosts free virtual American Sign Language (ASL) classes in English and Spanish.
“Making every celebration accessible isn’t a separate initiative for us — it’s part of how we operate every day,” says Alejandra Brady, Senior Director of Communications and D&I at Chuck E. Cheese Entertainment. “Whether it’s Sensory Sensitive Birthdays or singing along to our birthday song together, we want every child to feel like the star of their own celebration, on their terms.”
Chuck E. Cheese previously partnered with ASDC on its ASL Sign-Along video series. In the videos, the brand’s mascot sings songs, including its popular birthday song, and an ASL interpreter signs the lyrics.
Learn more about the fundraiser at chuckecheese.com and deafchildren.org.
