HAZLET, N.J.-- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Parents Of Autistic Children (POAC) a non profit organization from Hazlet, New Jersey who provides scientifically based training to parents, teachers, emergency care providers and loved ones of autistic children throughout the area, is happy to announce that a portion of the proceeds from the Daughtry Concert at the Nokia Theater in Times Square New York City on Tuesday December 4^th and Wednesday December 5^th are to benefit POAC.

Earlier in the year, triple-platinum recording group Daughtry and their management team at 19 Entertainment were contacted by Kevin Martin, lead singer of the multi-platinum rock band Candlebox to perform together in a concert to benefit Martin’s favorite charity, POAC. Immediately Daughtry replied with a resounding yes. Since that time the two groups were having a tricky time finding a schedule that would work out where they both could play together.

“I was really stoked when Kevin gave me the call to play with him for his autism charity, since then we have been trying to find the time with both of our busy schedules,” said band leader Chris Daughtry. “My band and I are thrilled to do whatever we can to help all of the kids suffering with autism and it is especially exciting to be able to do it during this Holiday Season,” Chris added.

19 Entertainment has agreed to donate $2.50 from each ticket sold during the two day, sold out event at the Nokia Theater in New York’s popular Times Square. The potential monies to be raised during the highly anticipated event could be in excess of $10,000.00. “My wife and family are such big fans of Daughtry and it touches my heart that they would be doing this for POAC,” said Gary Weitzen, President of POAC. “Not only am I excited to receive the money that will be spent wisely to help so many families with a loved one with autism, but I also am thrilled to see the show! I am so thankful to Kevin Martin and Daughtry for making this possible,” Mr. Weitzen continued.

Daughtry was seen on ABC Television last Sunday during the American Music Awards where the group performed an acoustic version of their hit song ‘Home’. The band was able to walk away with a AMA hat trick last night as they walked away with three awards, Favorite Rock/Pop Album, Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist, and Favorite Breakthrough Artist. The group has also been nominated for two People’s Choice Awards to be aired on CBS on January 8, 2008; nominations include: Favorite Group and Favorite Rock Song (“Home”).

For Daughtry fans that live abroad or may not be able to make the show and still wish to support the band and its labors in helping this fine and deserving Organization, donations can be made at www.rockforadifference.org, a website that was created for the Organization in their efforts to reach out to and educate a younger market about the effects of autism, to promote a series of future benefit concerts and to hold on line auctions of autographed memorabilia by popular musicians, artists and athletes to help continue the POAC mission. If you love someone with autism and would like to attend one of the many POAC Sponsored free training workshops, wish to find out more information about the Organization, or have some fund raising ideas of your own, please call 732 888 1000 or visit them on-line at www.poac.net.

For Parents Of Autistic Children:

Michael Finley, 732-792-3286

mjfpr@yahoo.com