The third annual Golf for Special Needs Children was held Thursday in Stratford.

Dancing with the Stars champion Tony Dovolani helped tee off the event.

"I wanted to make sure that we raise as much awareness, and raise as much money so that we can help as many families to be able to give their kids as much opportunity to actually get the therapies that they need," he says. "That’s my goal, my mission in life, is to make sure that everybody realizes that special needs is not something that you walk away from, it’s something that you get involved, and realize how beautiful your life can be by having somebody like that in your life."

Organizers say the proceeds will go to the Kennedy Center's Autism project.

The past two golf outing raised over $150,000.