Chaka Khan has just confirmed her attendance as headline act for The Autists.

Does this woman need an introduction?

To do so with any degree of originality is to commit to a serious regime of cliche avoidance. And since that cannot be done, we’ll embrace the cliches, own ‘em and get ‘em out of the way in one sentence: Chaka Khan is royalty, an enduring superstar, a wellspring of talent, is a force for the collective soul, a doer of good, a haver of fun and an eminent presence. Oh, and she has a wickedly powerful, sensual voice, too, which is handy when you make your living as a singer. Ok, so it took two sentences.

A visit to her website is a satisfying journey into her music and her soul.

Chaka Khan is a powerful presence in the generosity dept. Through her amazing Chaka Khan Foundation, she helps kids at risk in the South Central L.A. neighbourhood gain access to opportunities in education, and hence, a more promising future. Through a crafty mix of well-harnessed fellow celebrities, insightful mentors, college scholarships, specialized training programs in life skills as well as financial acumen, she’s helping a great many kids use their own brains and ambition to find their way out of poverty and the unsavory forces that accompany it.

And as the relative of someone with autism, Chaka Khan also supports programs that enable kids with autism reach their full potential, as well as aiding their families to offset the associated financial burdens.

We are so touched by this graceful nod to us that it has reignited the fire under us, the one that drives us to make this event so rich, so substantial and effectual, so packed with energy and life and celebration.

So, with maximum sincerity and alacrity, from all of us putting The Autists together and all of those who will benefit from your generosity — thank you, Ms Chaka Khan.

The Autists has just received a commitment from Toronto’s Wills & Co. Media Strategies to help us gain access to donated media, both on- and off-line.

Company president Jeff Wills has generously offered to plug us into his world, which consists of a substantial cross-section of local and nationwide print, TV, radio, outdoor and online media proprietors.

Jeff’s generous stand will aid us in publicizing The Autists to a significantly wider, and more relevant audience than we could ever have reached under our own steam.

Actual fruits of this pledge will be revealed in future posts, but what can be said about it now is: Thanks, Jeff Wills. You are a gentleman and a benevolent soul.

Wills & Co are a highly imaginative group of people who approach media the way Michelangelo approached ceilings.

Among their ingenious inventions is Do Over Day. Taking place each February 26, Do Over Day is the time to do over the good and bad of our lives. It’s a day to reflect, celebrate and relive the glory, wonderment and shame of our many fateful deeds and decisions.

More on this auspicious soon-to-be-holiday is available here.

Wills & Co. also runs an interesting blog (screen-grab above), packed with merciless insights on media, old and new, which can be viewed here.