Since 2004, the Connecting the Pieces Gala has been one of the major sources of revenue for Autism Pensacola, thanks to the generosity of sponsors, guests, and donors, It empowered Autism Pensacola to transform the organization from an all-volunteer group of parents, families, and advocates of children with autism to the professionally-run nonprofit it is today.

It was originally created by grandparents, Sharon and Logan Fink, to support the flagship program, Kids for Camp Summer Learning Lab, a summer camp program created by Judy Burns specifically for children with autism. Not only does Kids for Camp provide a safe environment for children to socialize, learn, and grow, it also is the platform for teachers, students, and teen volunteers for gaining hands-on experience that they can then bring into their curriculum, classrooms, and the community.