<p>LOS ANGELES — Jimmy Kimmel and YouTube personality and engineer Mark Rober will host an online fundraiser to benefit those with autism.</p>
<p>The three-hour event, “Color The Spectrum: A Livestream To Support The Autism Community,” will be held April 30 (8 p.m. EDT) on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J3peD8LZ5o">Rober’s YouTube channel</a>.</p>
<p>Maya Rudolph, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock and Mark Hamill are among the celebrities set to take part, according to an announcement Friday by Rober, who has a son on the autism spectrum, and ABC late-night host Kimmel.</p>
<p>Kimmel and his staff are producing the special along with comedian-writer Robert Smigel, the voice behind Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, and his wife, Michelle Smigel. Their son’s autism brought home the unmet needs of those with the disorder.</p>
<p>The Smigels’ “Night of Too Many Stars” biannual TV benefit, topped by Jon Stewart, helps support NEXT for Autism, a nonprofit that works with medical centers and other institutions to develop innovative programs for people with autism. </p>
<p>The couple’s biannual live event, which was sidelined by the pandemic, inspired former NASA engineer Rober to create a version adding YouTube creators to the traditional mix of comedians and actors, according to the announcement. </p>
<p>“It’s been a year since we had to cancel our ‘Night of Too Many Stars’ benefit, and many of the programs and schools we support are hurting greatly," Robert Smigel said in a statement. "So we’re beyond grateful to Mark and Jimmy for making this happen for NEXT for Autism.”</p>
<p>As part of the announcement, Rober posted a loving introduction to his son, whom he said he’s protectively kept out of the internet’s eye. He cited the importance of the cause in doing so. </p>
<p>The YouTube event will include musical performances, comedy skits, and “science stunts,” a release said, with viewers able to connect with the host and guest stars, including Stewart, Andy Samberg, Sarah Silverman, Conan O’Brien, Jack Black, John Oliver and YouTube personality Marques Brownlee.</p>
<p>Online:</p>
<p>Rober’s YouTube Channel: <a href="https://youtu.be/5J3peD8LZ5o">https://youtu.be/5J3peD8LZ5o</a></p>
