Mark Wahlberg among stars at Sharon benefit gala for children with autism

There was plenty of star backing Wednesday at the Voice for Mikey gala in Sharon which raised money for children and families living with austism Mikey Intoccia is the inspiration behind the gala he is on the austism spectrum and is non-verbal First they thought he might have been deaf because he wasn t talking Mikey s dad Michael Intoccia disclosed We had to go through all the tests go through the whole country of meeting doctors We are trying to get him to speak one day The boy s father says the gala came together in just two weeks and raised before it even began Actor and Dorchester native Mark Wahlberg presented up in style landing by helicopter on a nearby golf program Wahlberg is in the present filming a movie about what these families experience every day It s obviously a wonderful occasion and wonderful cause it just so happens that I m shooting a movie right now in Boston about a father whose son is autistic and he s trying to reconnect with him It s a remake of a German film which also happens to be a true story Wahlberg explained I was deeply moved by it and this father son journey with a father trying to understand how to be there for his son and understand this is in various procedures still a blessing Another celebrity guest commented he also understands how big of a blessing it can be My son is on the spectrum All the hard times and hard things we had to go through and try to help others raise money and give back to the autistic commutity noted rapper Joseph Cartagena known best by his stage name Fat Joe Gala organizers say they want to continue the push for autism awareness keep funding research and bring hope of giving a voice to the voiceless Mikey s father is confident his son will one day be able to share in their gratitude We hope that one day he will say thank you to everybody Intoccia stated