This year’s theme, “Honor Our Legacy, Fuel Our Future,” celebrates the lasting legacy we have built since we opened The Els Center of Excellence® campus 10 years ago while looking ahead to the future with the groundbreaking of our Specialized Autism Friendly Recreation Complex.
Throughout the year, we witnessed incredible breakthroughs and celebrated meaningful milestones with the individuals and families we serve. While there were countless memorable moments, we’ve narrowed it down to Our Top 5 of 2025!
Inaugural Neon Nights Held to Celebrate a Decade of Excellence
On August 18, our campus officially turned 10 years old. Year after year, the vision of our founders has come to life as The Els Center of Excellence evolved from a plot of land into a one-of-a-kind campus that families around the world relocate to be part of so their child can receive education, therapy, and support, all in one place.
To celebrate our milestone anniversary and remarkable growth, we opened the campus to the community on August 23 for our inaugural Neon Nights. Our Events Team transformed the campus into a glowing, 80s-themed celebration complete with a lively dance floor, glow golf competitions, and South Florida’s top food trucks serving delicious delights.
This year’s Neon Nights benefited the construction of our Specialized Autism Friendly Recreation Complex – which brings us to our second highlight!
Groundbreaking of the Specialized Autism Friendly Recreation Complex
Fulfilling a long-term vision of our founders, on August 28 we broke ground on a Specialized Autism Friendly Recreation Complex, a transformative addition to our campus.
This state-of-the-art facility will be the first ASPECTSS®-compliant sports and recreation complex in the U.S., using a research-based architectural design framework tailored for individuals with autism.
The complex will include:
- A purpose-built gymnasium designed to reduce sensory overload, offering year-round access to basketball, yoga, and fitness programs
- An aquatics center providing life-saving swim instruction and water safety education – especially crucial in Florida, where drowning is the leading cause of death for children with autism
- A teaching kitchen and multipurpose dining area to support life skills development and community programs
- Sensory escape spaces, a splash pad, and therapeutic fitness rooms for safe, inclusive play for healthy living
Another major milestone this year was receiving a $2.5 million appropriation from the State of Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities, bringing total state funding for the complex to $4.4 million over the past three years.
Ernie Els #GameON Autism® Aquatics Program Developed
This year, the Ernie Els #GameON Autism® Sports program expanded to include aquatics. While all of our sports programs promote physical health, social skills, and emotional well-being, the new aquatics program was designed to also save lives.
With drowning being the leading cause of death for children with autism, this program provides specialized swim instruction tailored to the unique learning styles of individuals on the spectrum.
The curriculum focuses on:
- Building essential water safety awareness and swim skills
- Increasing confidence and independence in aquatic environments
- Supporting social engagement and communication through structured group lessons
- Using evidence-based strategies to track progress and outcomes
CADI Through the Lifespan
Our Collaborative Autism Diagnosis and Intervention (CADI) program expanded to provide diagnostic services across the entire lifespan, from early childhood through adulthood.
This expansion was needed, especially for teens and adults, as there is now greater awareness, improved screening and diagnostic tools, and expanded definitions of autism.
By offering CADI services across the lifespan, we can ensure individuals receive timely evaluations and customized care plans that support their strengths, goals, and long-term potential, no matter their age.
Career Exploration & Training (CET)
Finally, in 2025, we launched the Career Exploration & Training (CET) program, empowering adults with autism to explore their strengths, gain hands-on experience, and prepare for meaningful careers.
This innovative initiative offers training and career discovery across multiple industries, including basic carpentry, hotel and hospitality, office and clerical essentials, retail, and food service.
Participants receive personalized coaching, résumé and interview preparation, and real-world practice inside our state-of-the-art vocational labs. Our labs were built to provide safe, realistic environments designed to build workplace-ready skills.
All training is focused on fostering independence, confidence, and long-term success in the workforce. This program was made possible through a generous grant from NEXT for AUTISM.
As we close out this eventful and memorable year, we extend our gratitude to the families who entrust us to support their children through our programs and services. We are also thankful for every donor, volunteer, and community partner who supported our mission in 2025.
From small moments to major milestones, your generosity this year pushed us closer to a world of endless opportunities for individuals with autism.
