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!

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

No parent ever wants to hear that their child has autism. When Ernie and Liezl Els’ son, Ben, received an autism diagnosis, their lives, like those of all families directly impacted by autism, changed forever. However, their journey to support Ben inspired the creation of a world-class autism campus, a place where individuals of all ages can access programs, services, therapies, and education all in one location.

A Family’s Leap of Faith

At the time of Ben’s diagnosis, World Golf Hall of Famer Ernie Els and his family were living in England. “We took a chance and put him into the same school as our older daughter, Samantha. He absolutely despised it,” Ernie Els recalls.

Determined to find a better solution, Liezl Els began researching and discovered a charter school for children with autism in Palm Beach County, Florida. The family took a leap of faith and moved across the pond. The decision changed everything. “Ben started smiling and making friends. Although the school gave him the support he needed, the building wasn’t up to ‘par.’ Liezl said to me, ‘We must build something proper for individuals with autism.’”

The Beginning of Els for Autism

Ernie Els then decided to go public with Ben’s diagnosis, making the announcement at the 2008 Honda Classic – an emotional moment that inspired family friend and entrepreneur Marvin Shanken. Shanken pulled Els aside and suggested they collaborate to raise money for autism research through a Pro-Am. “You get the pros, I’ll get the amateurs,” Shanken told Els.

That initial idea grew into something even greater. Together, Ernie & Liezl Els and Marvin Shanken established the Els for Autism Foundation®, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals on the autism spectrum reach their full potential. Through fundraising efforts, including the Els for Autism Pro-Am, they purchased a 26-acre plot of land in Jupiter, Florida, to build The Els Center of Excellence® – a world-class hub for autism services and education.

Building The Els Center of Excellence

Ground broke in 2014, and just 18 months later, the campus opened with the Rupert Education Wing – the new home of Ben and his friends’ charter school – and an administration building. During that time, the founders recruited Marlene Sotelo, EdD, BCBA-D, MT-BC, from the University of Miami- Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (UM-NSU CARD) to help create comprehensive wraparound programs so individuals could receive all their therapies and services in one central location.

This innovative approach changed everything for families. “We were spending nearly two hours every day in the car taking our child from school to therapy. Now he just walks down the hallway on The Els Center of Excellence campus,” said one parent whose child attends the charter school and receives services from the Els for Autism team.

A Decade of Impact

This past August, The Els Center of Excellence celebrated its 10-year anniversary. The campus now includes the Shanken Education Wing, the Stoops Family Adult Services Building, the O’Donnell Family Pavilion, sensory arts gardens, tennis and basketball courts, two playgrounds, and a three-hole pitch-and-putt golf course.

Under the direction of Dr. Sotelo, who is now the Executive Director, Els for Autism provides autism programs and services for individuals starting at 12 months old through adulthood, focusing on three primary impact areas:

• Early Intervention & Education
• Recreation
• Adult Services

Expanding Recreation and Research-Based Design

To mark the campus’s 10-year anniversary, Els for Autism broke ground on a Specialized Autism Friendly Recreation Complex. The complex will include the Stanley Black & Decker Gymnasium, an Aquatics Center, and the Thomas R. & Deborah K. Whitesell Splash Pad. It will also be the first sports and recreation facility in the U.S. to be ASPECTSS® compliant – a research-based architectural design framework for autism.

Including the aquatics center was especially important. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children with autism, and through the evidence-based Ernie Els #GameON Autism® Aquatics program, children will learn essential swim and water safety skills in a safe, supportive environment.

A Global Vision for Autism Support

Els for Autism also has organizations in the United Kingdom, Canada, and South Africa. Its evidence-based programs and services have reached families and professionals in 38 countries, creating a true global autism community.

Despite this global reach, Els emphasizes that Els for Autism remains a family-driven organization, and on any given day, you will see him and his wife greeting staff, clients, and their families. “I don’t know if one day I’ll be remembered as a golfer or as a dad who brought autism to the public,” he reflects. “I like the latter.”

A Legacy of Hope and Excellence

No matter where you call home, Els for Autism provides autism support services, programs, education, and resources for individuals of all ages, their caregivers, and professionals.

Explore our full list of evidence-based programs and services.As a nonprofit organization, Els for Autism relies on charitable financial contributions to continue providing programs and services to our clients and their families. Remarkably, 87¢ of every $1 directly benefits our programs and services, ensuring your donation has a profound impact. We invite you to explore our diverse range of giving options, tailored to match your philanthropic goals and preferences. Your generosity fuels our global mission to transform the lives of people with autism and their families through lifetime services and collaborative partnerships. Thank you for being a vital part of our community and helping us create a world of limitless possibilities.

It is a tragic and heartbreaking statistic that drowning is the leading cause of death in autistic children, with Florida being the state with the highest number of these deaths. From 2012 to August 2024, 130 children with autism drowned in Florida alone*. Many autistic children are naturally attracted to water, and they may leave a safe environment without realizing the potential dangers that water can present. Sadly, children with autism are 160 times more likely to drown than their neurotypical counterparts. 

This devastating reality is one of many reasons the Els for Autism team is proactively spreading awareness of water safety by creating the Ernie Els #GameON Autism® Aquatics program. This multi-level curriculum is an innovative, evidence-based program developed to teach individuals with autism and related needs how to swim in a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment. This program is designed by certified aquatics professionals, licensed therapists, and adaptive swim instructors within community pool facilities, private swim academies, and clinical or therapeutic settings. 

To aid us in our endeavor, we are actively fundraising for our Specialized Autism Friendly Recreation Complex, which will include an Aquatic Center, a multipurpose amenity that will include a regulation size swimming pool which will facilitate swimming and water safety lessons.  

Additionally, for individuals who cannot swim or prefer not to, the Aquatic Center will also house a Splash Pad which is generously named by Thomas R. and Deborah K Whitesell and will allow children to enjoy inclusive, social fun while being in a safe and protective environment. As early intervention is crucial, this will allow young individuals to build a positive association with water and is a step towards building trust and awareness for the individual.  

Autism Parenting Magazine wrote an article highlighting four benefits of swimming for autistic individuals: calming the mind, reducing sensory deprivation, following instructions, and developing motor skills.   

Once the Aquatic Center is completed, the Ernie Els #GameON Autism Aquatics program will be available globally, allowing individuals, organizations, or businesses to become Official Program Providers and offer this lifesaving program in their community. If you are interested in becoming an Official Program Provider, please join our interest list here.  

We believe providing water safety education is a pivotal key to individuals with autism, but we cannot do it alone. You can be a part of the mission to save autistic lives by donating to our cause. Big or small – your contribution will help us create a future where families do not have to suffer the tragedy of an accidental drowning.   

Donate Now to help save lives!  

*Based on data published by the Children’s Services Council