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A Capital Campaign for the RECREATION COMPLEX

Expanding recreation activities available at The Els Center of Excellence® campus.

Recreation Complex

Sports and Fitness: My Interview with Greg Connors, Recreation Coordinator and Ernie Els #GameON Autism® Sports and Fitness Expert.

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One of the first building blocks in starting Els for Autism Foundation® programs was how we redefined sports as a therapy in addition to music therapy. The founder of our Foundation, Ernie Els, is a Hall of Fame Professional Golfer. He took his great namesake to give back through our largest annual fundraising event, the Els for Autism Golf Challenge Series, and the establishment of the Ernie Els #GameON Autism® Golf Program. Participants learn golf skills while practicing specific autism learning concepts, including communication, emotion regulation, motor and social skills. Before The Els Center of Excellence campus was open, we test these concepts out at the Golf Clinics at the various Golf Challenge Events across the U.S. and Canada.

As the Foundation grew, we were able to export the golf program on a national level and then in countries around the world including Scotland, Ireland, and Thailand. We began a virtual training program, with assistance from the Leadbetter Academy, for organizations to be able to get credentialed to run the golf program once the Els for Autism Recreation Coordinator approved the training organization. This program is called the Official Program Provider Program (OPP). We have had great success having the OPP ambassadors all over the world teach the game of golf to individuals with ASD.

Once the Foundation had success with the golf program, began a training curriculum for OPPs to be credentialed in teaching tennis to individuals with ASD. In 2022, we added a new element to the mix with fitness, and, with the Recreation Coordinator, Greg Connors, we piloted a very successful program and are writing a manual for the fitness program. You can attend the 2023 Re-CREATING RECREATION Conference as a Supplemental Intervention for Individuals with ASD on March 23 & 24, 2023 to experience active demonstrations on both golf and fitness.

Greg Connors is from Philadelphia where he taught seventh grade writing at a charter school, with his English degree, while earning his Master’s in Special Education from Chestnut Hill College. After receiving his Master’s, he served in the Special Education Department as a Case Manager and Small Group Intervention Teacher. His next step was working at an Ed-Tech Startup in the Disability Employment Space.

But he has always been passionate about sports, fitness and yoga and loves to stay active and spend time with his five-year-old Husky mix, Eddie. He is also giving his Keynote Speech, which will explain how the Ernie Els #GameON Autism Sports curricula are impacting the lives of individuals with autism and reshaping the perception of recreation as an effective and supplemental therapy for these individuals, on March 24th, and also running a panel on Sports and Fitness.

  • Elaborate on what your role within the Foundation is.

Answer: As Recreation Services Coordinator, I am responsible for the planning, execution, and growth of all Recreation Services offerings, which includes on-site programs, such as our daily after-school classes (Tennis, Chorus, Fitness, Golf, Yoga, Music, Kickball, Art, and Dance); our virtual clubs, including Spectrum Book Club and Connections Club; any Special Events for clients/families, such as Friday Movie Nights; all camps we offer, including Spring Break and Summer Camp; the Ernie Els #GameON Autism clinic offerings at local and national Golf Challenge events; and all Ernie Els #GameON Autism Sports programs and Official Program Provider training for Golf, Tennis, and Fitness.

  • What impact do you think our Recreation Programs are making with individuals with ASD? Why do you think that is?

Answer: Recreation activities, whether sports/fitness or leisure-based, offer opportunities for individuals with ASD to stay healthy physically, mentally, and emotionally. Beyond the obvious physiological benefits of fitness and exercise, participants receive benefits in the mental and emotional aspects of their lives by building relationships with others, reducing stress and anxiety, building confidence and self-esteem, and learning to problem solve both individually and w/ peers.

  • Can you explain the Ernie Els #GameON Autism® set of Programs?

Answer: The Ernie Els #GameON Autism Sports Programs – Golf, Tennis, and Fitness – offer outside organizations and individuals the opportunity to learn from experts in our field and to teach our research-backed, evidence-based curricula. To become an Official Program Provider (OPP) of the Ernie Els #GameON Autism Sports programs, other organizations and/or individuals complete an online training and assessment, complete a Post-Training Call and consult, and collaborate with me to determine a plan of action for their coaching/instruction.

Each sport has a specific manual with instructional lessons and an accompanying Resource Library that OPPs can utilize for teaching materials, visual aids, templates, and other resources. I am currently working on expanding the scope of our training process, and we will soon be incorporating tiered memberships into the OPP structure that provide individuals/organizations the opportunity to receive additional training via on-site visits with myself and/or clinicians in Speech, OT, etc., as well as premium webinars, newsletter content and access to other current OPPs via a community forum.

If anyone is interested in becoming an OPP in any of our sports, they can email sports@elsforautism.org for more information.

  • What makes exporting our best practices in Golf, Fitness and Tennis Program so important?

Answer: If we want individuals with autism to continue to have inclusive and integrated community-based experiences we must train and educate coaches in a variety of sports with the knowledge and skills they need to successfully teach individuals with autism. They need to understand autism and the accompanying behaviors they will likely encounter, and they must be prepared with the requisite knowledge to not only teach the sport-specific skills that individuals need to learn but also the autism learning concepts that are embedded in our lessons and curricula, such Taking Turns, Communicating Needs, Sharing Equipment, and other social-emotional skills that can be challenging for individuals with autism to master.

  • What advice would you give to coaches who may oversee any individuals with ASD?

Answer: I’m confident that any advice, tips, or knowledge that coaches would need to successfully administer programs can be found in the Resource Library specific to each sport. But, generally speaking, I think that coaches and volunteers working with individuals with autism would benefit from doing all of the following: understanding their participants’ specific medical information, as well as any sensory or communication needs (e.g. AAC devices); ensuring that they utilize simple language free of things like idioms or colloquial expressions when communicating directions or providing feedback; and utilizing visual aids/schedules and referencing them frequently to prepare participants for transitions during and between activities/stations.

  • You are giving a keynote speech and running a panel at the Re-Creating Recreation Conference, can you give us a preview of what you would be speaking on?

Answer: My Keynote Address on Day 2 of the conference will offer insight into the how and why of our Recreation Services offerings, specifically our Ernie Els #GameON Autism Sports Programs. I will share how our programs have filled a void for individuals in the autism community and their families. Our methodology for embedding evidence-based practices into our instruction will be explained in detail, and I will also highlight some of the success stories of our participants. Joining me during this keynote will be Mr. Cae Menai-Davis of the UK-based Golf Trust, who has been a strong international partner in helping to address this void in the autism community and in spreading best practices in England and elsewhere.

  • Can you preview the guests that we have on the panel?

Answer: We are excited to welcome the following professionals from all over the world:

  • Eric Chessen (Exercise/Fitness)
  • Joshua Deer (Golf)
  • Jason Miletsky (Exercise/Fitness)
  • Maricarmen Saleta (Aquatics)
  • Tiago Toledo (Exercise/Fitness/Aquatics)

These experienced educators and professionals will share their knowledge and best practices for instructing individuals with autism, and our panel will focus on distilling for attendees the successful development of goals-based plans, the best practices for achieving the results of those plans, not only in their specific sports/areas of expertise but across disciplines, as well as any other general advice or information that they have learned from working with individuals with autism.

  • Just recently the Board of Directors and the Leadership Team announced a new Capital Campaign for the Recreation Complex, that would include an air-conditioned gymnasium, Aquatic Center and a Splash Pad, how will this recreation complex enhance the recreation programming that the Foundation is able to offer?

Answer: The new Recreation Complex will provide immeasurable value to the Foundation and to the families/clients we serve. As we know, on any given day here on campus in Jupiter, there are nearly 300 individuals with autism all across the lifespan receiving education, instruction, and/or other therapies and services across many departments. The Recreation Complex, which will provide a sensory-friendly, air-conditioned environment, will allow Recreation Services and other departments in the organization the much-needed space to not only continue offering our current roster of activities but also increase the size/frequency of those classes and add even more offerings, such as pickleball, basketball, and swimming/aquatic therapy/water safety. As we know living in South Florida, we experience intense heat, high humidity, and frequent heavy rainfall that interrupt and, at times, prevent activities outdoors. This state-of-the-art facility will provide much needed space to continue offering the highest quality recreational and therapeutic services to individuals and their families no matter what outdoor conditions may be. Additionally, this state-of-the-art facility will serve as a hurricane shelter for the local community.

I hope that whoever reads the blog will learn about the ways we are giving back to the Autism Community. And I hope that whoever is interested will join us for the 2023 Re-CREATING RECREATION Conference. It will be a showcase as to why we are an authoritative source when it comes to the values of recreation for individuals with ASD and other developmental disorders.

Andrew Blitman

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Andrew Blitman is the author of 15 books and a very talented artist. He has served on the Els for Autism Advisory Board since 2018. Prior to that, he served on the Constituency Board at the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities from 2011-2017.

Andrew received his undergraduate degree from the University of Miami (UM) in 2012 and earned his Master of Professional Science at UM’s Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science in 2014.

Andrew also leads our Moovin’ & Groovin’ Summer Camp Art Program. To see more of his works, you can visit https://andrewblitman.com/.


My Health and Well-Being: A Journal Entry

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We talk about health a lot, but what we should do is see the connection between physical health and mental health. One doesn’t work without the other. A low mental health may end up harming your physical health, which is unfortunate, because over time a stronger physical health may end up complementing a stronger mental health.

For me, what compliments both is being able to travel. Two years ago I recorded, mentally, that I had been to all 50 states. While it may sound like it’s not doing much, I had to hike through Utah’s National Parks, Sun Valley, Idaho, skied in Maine, and did some walking tours. At the end of the year, I took a cruise to 6 Caribbean Islands, but I exercised muscle for most of the trip, and lost weight too. You want to look at exercise and losing weight as self-discovery and as actual discovery.

I had a stroke in December which affected my communication and expressive voice, yet I felt like I rebounded quickly because I needed some fresh air and the ability to travel on the cruise I mentioned previously. Travel is my way of living and whenever I can take a trip I feel so much better, includingbeing able to take short drives to see friends and socialize.

People with ASD are not always disinclined to socialize. Maybe they need more breaks, like I do, from socializing so much. Due to crowded outings, loud music, and having to fend for oneself to come up with socialization, situations like this can be stressful, especially when we are misunderstood because you have ASD. A proper report helps make the case that the way we do things, like much of our lives, is different – https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/autistic-people-want-socialize-they-just-may-show-it-differently. When you have individuals who get it, and staffers who understand the way we are, you have a systemic compassion.

Like our charter schools, our recreation programs, which a student can enroll in too, are meant to bring individuals with ASD together without any judgment. Part of what we do is redefine sports therapy. To have an outlet for individuals with ASD to learn to love themselves and to learn how to socialize, interact, and make friends is valuable along with learning a new sport.

That is why Els for Autism® Staff is hosting the first Recreational Conference – THE RE-CREATING RECREATION CONFERENCE, this year on March 23rd and 24th. We will also have our 5K Roots and Ruts run for charity on March 25th. Our categories are Healthy Living and Well Being, Sports and Fitness, and Arts and Leisure – we have embraced the importance of work for individuals with ASD, and now we embrace the concept of play.

Even if one is not always physically active, leisure activities can be helpful, and stimulating to build up what we call our special interests. Our Conference is not always about physically demanding activities, it’s really about searching for a purpose, for a sense of responsibility and improving each step we take to fulfill a greater sense of Abraham Maslow’s Self-Actualization one day at a time. I always would say if one can transfer unhealthy eating to some form of a hobby and use that hobby to also exercise (In my case – video game fitness) while eating healthier than it is a job well done, and also don’t forget to sleep healthily too.

For any feedback, you can contact me at Merrick.Egber@elsforautism.org

Radio Interview – OH MY GOD I’M GETTING OLDER AND SO IS MY MOM

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(November 28, 2022)  Scott Greenberg, Chief Executive Officer, ComForcare Home Care, interviews Dr. Marlene Sotelo, Executive Director, Els for Autism Foundation on what autism is, prevalence and red flags, advances in genetic research, evidence based interventions, and autism in adulthood.  Dr. Sotelo also discusses The Els Center of Excellence campus, the future recreation center, and the need for specialized swim and water safety instruction to prevent drowning.  Episode 458

To listen, click here

59:31 in length

THANK YOU, American Diagnostic Corporation (ADC) for being our longest time, “giveback” partner and reaching $20,000 in donations!

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American Diagnostic Corporation’s Story
by Marc Blitstein, President and CEO

American Diagnostic Corporation (ADC) is one of the world’s premier manufacturers of diagnostic medical products, personal instruments, and accessories for the healthcare industry.

Thirty-five ago, we hired our first developmentally disabled employee. We were a tiny firm, employing fewer than 10, and had published an ad seeking help in our production department. The only candidate to show up was a young man named Glen who rode his bicycle seven miles to our offices. He gave me a note written by his mom asking that we give him a chance. We did, and we’ve never looked back. Today, we’re one of New York’s largest private employers of people with developmental disabilities, accounting for more than 10% of our workforce. This allows us to keep jobs in the U.S. while helping local adults find sustainable employment. These colleagues work in positions throughout production, maintenance, shipping, and quality control. Together, they represent more than 250 years of combined service to ADC.

In 2014, seeking a way to make an impact on a national level, we partnered with a young foundation, Els for Autism, co-founded by the legendary golfer Ernie and his wife Liezl. The foundation is committed to better understanding the aspirations of people with autism spectrum disorder and helping them to fulfill their potential to lead positive, productive, and rewarding lives. Through their high-quality programs and innovative interventions, they’ve become a game-changing resource for individuals and families. Through the collaboration, ADC developed a series of professional grade aneroid sphygmomanometers featuring puzzle pieces, directing a portion of the profits to Els. In 2022 we expanded the collaboration to include five of our Adscope stethoscopes. Today, we donate 10% from the sale of these instruments to Els for Autism, year-round.

To learn more about the product line, visit www.adctoday.com/elsforautism. For more information regarding our workforce initiatives, watch our video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRlzZZwxlls

Become an ongoing giveback partner with Els for Autism: info@elsforautism.org

Connor Cares Fundraising Event

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Connor B. Sturgis has been mentioned many times by Els for Autism Chairman and Founder, Marvin R. Shanken, as a great person who inspires him. Due to Connor’s commitment to making it better for the autism community and his empowering presence at The Learning Academy (TLA), a Palm Beach County charter school on The Els Center of Excellence campus, he has been made the newest member of the Els for Autism Advisory Board.  Connor is currently employed as a Full-Time Customer Service Associate at Publix, one of the largest grocery chains in the country. This has led Connor to brainstorm on how to connect Els for Autism with Publix through fundraising initiatives.

On Saturday, July 2nd, the first Connor Cares event was hosted at the Publix store where he works. Connor, along with members of the Adult Day Training (ADT) program, were present.  The ADT team was able to showcase ‘Sea of Possibilities’ a microbusiness selling beach-inspired arts and crafts items with proceeds going to support the currently under-construction Adult Services building. The local West Palm Beach News Station, WPBF 25, was on the scene:

https://www.wpbf.com/article/els-autism-showcases-their-business-sea-of-possibilities/40490755You can purchase ‘Sea of Possibilities’ items here: www.elsforautism.org/sea-of-possibilties

Make sure to follow ‘Sea of Possibilities’ on Facebook for the latest updates, too!

https://www.facebook.com/SeaofPossibilitiesElsForAutism

Grow + Connect + Thrive

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When young adults with autism and other disabilities age out of the school system, Els for Autism Foundation® wants to make sure they have a special place to go to, a place to grow, connect, and thrive. Upon completion in 2023, the Stoops Family Foundation Adult Services building will be the location from which the Foundation will deliver programs and services for adults that include:
Employment Training, Support and Placement – providing training/coaching and job placement with corporate and organizational partners. The building will contain vocational training labs focusing on retail, grocery, business and food services, including a café with drive-through service; and a gift shop area for the signature microbusiness, ‘Sea of Possibilities’.

Day Training – to build on each participant’s skills in areas of socialization, recreation, and community involvement to increase independence.
Supported Living – a two-bedroom suite serves a dual purpose as a vocational lab for the hospitality industry (hotel employment) and as a lab for teaching independent living skills
Post-Graduation – support in transitioning to life after school through vocational and independent living skills training post-graduation.

Microbusiness – Creating, marketing, and selling artwork to teach transferable business skills such as communications, customer service, money management, and product creation.
A special thanks goes to the Stoops Family Foundation and the Langenfeld family for their generous donations to cover the construction cost of the building. But the Foundation needs additional donor support to furnish the inside spaces. Additionally, the Foundation has an essential need for a business or restaurant partner to manage the café that will include a drive-through service.
On the days the charter schools are in operation, The Els Center of Excellence® campus welcomes approximately 800 people to campus, including:
• Els for Autism Foundation – staff, interns, clients, support organizations (such as the First Tee), and volunteers
• The Learning Center and The Learning Academy – teachers, school administration, support staff, students, and the student’s family/caretakers
People working on the campus are very excited to have a café service available to them and the café will be one of the important spaces on the campus where adults with autism can grow, connect, and thrive. For more information on donations for the inside spaces of the building or the café partnership, contact Dr. Marlene Sotelo – marlene.sotelo@elsforautism.org

[vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/740073057″ title=”Adult Services Building Cafe Video”]

Els for Autism Research Study is Published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

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Spring into Action Together (SIAT) is an Els for Autism® caregiver-implemented, early education program for children who are 18 months to 3 years of age. In collaboration with the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai, a pilot study was conducted to examine outcomes for toddlers and young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism symptomatology following the SIAT four-week caregiver coaching program implemented by trained therapists. The results, published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (JADD), conclude that a pilot study of SIAT improved social communication and language skills.

Through this study, researchers identified significant benefits of caregiver-directed coaching, which offers increased intervention accessibility due to decreased time demands and strategies that are intended to be generalized to everyday environments. The study also found improvement in caregiver knowledge and parental engagement with their child.

A parent participating in the study said, “The Spring into Action program helped our family understand and implement strategies based on our son’s individual needs in regard to communication, play skills, and engagement. The program was designed so that we felt empowered to implement the new skills into our daily lives! Our biggest takeaways were understanding the communication hierarchy, where my son was at, and the next step to help him grow, as well as a daily schedule that he thrived with. Previous to the [SIAT] program, we were not having success with the picture schedule and the SIA program used a manipulative-based schedule that helped him tremendously and so we implemented this into his day after the completion of the program.”

This study was funded by The Seaver Els Institute with support from the Els for Autism Foundation and the Beatrice & Samuel A. Seaver Foundation.

For more information about the pilot study and the SIAT program, contact Dr. Erin Brooker Lozott – erin.lozott@elsforautism.org

Save the Date for the 2023 RECREATION Conference

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Participation in recreation activities is critically important for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disorders. These various activities and experiences produce emotions of achievement, and enjoyment and promote inclusion, self-confidence, and increased quality of life.
The Autism Innovations and Global Impact Conference: RE-creating RECREATION as a Supplemental Intervention for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder will convene on March 23 and 24, 2023, at The Els Center of Excellence® campus in Jupiter, Florida. Grand sponsors of the conference are Hazel and Marvin R. Shanken.
The conference will focus on demonstrating how recreation can be used as a platform for other supplemental therapeutic interventions. Leaders in recreation programs and services, dedicated to improving the lives of individuals on the autism spectrum, will be featured. The conference will provide tools and best practices for organizations, providers, and practitioners interested in initiating or expanding recreation services to individuals with ASD and other developmental disorders. Topics covered will include recreation activities and experiences in the areas of:

Sports | Fitness |Healthy Living | Wellbeing |Arts | Leisure

Conference participants will be invited to participate in the Roots and Ruts 5K Run/Walk on the morning of March 25, 2023. Registration information will be coming soon.

SAVE THE DATE and plan to attend!
If you have questions about the conference, contact Greg Connors – greg.connors@elsforautism.org

PRESENTING: ELS FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM AWARD!

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The Autism Spectrum Award is an award we have given annually since 2015 to the individual with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who is voted as having the most representative hallmarks of ‘character, positive, attitude, and contribution. This year, we are accepting nominations until Friday, August 12, 2022. The winner will get to attend the Grand Finale in the Bahamas where they’ll be recognized and invited to join our Advisory Board!

Nomination Link Here: https://www.elsforautism.org/autism-spectrum-award/

The History of the Els for Autism Spectrum Award:

In 2014, we received grant funding to create the Ernie Els #GameON Autism® Golf curriculum and pilot it nationwide. The very next year, pilot sites located in our Golf Challenge even cities were selected to host the classes using the curriculum and provide feedback. At our selected pilot site in Texas Els for Autism was introduced to Joshua Deer, an individual with ASD, who was trained to be one of the first Official Program Providers of the Ernie Els #GameON Autism Golf program.  Joshua Deer made an exemplary impact on the autism community through his involvement in golf and hockey. In addition, his family was our top fundraiser for our Golf Challenge Series that year. As a result of these accomplishments, Joshua Deer was the inspiration for and the recipient of the first Els for Autism Spectrum Award.
In 2016, Gloria Mendoza received the award in recognition of her accomplishments with the SAP Autism at Work Program. Gloria was recognized at the Golf Challenge Grand Finale Awards Ceremony and Gala.

In 2017, the nomination process evolved into what it is today – nominations are submitted by the general public and blind voting by a committee of staff, board members, and community partners choose the winner. The new winner is invited to the Grand Finale as well as the previous year’s winner who presents the award., and In 2017,we also began inviting the winner of the award  to join the Advisory Board.

OUR WINNERS – 2015 – 2021

2015

Joshua ‘Deersey’ Deer – Certified Golf Instructor at Iron Horse Golf Course and Assistant Equipment Manager at Lone Star Brahmas

Joshua Deer, or Deersey, was the first Ernie Els #GameOn Autism® Golf Official Program Provider with ASD and to this day, utilizes our curriculum at the Iron Horse Golf Course, where he was hired after winning the Autism Spectrum Award. Whether it’s his placing of inspirational Bible verses on the equipment he works with or his determination to teach our unique golf program to others, he is of great character and he continues to inspire others!
2016

Gloria Mendoza – Project Manager at SAP

Gloria Mendoza was, like many individuals with ASD, frustrated with the challenge of  finding suitable employment. With her tenacity and spirit, even when faced with obstacles, she kept working at it,and found her path through the support of the SAP Autism At Work Program. Ever since then she has traveled through the company considerably and serves as a remarkable friend to her peers at SAP with ASD.

2017

Rachel Barcellona –  Executive Director of Ability Beyond Disabilities Inc.

Rachel Barcellona, too was faced with adversity as she grew up. Her diagnoses of Asperger’s, Dyscalculia (Dyslexia but with mathematics), Dyspraxia (which controls communication and speech) and epilepsy, made it harder for her to be treated fairly in her school-age years. Yet, her positive spirit and ambition has allowed her to compete in pageants, becoming Miss Florida International in 2016, and the year she won the ASA, Miss Southeast International. Rachel also started the Ability Beyond Disabilities Inc. organization, providing a host of therapies and job training to any individual who seeks the services that the organization can provide.

2018

Adam Jones – Barn Attendant at Madison Fields – a Division of the Madison House Autism Foundation

Adam Jones is a humble and proactive individual who has spent close to two decades involving himself in his special interest of horses. Working at Madison Fields, his responsibilities also allow him to be a role model and mentor to other individuals with autism employed by Madison Fields.

2019

Haley Moss – Speaker, Writer, and Legal Consultant

Haley Moss is the first openly autistic lawyer to be certified by the Florida Bar Association. Her interest in seeing her peers empowered is immeasurable through her broadcasts, lectures, and published books.

2020

Jim Hogan – Vice President in Accessibility of Technology at Google

Jim Hogan serves as an elder statesman at Google, and by his example he has been very much the mentor to his fellow employees with autism. His drive to become the best he can be through Google’s accessibility resources and his anti-bullying advocacy makes him an example of the profound potential of individuals on the spectrum.

2021

Isabelle ‘Izzie’ Piwnicki – Intern at Girl AGain

Izzie Piwnicki serves the most misunderstood population of women with ASD. Through Co-Founding Girl AGain, a part of the Yes She Can initiative, women with autism have employment opportunities and vocational training working with the American Girl Doll line. She is also employed by Sephora where she has influenced the business culture in her store with her highly competent practices.

And the person you love could be next!

NOMINATION FORM

Please submit your nomination for the person whom you believe embodies character, positive attitude, and contribution to the autism community.

Nominations are accepted through midnight August 12th, 2022.