2020 marks the 10th year of the Foundation’s largest fundraising activity, the Els for Autism Golf Challenge. The first nine years of the Golf Challenge brought the Foundation $24.6 million! Looking back to the beginning, Liezl Els, Co-Founder and Managing Director, was asked whose idea was the Golf Challenge?  She responded, “It was a combination […]

Why fundraise for autism? Courtney: I’ve worked in mental health, in a variety of capacities, over the last 15 years.  Prior to owning my own therapy center, I worked extensively in homes and schools as a behavior specialist and consultant. For as long as I can remember, I always had a caseload full of children […]

In October, the Els for Autism Foundation ™ hosted the 2019 Autism at Work Summit East/Fall at The Els Center of Excellence ™ campus in Jupiter, FL. The summit was sponsored by SAP, EY, DXC Technology, JPMorgan Chase, and the Olitsky Family Foundation. Launched in 2016, the Autism at Work Summit supports SAP’s vision to […]

Els for Autism Foundation has six focus areas; Adult Services, Education, Global Outreach, Recreation, Therapy Services and Research.  Research tends to be the focus area discussed the least, but since the Foundation has significant research studies in progress, we want to provide an update. In 2018 on the World Autism Awareness Day, April 2, the […]

by Kathleen Barney Els for Autism would like to congratulate David Asterino for his achievement of earning the award of Employee of the Year at Seawind Elementary in Hobe Sound, Florida. David has been a huge supporter of Els for Autism ever since Patricia Valentine, a graduate of the Work Experience Program, started working at […]

Early this year, Ernie Els was asked by a friend to participate in a fundraising challenge—the ‘108 Hole Hike’. Due to Ernie’s busy golf schedule, he was unable to participate but sent Jen Hong, Director of Special Initiatives at Els for Autism Foundation, and former professional golfer, in his stead. The ‘108 Hole Hike’ originally […]

Why an Advisory Board? At Els for Autism, we believe our total commitment to the lives of individuals and families impacted by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) makes us stand apart from other organizations and Foundations. This commitment is demonstrated throughout the various facets of the Foundation, including the programs and therapy services we offer, best […]

Three years ago, Riley Banker of Jupiter, Florida, ventured into the Els Center of Excellence, hoping it was somewhere he could make an impact. Riley’s initial attraction to the Els for Autism Foundation was its Founder, World of Golf Hall of Famer and four-time Major Champion, Ernie Els. An avid golfer himself, Riley was most […]

By Merrick Egber It was an exciting day when I turned 30. For many people, the idea of spending what should be a celebratory event at the tragic site of Clear Lake, Iowa, in the Surf Ballroom where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper played their last show before the “Day the Music […]

The theme of this year’s Els for Autism Golf Challenge Grand Finale, the culmination of the Foundation’s largest fundraising event, will be ‘Bridging the Gap’.  When young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) graduate from school at the age of 21, many have a difficult time developing a continuing education plan, gaining paid-employment, obtaining independent […]