Latest news from the Ernie Els Centre for Autism in South Africa, providing lower resourced families of children on the autism spectrum with free access to effective education for their child via e-learning programmes.
1. Blair Atholl to host The Anahita Mauritius Golf Day in aid of Els for Autism
This is definitely one for the diary! Friday 30 May. That is when the beautiful and exclusive Gary Player designed Blair Atholl Golf Estate (pictured above) will, in association with Anahita Mauritius, be the venue for a special golf day in support of the Els for Autism Foundation. It promises to be a wonderful day, both on and off the golf course, but places are limited to just 40 so you’d best be quick in signing up.
The format on the day is fourball alliance and for an entry fee of R1250 per player the package includes:
– A direct charitable contribution to the centre
– Green fees
– Shared golf cart plus shared spotter/caddie
– Ernie Els gift bag including a bottle of wine and an ‘Anahita Mauritius’ golf towel
– Halfway house refreshments
– Buffet dinner, prizegiving and an opportunity to bid and win some exclusive Ernie Els auction items
RSVP: Claire Youngman, email claire.youngman@ernieels.com or telephone 011 484 7254
2. A Wonderful Day at the Ernie Els Picnic and Walk
On 12 April 2014 the Ernie Els Centre hosted a walk and picnic at Rietvlei zoo farm. Big thanks to the staff at Rietvlei Zoo farm and to Seeff Johannesburg South for sponsoring the day. We also thank Empilweni food specialist for providing our families from the centre with 50 delicious food packs including hamburgers and drinks. One parent who attends the Ernie Els centre for Autism was effusive in her praise of the day’s morale boosting qualities.
Joy Morotolo said: “Firstly we enjoyed that day to the fullest. We went out as a family for the first time, no one staring at others. We were normal family again and we enjoyed that. It’s not easy to take out an autistic child to a place where there is full of people. With children like them (ASD) all of them in one place its better, They don’t look at each other different. We would love to have more of these fun days to raise awareness. It must not just be done once a year, it should be incorporated into our lives, our lifestyles…let’s get support!
“We need awareness that there is help out there. For doctors to refer you to a helpful person, to not have to go from A to Z to get help. They (professionals and community members) put all of them and put them in one basket-there is not enough info and research out there. But [if we have more awareness and research, If we have centres like the Ernie Els Centre for Autism, we know exactly where to go. It is high time that we should raise our voice and with the help of Els for Autism our voices are starting to be heard.”
3. Celebrating World Autism Awareness Day and Month
On 2nd April 2014 The Ernie Els Centre for Autism celebrated World Autism Awareness day. The whole team wore blue to support this great cause. Many of the Centre’s parents showed their support by wearing blue and by painting their nails blue, while many golf clubs got behind this international-wide initiative to sell the Ernie Els Autism pins in the month of April. In addition, Glendower Golf Club hosted the Ernie Els Centre for Autism team on 5 April, which was club championship day, where the team were able to sell the pins to the Glendower Club members who were all so kind to support the cause. Again, we’d like to thank everyone who got behind world autism awareness day and month.
4. Pick n Pay supports the Els for Autism Foundation
The Els for Autism Foundation would like to thank Pick n Pay Management and Sustainability teams for their considerable efforts in supporting this worthy cause during the month of April, which is International Autism Awareness month. Pick n Pay got behind the initiative in their wide footprint of stores throughout South Africa in a dual approach at raising funds, but also improving autism awareness both with the thousands of Pick n Pay employees, and the hundreds of thousands of Pick n Pay customers. Funds were raised by shoppers being given the option of donating their Smart Shopper points to the cause or by donating their change at the money boxes at Pick n Pay till points. An autism awareness drive was also executed through various internal and external Pick n Pay media platforms. Please find out more about the variety of charities supported by the Pick n Pay Smart Shopper programme by visiting www.picknpay.co.za/smartshopper-charities
5. About Els for Autism South Africa
The Els for Autism Foundation was established in 2009 by Ernie and Liezl Els to focus on the issue of autism. The Els’ son Ben is severely touched by the disorder, which affects 1 in 88 children. For the last five years Ernie and Liezl have devoted their efforts to a catalytic philanthropic project, The Els Center of Excellence. This first-of-its-kind Center will focus on a digital e-learning platform that gives children on the spectrum around the world access to best practices in education and therapy. It will also help connect the international autism community with best practices and the very latest information and research. South Africa currently boasts the first international link to the Center of Excellence. Located in Johannesburg, the Ernie Els Centre for Autism provides lower resourced families of children on the spectrum with FREE access to effective education for their child via e-learning programmes.
