Thursday, August 28, marked another significant chapter in the story of The Els for Autism Foundation, with Ernie and Liezl Els leading a groundbreaking ceremony for a specialized autism-friendly recreation complex. Construction begins soon and when completed it will feature a gymnasium, therapeutic area, splash pad and competition pool. It will be the first complex of its kind in the US.
“It was the missing link,” commented Liezl Els, co-founder & Managing Director of Els for Autism. “It will bring so much more to our campus, all designed with the autism community in mind.”
“This new rec center is going to be something very special for our students to explore,” added Ernie, “something for them to learn about, something to help them in their everyday life. We always want to stay ahead of the curve and we’re successfully doing that. I think eventually we’re going to end up maybe with a medical center and all of that. So let’s see how it goes.”
With drowning being the leading cause of death for children with autism, this complex will have a meaningful impact on the local community. It’s especially vital with the ocean being in such close proximity for the area’s population. Through a new Autism Aquatics program, the team will provide lifesaving swim instruction and water safety education.
It’s a subject that resonates strongly with Ernie himself. Each morning, when he’s not competing in tournaments on the PGA Champions Tour, Ernie takes his son Ben for a walk on the beach near their family home. And usually a swim, too.
“Ben can swim,” Ernie says proudly.
The Els for Autism Foundation was established in 2009 on a mission to create a world-class campus where children and adults with autism spectrum disorder can access education, therapy and support in one place. Since then, the growth and scope of the foundation’s facilities has been extraordinary.
In 2015, the Els Center of Excellence opened with one education wing that housed a charter school in partnership with Palm Beach County Schools, and a three-hole, par-3 golf course. That was just the beginning. A year later, a second charter school, tennis and basketball courts, and a pavilion and sensory arts garden were unveiled. In 2023, the Stoops Family Foundation Adult Services Building, which serves adults with autism, was completed. Now, the new recreation complex is in the works.
“We have big dreams,” says Ernie. “Golf is what I’ve known and loved since the age of seven. And golf, as long as I’m healthy, I’ll be playing. But this is a passion of ours, a family passion. So this thing is where we spend a lot of energy on.”
To learn more about Els for Autism, visit www.elsforautism.org.
