Ernie welcomed 17 of his fellow tour professionals, including seven major champions, and 58 keenly competitive amateurs for a day of fun and fundraising at the latest annual Els for Autism Pro Am on 18 March, 2024.

As is customary at this event, a pairings party and dinner took place the previous evening at The Els Center of Excellence, with the great Jack Nicklaus in attendance. This was followed by golf the next day at the splendid Old Palm Golf Club in nearby Palm Beach Gardens, a golf course designed by Raymond Floyd who was part of the stellar line-up of tour pros playing that day. 

By the end of proceedings, an impressive $800,000 had been fundraised, with every cent and dollar going to The Els for Autism Foundation. 

Writing on social media later that evening, Ernie commented “Sending my personal thanks to all the participants and sponsors who made our latest Els for Autism Wine Spectator Cigar Aficionado Pro Am such a special day. Once again, we are humbled by the spirit of kindness and generosity that contributed to another incredible fundraising total. And special thanks to my friends at NetJets for their continued support for Els for Autism and the incredible work being done to help children with autism and their families. This is life-changing and our life’s work.”

For more information on Els for Autism, including details of how to donate, please visit the website.

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The 2023 Golf Challenge, the 13th instalment of one of the world’s largest charity-driven, amateur golf tournaments played every year at top-rated courses across the US and Canada, has smashed through the $3 million mark in funds raised for Els for Autism. 

Since the event’s inception in 2011, over 21,000 rounds of golf have been played and the fundraising total now stands at a staggering $37 million. Every dollar and cent raised benefits the Els for Autism Foundation, which is committed to better understanding the aspirations of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and helping them to fulfil their potential to lead positive, productive and rewarding lives. 

This month, as is customary, all Golf Challenge winners, sponsors and top fundraisers gathered at the Grand Finale, a two-day extravaganza of golf and entertainment. The event, which is attended by Ernie and Liezl, this year took place in the opulent surroundings of The Breakers in Palm Beach (pictured above) and included golf on the resort’s exquisite Ocean Course, Florida’s oldest layout.

“This is always one of the highlights of the year for Liezl and me,” says Ernie. “It’s a pleasure for us and the team at Els for Autism to spend time with everyone who earns their place at the Grand Finale and to have some fun together. Liezl and I have spoken about this before; we’re humbled by their commitment and efforts to raise money for our foundation. They have our sincere gratitude and respect. They’re literally helping change peoples’ lives, making a positive impact for individuals and families affected by autism spectrum disorder. And the results of their fundraising efforts are evident every day in the wonderful work being done at The Els Center of Excellence.”

To sign up for updates and news from Els for Autism, including how to participate in the 2024 Golf Challenge, please visit the website.

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There’s lots happening at Els for Autism, South Africa. 

1. Celebrating Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month
The 2nd of April is sanctioned by the United Nations as autism awareness and acceptance day, so for us here at Els for Autism it makes sense to make the whole month a celebration. As with every year, there are so many initiatives and campaigns all around the world celebrating and raising awareness for autism. 

This year the team at Els for Autism, South Africa spent the 2nd of April in Phelang LSEN school in Kwa-Thema-Springs to celebrate with other organisations and the community at large. The event was attended by several organisations, including Autism South Africa, and the schools around Gauteng to help raise autism awareness in the community. 

The team also got to celebrate the month of April with Sizanani LSEN school; they had an autism celebration day in Bronkhorspruit, during which the learners put on an amazing show that included a marimba band and dancing. We were showered with gifts ranging from flowers to chocolates all prepared by the learners in the skills department. 

The team then attended and presented at the Special Education and Inclusive Learning conference that was help at the Gallagher estate in Boksburg, the theme being empowering educators and how that directly impacts the child. We are so thankful to PSM consulting for allowing us to be part of such an impactful event. 

Meanwhile, UNICA school for autism in Pretoria celebrated 40 years being the second oldest school in South Africa. They had a fun day of outdoor activities for the children, including a pride walk, and rounded off with a giant cake cutting and releasing of balloons. What a spectacle it was and we were thrilled to be a part of it. 

2. Vision Mission Initiative
We are delighted to share with you some exciting news about a recent partnership between Els for Autism South Africa and Ster-Kinekor, as we joined forces for the Vision Mission Initiative. This collaborative effort aims to address the vision needs of people across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape. 

The primary objective of the Vision Mission Initiative was to provide free eye screening and testing to students in these provinces. This initiative not only aimed to identify potential vision issues but also took steps to rectify them by providing free glasses to those in need. We are pleased to announce that up to 200 learners participated in the screening process. Out of this group, it was discovered that 40 learners required glasses to improve their vision. Additionally, as part of this wonderful initiative, the learners were also invited to attend an autism-friendly movie screening at Ster-Kinekor Theatres. This experience offered a safe and inclusive environment for the students to enjoy a movie tailored to their unique needs, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable cinematic experience. 

3. Ernie Els #GameON Autism Golf Clinics
We are thrilled to share the news that we have successfully conducted two Ernie Els #GameON Autism Golf Clinics this year, aimed at providing an inclusive and enjoyable golfing experience for individuals on the autism spectrum. In February, we hosted our first golf clinic at the Stellenbosch Golf Club, inviting the students of Beacon School. It was a fantastic event filled with fun for all the learners involved. Following that, in June, we organized our second golf clinic at Prince’s Grant Golf Estate, inviting the Hands and Hearts Intervention Centre. Once again, it was a memorable day of golf for everyone!

Currently, we are running the Ernie Els #GameON Autism Golf Curriculum, a comprehensive program designed to integrate autism learning concepts into golf lessons. The curriculum spans 12 sessions and is conducted once a week at the Randpark Golf Course. Through this program, we aim to help participants achieve their individual golf successes while fostering confidence and self-esteem in a fun, supportive environment. By embedding evidence-based practices for teaching golf to individuals on the autism spectrum, we are committed to creating an inclusive golfing experience that embraces the unique strengths and abilities of each participant.

4. Visual Kits available from Els for Autism
As autistic individuals are very visual based, we wanted to empower our families with resources to help them navigate transitions and a reward system. We sent each of them a token board and also a car sticker for emergencies reading ‘autistic person on board, in case of emergency they may resist help’. We would like to thank Sign Works for sponsoring us with these stickers. We also added an Autism Awareness and Acceptance book written and drawn by Lindsey Carter, an autistic adult, in which she shares her experience as an autistic person. We would like to thank Autism South Africa for allowing us to share this with our families. For those who would like to order more copies of this colouring book please reach out to Autism South Africa. It retails for R80 and you can email info@autismsouthafrica.org to place your order. 

5. Teacher training with Els for Autism, South Africa
We completed a total of three teacher training sessions this last six months, with three different schools: Sizanani LSEN school, Chere Botha School, and UNICA school. In our teacher training we cover a lot of concepts on how to approach challenging behaviour in the classroom setting. It is an interactive four-part training program where we use practical examples replicating what happens in the school’s premises. We are grateful to all the schools that have allowed us into their spaces and we look forward to building long-lasting relationships together. If you know a school that would benefit from this training program, please contact Aretha at our Center. Contact details can be found at the bottom of this newsletter, thank you.

6. STARS (Siblings That Are Really Special)
In March and June, we hosted our latest quarterly siblings support groups – a collaboration alongside Autism South Africa, CARE, and the Johannesburg School for Autism – and dedicated to the needs of siblings of children with autism. It is a great opportunity for the siblings to talk about issues that may be confusing them, to learn more about what their autistic sibling is experiencing as a neurodiverse person. Mostly it is a space for them to meet other siblings and connect with people experiencing similar things. One was held at CARE and the other was held at the CMI building. We have two more coming up this year,  on the 2nd of September and the 11th of November. If you have never joined us, we encourage that you do. We run a parent support group simultaneously during that time.

7. Family Fun Day at Els for Autism
In June we held a family fun day in Cape town at the Toy Library and another n Johannesburg at Play Africa. The objective of these days is to create a safe and secure space for our families to enjoy play and fun together alongside their children. We were thrilled to have a big turn-out on both venues. We also want to expose families to places they can take their children to enjoy quality family time on the weekend.

8. Welcome to our newest Team Member
It is our pleasure to introduce our new team member Zain Bassa, an autistic adult who attended our pre-vocational program last year and is now part of our staff. We are very excited to have Zain as part of our team and are happy to let him introduce himself…

“My name is Zain Bassa. I am 21 years old and turn 22 in July. I live at home with my mom, dad and three dogs – Chuff Tuff and Fluff. I love playing golf every weekend. I am a member at The Wanderers Golf Club. I love going to the movies with my friends and family. I like action movies and comedy movies. At home I like listening to music and playing games on my iPad and iPhone. I enjoy going on holidays to do different countries and places.”

Welcome to the team Zain! 

9. Take Part in our Ernie Els Charities SA Golf Days
We have been very fortunate to have an outstanding 2023 Ernie Els Charities Golf Series so far. All our days have been fully booked and the support has been spectacular. We are very thankful and appreciative of all the money raised since the first golf day of our series, which this year kicked-off at St Francis Links in February. 

Our next golf day at Ebotse on the 31st of August is already fully booked, as well as the following golf days at Highland Gate and Silver Lakes. Wow! We are also very excited about our Premier Event at Leopard Creek on the 31st of October. Players purchased spots at our auctions in order to play at Leopard Creek. We are looking forward to an eventful day. The series will conclude at Sun City on the 22nd and 23rd of November. We are sincerely thankful for all of our sponsors as well as for each and every player who has played in our golf days and will be playing in the upcoming golf days!

10. Follow us on Social Media
These first six months of the year have been very busy but we at Els for Autism, South Africa are very grateful to get the opportunity to journey with you all. We want to finish the year strong! Remember to follow us on all our social media platforms for updates on what we are up to.

Instagram: @elsforautism_sa
Facebook: Els For Autism, South Africa
Twitter: @elsforautism_sa

Have a warm winter!

For more information, visit the website: https://www.elsforautismsouthafrica.org/

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The Els for Autism Foundation is pleased to announce that it will be hosting the Autism Innovations and Global Impact Conference on March 23-24, 2023. 

The conference will take place at The Els Center of Excellence® campus at 18370 Limestone Creek Road, Jupiter, Florida 33458. It will focus on demonstrating how recreation can be used as a platform for other therapeutic interventions, proven to be critically important for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disorders. Topics covered will include recreation activities and experiences in the areas of:

• Arts
• Leisure
• Healthy Living
• Well-being
• Sports
• Fitness

These activities and experiences produce emotions of achievement and enjoyment and promote inclusion, self-confidence, and increased quality of life.

Guest speakers at the event will include leaders in recreation programs and services, dedicated to improving the lives of individuals on the autism spectrum. The conference will provide tools and best practices for organizations, providers, and practitioners.

For more information about the conference including the detailed schedule, speaker bios, and early bird registration, go to:  https://bit.ly/Rec-Conference-2023. Conference participants can also register to participate in the Roots & Ruts Off-Road 5K Run/Walk on March 25 at a discounted rate.

About Els for Autism
Els for Autism Foundation was established in 2009 by Liezl Els, Ernie Els, and Marvin R. Shanken. The Els’ son, Ben, is impacted by autism spectrum disorder, which affects 1 in 44 children in the U.S. The Foundation offers innovative, evidence-based programs for families and individuals across the life-span in six focus areas: Education, Research, Global Support, Recreation Services, Adult Services and Therapy Services. The Els for Autism Foundation serves families around the world, and also offers in-person programs and services at The Els Center of Excellence® in Jupiter, Florida. For more information on Els for Autism, visit the website: https://www.elsforautism.org.

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Spearheaded by World Golf Hall of Famer Ernie Els, the 2022 Golf Challenge consists of a series of regional events at top-rated golf courses across the US and Canada from April through October.

Please click here for full schedule

A team’s fundraising ability is valued just as much as their performance on the golf course. Indeed, teams or sponsors who raise $15,000 or more during the 2022 Golf Challenge regional event series will enjoy a two-day extravaganza of golf and entertainment at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas and a round of golf at the spectacular Ernie Els-designed Albany in the Bahamas (pictured above).

The finalist package includes:

·      Access to the Grand Finale for a two golfing guests and two non-golfing guests

·      Entry into the Grand Finale golf tournament for each golfing guests

·      Invitation to the Welcome Reception for all guests

·      Invitation to the Gala Celebration & Awards Ceremony for all guests

·      Two nights’ accommodation (based on double occupancy)

·      Luxury gift bag for each golfing guests

Teams who raise $30,000 or more during the 2022 Golf Challenge regional event series will be upgraded to ‘VIP Golden Circle’ status qualifying them for a range of unique privileges including an extra night of hotel accommodation.

Funds raised through Golf Challenge team fundraising benefit the Els for Autism Foundation, which is committed to better understanding the aspirations of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and helping them to fulfill their potential to lead positive, productive and rewarding lives.

To donate or register by check:
Make check payable to ‘Els for Autism’
Els for Autism
Attn: Golf Challenge Accounting
18370 Limestone Creek Road
Jupiter, FL 33458

For more information, visit the website: www.e4agolf.com.

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Latest news from The Ernie Els Centre for Autism in SA, providing lower resourced families of children on the autism spectrum with free access to effective education for their child via e-learning programs.

1. Measuring success of the Ernie Els #GameOn Autism Golf Programme
The Ernie Els #GameOn Autism Golf Programme is comprised of 12 golf lessons, for young people (aged 8-18) on the autism spectrum. It aims to develop life skills, encourage social interaction and promote a healthy lifestyle, through golf. Each session is designed to build confidence and self-esteem, in a fun, welcoming, supportive environment, encouraging participants to learn golf skills, while practising specific autism learning concepts.

Els for Autism, South Africa is collaborating with four sites across the globe, including the UK, US, and Ireland, in our delivery of a multi-site group project that takes place from September to November 2021. This international group project seeks to measure the success of the Ernie Els #GameOn Autism Golf Programme, providing a global evidence base to support enhanced provision of Health Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) for young people on the autism spectrum.

To learn more about this program please visit: https://www.elsforautism.org/get-involved/resource-center-ernie-els-gameon-autism-tm-golf/.

2. Empowering parents with a new group telehealth coaching project
Over the past few years, Els for Autism South Africa has been offering parent-focused intervention. And since 2019 the team has added a shorter-term parent coaching service, using the RUBI Autism Network manual as a guide. This parent training manual was developed by Karen Bearrs and colleagues.

For over a decade, The RUBI Autism Network has developed and tested a structured parent training (PT) manual for children with ASD and disruptive behaviours. The RUBI parent manual consists of several core sessions, which include functional approaches to managing challenging behaviour, as well as having a focus on teaching appropriate alternative skills utilising evidence-based practice teaching tools. In South Africa, we have incorporated an ‘Autism 101’ power point presentation, as an introductory session, to ensure all families are equipped with the foundational knowledge regarding the autism spectrum.

Participants are expected to commit to each session and provide feedback on strategies practised at home with their child. Strategies will then be altered to better suit the style of learning for the child.

“The goal of this resource is to impart effective behavioural techniques for reducing disruptive behaviour in children with ASD and to promote acquisition of daily living skills,” commented Shani Lits, Program Director at Els For Autism South Africa.

This approach is so valuable, given that 25%-53% of children with ASD display clinically significant externalizing, disruptive, or aggressive behaviour (Edwards et al. 2019). Moreover, behaviours that are challenging can interfere with language, communication, social skills, and hinder the ability to learn adaptive behaviours required for daily living (Edwards et al. 2019). Therefore, this approach of focusing on both decreasing disruptive behaviours while simultaneously working on functional replacement skills is a powerful and effective tool for families.

Why parent training?
Parents or caregivers are the powerhouse and the agent of change! Thus, parent training allows to tap into this knowledgeable powerhouse (after all, who knows more about their child then the parent or caregiver?) by incorporating both education and training to parents to assist in better managing their child’s behaviour in a familiar and supportive environment. Parent training has been proven to reduce disruptive behaviour and set the stage for improved adaptive functioning; and can be delivered across a variety of settings.

We are thrilled to be a part of an upcoming research project, undertaken by multiple organizations spanning three countries (South Africa, USA and Canada). This research project is being carried out for the first time in South Africa, where RUBI support will be offered in a group context, and via telehealth. We are eager to get feedback from our participants to see how we can change the project to better suit our context.

Why group and telehealth?
Group-based parent training is a low-cost service alternative, serving multiple clients at once. It also has the added benefit of providing social support for the participating parents. Telehealth allows for more access for clients and provides more flexibility for the family that has a child with ASD. Together, offering parent coaching in a group context, via telehealth, offers parents or caregivers the opportunity to learn the necessary skills to reduce challenging behaviour, and thus they will be more likely prepared for possible future challenges. This in turn will empower parents to feel more confident about managing their child’s behaviour.

Els for Autism South Africa is excited to be part of this team and we are looking forward to being able to offer the RUBI parent-group training telehealth project in the future, to service more families. We look forward to providing you with feedback on this incredible research in the upcoming weeks.

3. New teacher training sessions from Els for Autism South Africa
We are now offering an introductory training for teachers and professionals in a school context. In recent years, Els for Autism South Africa has found that this, coupled with the identification of a gap in teacher support, has helped us to welcome the opportunity to offer a teacher support service.

The goal of this teacher empowerment training is to provide relevant teachers, support staff, and school management with general guidelines, using evidence-based practices, on how to manage challenging behaviours in the classroom. Together we work through the A’s, B’s, and C’s of behaviour, that is the Antecedent (what is the trigger), Behaviour (how to identify and define a behaviour) and Consequence (what happens after a behaviour).

We aim to guide the staff in identifying the function of the behaviour (why does the behaviour happen), and how to use a more functional behaviour approach, that could be helpful in the classroom to identify suitable prevention and consequence-based strategies. We use classroom examples and give practical recommendations to better equip teachers with tools to manage a variety of challenging behaviours.

“Given South Africa’s current Covid-19 regulations, we have only been able to offer this service via an online platform, Zoom,” explained Shani Lits, Program Director at Els For Autism South Africa. “We have had the privilege to offer this service to a handful of schools this year. The teacher empowerment programme is currently offered as four 1-hour sessions for four weeks. We have received amazing feedback thus far and are excited to continue providing this service to more schools.”

Should you or your school are interested in this service please do not hesitate to contact us on Aretha.kausele@elsforautism.org , or alternatively on (072) 961-5756.

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Arcis Golf, the second largest owner-operator of private, resort, and daily fee clubs in the US, launches a campaign that expands its partnership with The Els for Autism Foundation.

The ‘Arcis Round Up For Autism’ program begins in conjunction with April’s now traditional World Autism Awareness Month. At 60 Arcis Golf clubs around the country, members, guests and patrons will be encouraged to ‘round up’ to the nearest dollar on any purchases of merchandise, food and beverage, or golf as a donation to Els for Autism. Additional contributions will be accepted through September, with clubs or individuals raising or donating $15,000 or more invited to send a two-person team to play in the annual Els for Autism Golf Challenge Grand Finale in mid-October.

“Arcis Golf is proud to support the Els for Autism initiative through the participation of our generous members and guests,” said Blake Walker, Founder and CEO of Dallas-based Arcis Golf. “Our goal is to promote the tremendous work of the Foundation, as well as raise funds for programs that create a better future for people with autism spectrum disorder as one in every 59 children in the US is affected by autism.”

“The support and partnership of Arcis Golf is truly appreciated,” said Ernie, who established The Els for Autism Foundation in 2009 with his wife, Liezl (pictured above), after their son Ben was diagnosed. “By rounding up and engaging golfers in this simplest of actions, we can generate funds to learn more about autism.”

For more information on Els for Autism and the state-of-the-art campus, The Els Center of Excellence, in Florida, with a local, national and global reach, please visit the website: https://www.elsforautism.org.

For more information on Arcis Golf, please visit the website: http://www.arcisgolf.com.

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The 10th edition of this annual event took place on 12 March 2018 and raised $1.06 million, bringing the total since the Pro Am’s inception to more than $10 million.

Beautiful Old Palm Golf Club in Florida once again played host to this fundraising event, which has become a firm fixture on the March golfing calendar. As in previous years, an impressive line-up of tour professionals teed-up for the cause: Branden Grace, Bruce Fleisher, Bud Cauley, Cameron Tringale, Camillo Villegas, Charl Schwartzel, Heath Slocum, Jack Nicklaus, Jamie Lovemark, Jon Curran, Keegan Bradley, Louis Oosthuizen, Marc Leishman, Nick Price, Peter Malnati, Peter Uihlein, Robert Allenby, Rory McIlroy, Rory Sabbatini, Thomas Aiken and Tony Finau.

“Guys, thanks so much for your support,” commented Ernie. “Despite some wild weather, it was another special day in the story of Els for Autism and to bring the grand fundraising total at this event to over $10 million is just incredible. Thanks to the amateurs who took part and to our hosts at Old Palm. Thanks also to our inspiration and driving force at this event, Marvin Shanken (pictured below right), and to Wine Australia who sponsored the $1 million hole-in-one contest. Congrats to Robert Allenby and his team who took top honours on the golf course!”

The money raised in the 10-year history of the Annual Wine Spectator & Cigar Aficionado Els for Autism Pro Am is already working hard making a positive difference to the lives of individuals and families on the autism spectrum. You can read more about the work of Els for Autism and the ground-breaking initiatives that have been introduced at The Els Center of Excellence by visiting the website: www.elsforautism.org.

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The Heisman Trophy Trust has announced that Ernie Els will be awarded the 12th Heisman Humanitarian Award by the Heisman Trophy Trust in recognition of his diligent efforts in assisting those with Autism.

The announcement (pictured below) took place at Liberty National Golf Club on August 28th, in conjunction with an Els for Autism 2017 Golf Challenge event. Heisman Trustee Sanford Wurmfeld made the announcement to the guests gathered at the event. Els was on hand along with fellow PGA Tour golfer Branden Grace.

“We are proud to name Ernie Els the recipient of our 2017 Heisman Humanitarian Award” said Heisman Trustee, Sanford Wurmfeld. “Mr. Els is a living testament to everything the Heisman Trophy Trust represents: athleticism and a spirit of giving to others. His work with the Autism community is quite admirable. We hope that other athletes will follow in Ernie’s footsteps and consider helping those less fortunate. We look forward to honoring Ernie at our Heisman Dinner Gala this December.”

The Heisman Trust honors the most outstanding college football player each year with the Heisman Memorial Trophy. The Trust has a mission to support amateur athletics and provide greater opportunities to the youth of our country. The Heisman Humanitarian Award was created as an extension to the Heisman Trophy’s greater outreach to athletes who are providing opportunities to those less fortunate.

Since his son’s autism diagnosis, Els and his wife, Leizl, have been active in charities devoted to assisting those with Autism. Through the Els for Autism Foundation and the Els Center of Excellence, he has provided invaluable resources for others to realize the programs and therapies that can help an individual diagnosed with Autism. Furthermore, Els has helped raise considerable awareness for the Autism community.

“When my wife Liezl and I started the Foundation back in 2009, our son Ben had just been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder,” stated Els. “From the beginning our goal has been to create The Center of Excellence which would be an example of what can be available to individuals on the spectrum. The Center has all the essential components on one campus, which makes it easier for families. It’s a game changer for the local and international autism community. I’m honored to receive this year’s Heisman Humanitarian Award recognizing my work with the autism community. Along with Liezl we will continue to devote our time to this important cause.”

Els joins the company of eleven other extraordinary Heisman Humanitarians including: Joey Cheek, Olympic speed skating gold medalist, for his dedication and service to the children of Darfur; George Martin, former defensive end of the New York Giants, who walked across America to raise funds for rescue and recovery workers at Ground Zero after 9/11; Pat LaFontaine, former NHL star who, through his Companions in Courage Foundation, builds interactive playrooms in children’s hospitals to keep young patients connected to their families and friends; Mia Hamm, world-renowned soccer player, who raises funds and awareness for families needing marrow or cord blood transplants and continues to build opportunities for young women in sports; Warrick Dunn, former NFL running back, who has provided homes for single parent families to honor his mother’s memory; Marty Lyons, University of Alabama and New York Jet defensive tackle, whose foundation fulfils special wishes of children with terminal or life threatening illness; Jeff Gordon, four time NASCAR Cup Series champion and founder of the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation, which supports children battling cancer; David Robinson, former San Antonio Spurs center, who has dedicated himself to helping children and families in need in the San Antonio community; Joe Torre, legendary baseball player/manager who created the Joe Torre Safe at Home foundation that works to end the cycle of domestic violence; Boomer Esiason, All-Pro Quarterback whose Boomer Esiason Foundation fights cystic fibrosis; and Alan Page who assists students of color achieve their dreams in furthering their education.

The Heisman Trophy Trust is delighted to welcome Ernie Els into the Heisman family as the 2017 Heisman Humanitarian Winner. Els will receive his award at the 83rd Annual Heisman Memorial Trophy Gala on Sunday, December 10th, in New York City. Tickets to the dinner gala are available online at www.Heisman.com.

About the Heisman Trophy Trust: The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. The Heisman Trophy Trust ensures the continuation and integrity of this award. The Trust, furthermore, has a charitable mission to support amateur athletes and to provide greater opportunities to the youth of our country. Our goal through these charitable endeavors is for The Heisman Trophy to symbolize the fostering of a sense of community responsibility and service to our youth, especially those disadvantaged or afflicted.

About Els for Autism: The Els for Autism Foundation was established in 2009 by PGA Tour golfer Ernie Els and his wife Liezl (residents of Jupiter, FL), shortly after their son Ben was diagnosed with autism. The Foundation’s mission is to help people on the autism spectrum fulfil their potential to lead positive, productive and rewarding lives. Els for Autism has offices in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, and the UK. To help fulfil its mission, Els for Autism is building a state-of-the-art Center of Excellence in Jupiter, FL, with a local, national and global reach. Donations can be made online at www.e4aannualgiving.org and by check (made payable to ‘Els for Autism’) and addressed to: Els for Autism Foundation, The Els Center of Excellence, 18370 Limestone Creek Road, Jupiter, FL 33458.

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Ernie Els is among the nominees identified across the world of sports for the third annual Sports Humanitarian of the Year Awards, presented by ESPN and sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb.

The event will celebrate and honor leagues, teams, individuals and members of the sporting community that are using the power of sport to make a positive impact on society. Winners will be announced from nominees of three returning award categories: Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year, Corporate Community Impact Award and League Humanitarian Leadership Award. New this year is the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award (changed from last year’s Sports Humanitarian of the Year) to honor the legacy of Muhammad Ali’s impact on society. Additionally, three Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award honorees will be recognized.

Laila Ali will return as host for the Sports Humanitarian Awards for the third year alongside ESPN’s Mike Greenberg. Highlights of the evening will be showcased during a one-hour program on ESPN, July 25, at 7 p.m. ET. Additionally, Lilly Oncology is returning as an event sponsor.

The net proceeds of the event will benefit the Stuart Scott Memorial Cancer Research Fund at the V Foundation. In addition, ESPN will grant another $1 million to the charities of the nominees and winners. Combined, more than $1.7 million was distributed to the community as a result of the initiative in 2016.

The finalists and winners have been determined by an independent selection committee, which includes: Nick Keller, Founder and President of Beyond Sport, Donald Lassere, CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center, Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, CEO of Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA, Sab Singh, Founder of Sports Doing Good, Caryl Stern, CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and Eli Wolff, Director of the Sport and Society program at Brown University.

“The Sports Humanitarian Awards finalists and honorees are making a true, measurable impact on society using the power of sports,” said Kevin Martinez, vice president of ESPN Corporate Citizenship. “With the newly named Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award, moving the event to The Novo and an hour-long special on ESPN, this year’s show promises to be the best yet.”

MUHAMMAD ALI SPORTS HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR
The Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian of the Year Award recognizes an athlete whose continuous, demonstrated leadership has created a positive impact on their community through sports. The winner will be able to direct a $100,000 grant from ESPN to the qualified charity related to the award-winning humanitarian efforts. The finalists will be able to direct a $25,000 grant to the charity related to their award-winning efforts.

Nominees (winner to be announced at awards ceremony July 11): 

• Ernie Els: In 2009, Ernie Els and his wife Liezl established the Els for Autism Foundation shortly after their son, Ben, was diagnosed with autism. The Els have donated millions of their own money, and through dedicated fundraising they opened the first components of The Els Center of Excellence. The Center, based in Jupiter, Fla., serves the local, national and international autism communities and is game-changing resource in the field. To date, his programs have served over 3,647 individuals with Autism and their families from 13 countries, focusing on education, global outreach, therapy, research, recreation and adult services. Els’ programs extend to the links as well with his innovative Ernie Els #GameON Autism Golf program, which encourages participants to learn golf skills while practicing specific autism learning concepts including communication, emotional regulation, motor and social skills.
• Larry Fitzgerald: Following a long tradition of community service in his family, giving back is part of Larry Fitzgerald’s ethos. Through the Larry Fitzgerald First Down Fund, he has supported middle and high schools in Minneapolis and Phoenix to fund books, science supplies and field trips, and helps provide the latest technology to disadvantaged youth who otherwise would not have access. He helped to outfit the entire Minneapolis Parks and Recreation youth football program where Larry first played football as a young child with 1,000 new helmets. In honor of his late mother, Fitzgerald has become a champion of breast cancer research and has used his play on the field to highlight breast cancer awareness and prevention efforts. He also has teamed with a number of international aid foundations, helping fit hundreds of hearing aids for those in need all over Africa, as well as working on irrigation systems and digging wells in local communities.
• Mark Giordano: Undrafted but now at the forefront of the Calgary Flames as team captain, Mark Giordano never loses sight of what got him to the NHL, and consistently exhibits conviction, integrity and bravery in his long-history of giving back to the community. His 5 for 5 initiative provided the funding to build five homes with Habitat for Humanity in Ethiopia, India, Kenya, the Philippines and the Calgary area. In 2014, he and his wife Lauren launched Team Giordano, which has helped 1,900 students in four high-needs Calgary schools. The program not only provides resources, including computers, supplies and their own “Gio Journals” to track students’ progress, but promotes physical fitness, academics, and the positive behaviors that lead to success in life. And the program is working—with one school reporting that 88% of students are reading at grade level thanks to the literacy resources provided courtesy of Team Giordano. Additionally, he stands behind other important community causes, including stamping out discrimination based on sexual orientation and support of mental health awareness.
• Curtis Granderson: Curtis Granderson’s passion is deeply rooted in opening windows of opportunity for youth minorities in underserved communities. He noticed a common obstacle shared by many of these youth – hunger. Since 2012, Granderson has hosted a month-long campaign every November entirely dedicated to solving the food insecurity epidemic. First in Chicago, the Grand Giving program later expanded to New York City, and then nationally in 2017. Since its inception, the campaign has provided more than 3.5 million meals for hungry youth across the country. Additionally, in an effort to get kids active and enjoy the game of baseball, Granderson helped build a new stadium on the campus of his alma mater, the University of Illinois at Chicago, which enables 20,000 inner-city kids the opportunity to play each year.

About ESPN Corporate Citizenship
ESPN believes that, at its very best, sports uplifts the human spirit. Its corporate citizenship programs use power of sport to positively address society’s needs through strategic community investments, cause marketing programs, collaboration with sports organizations and employee volunteerism, while also utilizing its diverse media assets. For more information go to www.espn.com/citizenship.

About the V Foundation for Cancer Research
The V Foundation for Cancer Research is dedicated to declaring victory over cancer. It was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State Basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, the Foundation has funded more than $170 million in cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all direct cash donations to cancer research and related programs. Due to generous donors, the Foundation has an endowment that covers administrative expenses. Not a Moment to Lose, its boldest fundraising campaign to date, aims to raise $200 million for cancer research by 2020 to help transform the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer. The Foundation awards peer-reviewed grants through a competitive awards process vetted by a world-renowned Scientific Advisory Committee. For more information on the V Foundation, please visit www.jimmyv.org.

About Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is one of the most recognizable and influential sports figures of all time. His countless awards and accolades include being named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Century,” GQ’s “Athlete of the Century,” and being the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freeman and the Amnesty International Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition to his groundbreaking achievements as an athlete, Muhammad Ali was a global citizen who dedicated much of his life to helping those in need. He facilitated the delivery of medical supplies to an embargoed Cuba, provided more than 22 million meals to the world’s hungry and helped secure the release of fifteen U.S. hostages from Iraq during the first Gulf War.

About Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol-Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.

ESPN Contact: Josh Krulewitz at (860) 766-2319; josh.krulewitz@espn.com; @jksports
Belen Michelis at (860) 766-1425; belen.michelis@espn.com; @belen_espn

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