It’s hard to believe, but this year was our 11th year holding the Orange Effect Foundation Golf for Autism. This year was our biggest ever, with over 160 golfers participating, and major support from our premier sponsor Petco, and our gold sponsors GIE Media and Aon (as well as a number of others).
This year we were able to raise over $30,000. That money will be used immediately to make sure children with speech challenges get the therapy or technology they need to be…well…whatever they want.
Just about everyone I talked to at the event had some connection with an adult or child with autism, with all of those cases involving some difficulties in speech. The heartbreaking part of hearing these stories is how expensive some of the therapy services are, and how many families simply don’t have the funds to pay for them. Grants have dried up. Insurance is…well, you know that story. Some therapy costs as much as $400 an hour. Some necessary technology equipment requires an investment of ten thousand dollars or more.
That is why the Orange Effect Foundation exists…to fund those who can’t find the funds anywhere else.
It’s a tragedy that some families are forced to forego therapy because they cannot afford it. I don’t know where my son Joshua (now 15 and a sophomore in high school) would be if he didn’t receive early intervention speech and play therapy. We were in a financial position where we could afford the services. So many are not that fortunate.
The OEF Golf for Autism is one of our major events, and $30,000 raised is fantastic. I can’t thank the golfers, sponsors and supporters for making it possible. It will surely go to good use.
But we need more. We don’t have enough funds to cover all the cases out there. Donate today if you can, or pass this post on to someone sympathetic to the cause.
Yours in Orange…always.
Joe Pulizzi, Co-Founder, Orange Effect Foundation
