Published: March 15, 2010
Els for Autism Charity Pro-Am Golf Tournament Held
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - The 2nd annual Els for Autism Charity Pro-Am Golf Tournament was held
March 14-15 at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
The event raised more than $800,000 for the Els for Autism Foundation,
which is dedicated to finding a solution to the epidemic of autism in
young children.
The organization was founded by Ernie Els and his wife Liezl, in
conjunction with Marvin R. Shanken, the chairman of M.Shanken
Communications, and the publisher of Wine Spectator and Cigar Aficionado
magazines. The Els announced to the world in March 2008 that their son,
Ben, now 7, suffered from autism.
PGA Tour professionals including Els, Steve Sticker, Stuart Appleby,
Robert Allenby, Justin Leonard, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Briny Baird and
Rory Sabbatini played in the event. Golf legends Jack Nicklaus and
Raymond Floyd also led two of the 22 teams of amateurs who took part in
the event.
The Els for Autism Foundation has embarked on a capital campaign to
raise $30 million for a 300 student school and research facility, the
Center for Excellence, to be built in Florida. The research center will
be dedicated to all aspects of autism treatment and study, and will put
together innovative programs for education, therapy and research for
children across the autism spectrum.
"Today, the dream is becoming a reality with the help and generosity of
the people here," Els said. "This center is needed in the community and
in the world. The families of autistic kids and the kids themselves need
a lot of help, and this center will help them." Els expressd deep
gratitude to the people who attended the charity pro-am tournament and
said, 'Words cannot express how we feel."
The event's co-sponsors are M. Shanken Communications and the Richemont
Group, with its chairman Johann Rupert. Corporate sponsors include
Bacardi, Barnes and Noble, Brown-Forman, Callaway Golf, Diageo,
Moet-Hennessey, Patron Spirits, PGA National, The Related Group, Royal
Bank of Canada, Robert Talbott, Skyy Spirits, and the PGA.

M. Shanken Communications
Gordon Mott, 212-684-4224
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