By Aryn Strickland
FERGUS – Autism Behavioural Services Inc (ABS) therapeutic centre’s fundraiser on April 13 raised $3,600.
It is the first in a list of fundraisers planned to support local children on the spectrum when funding extensions end and the provincial government’s recent cuts are in full effect.
On Feb. 6 the Progressive Conservative government announced it would introduce a new autism funding model to start April 1.
Then, on March 25, Community and Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod announced that families receiving services under the current system would be given six-month extensions.
Last week’s Autism Strikes Back event demonstrated local support for families in Wellington County experiencing the funding cuts, said the centre’s operations manager Melissa Millard.
“I think it was fantastic. I would have liked to see a lot more people from town coming out … I mean we had a lot of supporters from the parents and from some of the local businesses and things like that – but I would have liked to see a lot more of the town people come.”
According to Millard the money raised will be used for a variety of different programs.
“We have summer camps coming up, we have some new people coming in, we have got some new programs we are going to start up and then that money will be used towards anybody transitioning into school come September,” she said.
Before the fall, ABS hopes to host more fundraisers, including a May 2 tour of five breweries in Guelph.
“We also have Royal City Brewing doing some fundraising for us…Whoever comes on the buses just donates for the ride and they donate all of those proceeds back to [Autism Behavioural Services],” said Millard.
Other fundraisers include a giant garage sale and the centre’s annual three-pitch baseball tournament (dates to be announced).
Already the organization is thankful for the support it received during its Autism Strikes Back event.
“We’d love to thank everybody who donated and everybody who came out; it was a great effort done by all,” said Millard.
CORRECTION
The cutline accompanying photos from the Autism Strikes Back fundraiser in last week’s Advertiser incorrectly identified the Stella & Dot distributor.
The correct name of the distributor is Sam Henderson.
The Advertiser regrets the error.
