Els for Autism 2011 Golf Challenge

myBoat.com sponsors Team 1 in 70 for the Tampa Bay regional qualifying event.

By Eddie Childs

Palm Harbor, FL—One in 70 boys is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than childhood cancer, pediatric AIDS, and juvenile diabetes combined. Significantly, the rate of autism continues to grow by 10%-17% annually.

To help increase awareness, myBoat.com has sponsored Team 1 in 70 for the Els for Autism 2011 Golf Challenge. Team 1 in 70 is led by myBoat.com founder Evan Davis (a former golf pro) and myBoat.com customer Kevin Agren.

For Davis and his wife, Tiffany, the issue of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) awareness is an especially poignant one—their own 9-year-old son, Peter, was diagnosed with three ASDs in 2006. “In our experience, finding reliable data, best practices, treatment paths and local resources for Autism has been time-consuming and laborious because the information is so fragmented,” Davis says, “The Els Center of Excellence is seeking to change that.”

The Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation was founded in 2009 by PGA Tour golfer Ernie Els, whose 8-year-old son, Ben, also has been diagnosed on the Autism spectrum. The Els family has committed $6 million dollars to the Els Center for Excellence, which includes an Internet-based learning platform providing Autism-affected children and parents worldwide with access to best practices in education and therapies. The platform will also connect the international autism community and share the very latest information and research. This first-of-its-kind Center also will host an on-site education campus, medical and professional resources, research facilities and transition-to-adulthood services.

This year, the Foundation launched a capital campaign to raise $30 million dollars to build the center. As a part of this campaign, Els has initiated the Els for Autism Golf Challenge. With 30 regional qualifying events and a grand finale in Las Vegas, the Challenge is the largest charity-driven golf tournament series in U.S. history. Thus far, the series has generated in excess of $1 million for the Center.

For his part, Davis volunteered as Chairman of the Tampa Bay regional qualifying event at TPC Tampa Bay. He says the field is almost full but if anyone would like to play, they can register on-line at www.e4agolf.com. 

“Even if someone can't participate, I hope they’d consider sponsoring Team 1 in 70,” Davis adds. “By doing so, they’ll help get critical information and resources to the millions of families worldwide who are affected by Autism.”

Whether its $5 or $500,000, every dollar will help defeat autism now. For more information or to sponsor Team 1 in 70, click here and select the "Sponsor Team Now" button to make your on-line donation.