ACE Team Foundation has raised $5 million at its inaugural gala fundraiser, which will be used to support St Andrew’s Autism Centre (SAAC).
SAAC, which runs the St Andrew's Adult Home (SAAH) and two day activity centres, offers a series of programmes and services to enhance the quality of life for adults with autism in Singapore.
The funding from ACE Team Foundation will help provide more autistic individuals with access to structured activities, vocational training, employment opportunities and social inclusion opportunities. By doing so, they can better lead purposeful lives.
The funding will also go towards enhancements for a new residential wing at SAAH, purpose-built for adults with autism.
According to the National University Health System, the worldwide prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, is estimated to be about 1%. Local prevalence rates are not known exactly but there are at least 400 new cases diagnosed annually.
Chloe Tong, co-founder of the ACE Team Foundation
Speak up
At the gala on Nov 21, the foundation also launched the Adopt-a-Resident pledge, where donors can provide direct support for residents who require so.
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“We must speak up for those who may not have the means to advocate for themselves, and ensure they are not left behind. Too many adults with autism still face limited options and social barriers that keep them out of sight and mind," says Chloe Tong, co-founder of the ACE Team Foundation.
"Our support for SAAC, and enabling SAAH to be a ‘Home away from Home’ for its residents, is about changing that - by building not just physical spaces, but a more compassionate system of care that enables adults with autism to live connected, purposeful lives.
"There is still much more that can be done, and we hope this marks the start of a larger movement to rally support from the wider community,” says Tong, whose father is Tong Kooi Ong, chairman of The Edge Media Group, owner of The Edge Singapore.
According to the foundation, a growing population of adults with autism in Singapore are facing an uncertain and isolating future once they leave the special education school system at the age of 18.
Without continued support or suitable facilities, some lose the structure and routine they rely on to function and thrive.
Currently, day activity centres are limited, residential spaces are few, and in severe cases, individuals may be placed in psychiatric institutions because there is nowhere else suitable for them to go.
Beyond infrastructure, there is a growing social challenge too. According to the foundation, many members of the public may not have engaged with individuals on the autism spectrum before, and thus "uncomfortable interactions" in public often lead to misunderstanding and exclusion for adults with autism.
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Thus, the result is not only isolation for these autistic adults, but also emotional and financial strain for their families, especially ageing parents pondering about the years ahead.
The ACE Team Foundation hopes its support can close these gaps by expanding safe spaces, strengthening community acceptance through providing adults with autism opportunities to learn, grow, and participate meaningfully in the community, while assuring their families of long-term care and respite.
Bernard Chew, CEO of the St Andrew’s Autism Centre
“For many adults with autism, the journey after 18 can be uncertain and isolating. SAAC exists to provide them with not just care, but a place of belonging, engagement and dignity throughout their lives," says Bernard Chew, CEO of the St Andrew’s Autism Centre.
"The generosity of the ACE Team Foundation and its partners help us continue this mission, creating homes and programmes that help adults with autism lead dignified, meaningful, and connected lives, while giving families and caregivers the peace of mind that their loved ones will always have a place where they are understood and cared for," he adds.
The fundraiser on Nov 21 was attended by some 200 leaders from Asia’s business, tech, arts and philanthropic communities.
Every dollar raised during the event was matched by the ACE Team Foundation, and again by the Community Silver Trust, thereby quadrupling the total impact of every contribution.
The partnership between ACE Team Foundation and SAAC was made possible with the support of the Community Foundation of Singapore.
Besides fund-raising, the ACE Team Foundation introduced its mission and work, underpinned by the belief that everyone deserves a fair chance to belong and to thrive.
