Caring businesses and friends from near and far came together at the 2nd Annual Joe Winters Memorial Golf Outing for a great day of golf, laughter, and weather straight from Ireland at the Old Westbury Golf and Country Club on Oct. 3.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The event raised more than $420,000, which will help to combat staggering unemployment rates amongst people with autism. Generous businesses, employer partners, family, and friends represented more than 97 sponsors at the event.
”The outpouring of support for the 2nd Annual Joe Winters Memorial Golf Outing demonstrates the profound influence Joe had in the business and autism communities,” said Christine Ponzio, the executive director of Winters Center for Autism. “If you met Joe once, you knew his dream was to make a difference in the lives of people with autism. We are incredibly humbled by the events of the day and thank each golfer, volunteer, and sponsor who contributed to the success of the event.”
More than 200 golfers gathered on the green for a day of golf, fun, and reflection on Joe’s dedication and devotion to the autism community. In total, there were about 300 guests who celebrated and honored Joe Winters’s vision to improve employment opportunities and wellness for adults with autism.
The Winters Center for Autism is a non-profit organization founded by Joe and Michele Winters in 2020. It is a dynamic partnership of dedicated people working together to enhance the lives of adults with autism through job creation, training, and placement to address the excessive unemployment rate among people with autism.
The Winters Center for Autism addresses that need by identifying skills and talents of participants and matching them with businesses and organizations open to creating jobs for capable and trained employees, creating a kinder and more inclusive Long Island community. The Center also provides fitness, recreation, and social programs to assist participants in achieving their goals.
The center opened its doors to its participants on July 27. Located in West Babylon, New York, it is headquartered in a 14,000 square foot building near Winters Bros. Waste Systems and several other companies. Accessibility to these businesses provides vocational training and community-based work experiences for program participants. The center is adjacent to the Winters Bros. Gym, offering space for fitness classes and personal training opportunities.
The unemployment rate for individuals with autism exceeds 90% and the Winters Center for Autism is committed to changing that. Jobs can give people a sense of fulfillment and purpose. Identifying businesses in the Long Island community who want to be a part of making a difference is the key to changing the landscape of unemployment for adults with autism.
If you are a small business owner or in charge of hiring at your workplace, contact us Winters Center for Autism at 631-635-1169 to find out how you can change this statistic.
Winters Center for Autism can facilitate the hiring process by connecting you with qualified, reliable, and hardworking job prospects who have the skills and talents to fit the specific needs of your business. Clinical staff offers assistance during onboarding and orientation, as well as onsite training and supervision to ensure success.
