Sponsors and Donors

Ames Family Foundation has made a generous donation to PALS Autism School to help purchase specialized school communication software for parents, staff and therapists. This software program will more effectively document behavioural management and educational strategies to support our students living with autism. A special thank you to Mrs. Deborah Ames for visiting us at the school this past fall!

Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, grandparents of a child with autism. Since then, Autism Speaks, along with Autism Speaks Canada, has grown into North America’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.

Canucks for Kids Fund provided a grant, which greatly sustains our student bursary fund. For the past seven years, The Canucks for Kids Fund has generously contributed to student bursaries, occupational therapies, school renovations, and a variety of adaptive materials needed to meet the needs of PALS students.

The CKNW kids’ fund has provided ongoing substantial behaviour support bursary funding for PALS Autism School families. The fund is used to assist families whose children may unexpectedly require one to one support for a period of time during the school year due to challenging behaviours.

Els for Autism Canada contributed proceeds from its annual golf tournament to PALS Autism School. Founded by professional golfer and World Golf Hall of Fame member, Ernie Els, the Foundation is dedicated to helping Canadians diagnosed on the autism spectrum to live healthy and productive lives. The funds will be used support the participation in the school’s programs by people who might otherwise not be able to afford to do so.

As a longtime supporter to PALS, The Mary & Gordon Christopher Foundation has made another generous donation to the speech and language therapy programs in both the Adult Program and School. Thanks to the Christopher family for helping us keep Shannon Muir, our registered speech and language pathologist, as an integral part of PALS specialized therapies. Shannon offers direct therapy, “Social Thinking” groups, consults with staff on strategies to support students, and brings a wealth of resource information to our programs regarding the use of technology in language and communication therapies.

The Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver has made a generous donation will which will be used to purchase new student iPads. Each iPad can be downloaded with interactive software to assist students with their individualized, educational targets. The hotel also offered to become a Gold Sponsor of the 2014 PALS Imagine Gala on April 5th at the Vancouver Convention Center.

With a grant from Variety – The Children’s Charity, PALS Students enjoyed a busy summer full of exciting activities both at school and around the Lower Mainland. Students participated in music, art, and drama programs, occupational therapy, Club Aviva Gymnastics, and swimming classes. PALS purchased goal nets for our budding soccer and hockey players. Students also enjoyed field trips to the Spirit Train in Klahowya Village, the Beluga show at the Vancouver Aquarium, Watermania Water Park, the PNE, Kits Beach, trail walking at Rice Lake, 3D movies at Science World, and Rocky Point Park beach. Thank you Variety Heart Fund for your donation!