The Tire Choice and the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) recently sponsored a series of soccer clinics in South Florida for children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
The clinics are part of Project CHOICE (Creating Healthy Opportunities for Interaction, Communication and Engagement), which was developed by Tire Choice and the university to bring recreational activities designed for children with autism to Northeast Broward County.
Dan Hennelly, chairman and CEO of Hennelly Tire & Auto Inc., which does business as The Tire Choice, pledges his family and company’s continued support in building meaningful recreational programming for children with autism in Broward County.
“Supporting those with autism in our community will be our number one focus in our partnership with CARD. Autism touches several families in our company of 400-plus employees and many more in the community where we live and raise our family.”
Tire Choice also is donating $1 to CARD for every Michelin and BFGoodrich tire sold at its 35 stores stores in November.
Members of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, South Florida's only professional men’s soccer team, served as coaches for the 25 children, ranging in age between five and eleven, and their siblings at the clinics.
"Anytime we can be involved and help our community we are more than happy to do so," says Tom Mulroy, Strikers president. "It is important for all children to be physically active, and soccer is a great vehicle for this.”
CARD is dedicated to optimizing the potential of people with ASD, dual sensory impairments, sensory impairments with other disabling conditions, and related disabilities. CARD services are designed to build on the capacities of state and local resources, not to duplicate or replace them. CARD provides families with resources specific to their needs.
Some of the services that CARD provides include:
* individualized client and family support;
* family and professional training;
* public education and awareness; and
* "programmatic consultation and technical assistance."
For more information on UM-NSU CARD, visit www.umcard.org. For information about Tire Choice, visit www.thetirechoice.com.
Dan and his wife, Diane, vice chairman and chief financial, are winners of the 2013 Tire Dealer of the Year Award.
