Run by Richard Spurling, Jason DeCosta, and Alex Huggan, Aceing Autism is a tennis program created to meet the recreational needs of children with autism, which currently afflicts one million American children.  Aceing Autism already has opened 30 programs in 10 states and serves about 500 children on a weekly basis.  Sessions pair each child with one or two volunteers for 50 minutes and are modified according to the skill level and favorite activities of each child.

The services rendered by Aceing Autism recently received recognition from The Duchess of York, who is renowned for her ongoing philanthropic support of children around the world.  Spurling, DeCosta, and Huggan welcomed the opportunity to meet the Duchess over a lunch at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel near Los Angeles, California.  There, they presented the Duchess with three tennis rackets and a personally embroidered tennis bag from their friends at HEAD.  These gifts acknowledged her keen interest in tennis and growing interest in developing recreational opportunities for children with autism.

Richard Spurling, President of Aceing Autism, voiced his gratitude for the support of the Duchess. 

“We are delighted to have a relationship with the Duchess of York,” said Spurling. “Throughout 2014, we will be developing more children’s recreational programs for which her support and appreciation is greatly appreciated.”

A rapidly expanding organization, Aceing Autism launched four new programs in the fall of 2013 and nine more in January 2014.  To find out more about their work, please contact Alex Huggan, Director of Communications, at 818-699-3865 or alexhuggan@me.com.