Second ‘Els for Autism’ Charity Pro Am

The second Els for Autism Charity Pro Am Golf Tournament takes place on 15 March at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and will again be supported by some of the game's greatest golfers and a host of amateurs and sponsors. Last year's inaugural event (above) raised more than $600,000 and this year hopes are high for a similarly impressive fundraising effort.

Ernie and his wife Liezl in conjunction with Marvin Shanken, chairman of M. Shanken Communications and the publisher of Wine Spectator and Cigar Aficionado magazines, founded the Els for Autism Foundation in 2009. It has since embarked on a capital campaign to raise $30 million for a 300-student school and research facility, the Centre for Excellence, to be built in Florida.

The Centre of Excellence will be dedicated to all aspects of autism treatment and study, and will put together innovative programs for education, therapy and research for children across the autism spectrum. Attendees at this year's Pro Am will be shown plans for the Centre of Excellence, to illustrate with powerful effect the potentially great work that their donations will make possible.

Ernie will be joined in the Pro Am by a selection of great players including, Jack Nicklaus, Raymond Floyd, Fuzzy Zoeller, Steve Stricker, Stuart Appleby, Robert Allenby, Mark Calcavecchia, Adam Scott, Justin Rose and Rory Sabbatini.

The event's co-sponsors are M. Shanken Communications and the Richemont Group, with its chairman Johann Rupert. Corporate sponsors include Bacardi, Barnes and Noble, Brown-Forman, Callaway Golf, Diageo, Moet-Hennessey, Patron Spirits, PGA National, The Related Group, Royal Bank of Canada, Robert Talbott, Skyy Spirits, and the PGA. Six cigar companies have also joined in the fundraising, including Alec Bradley cigars, Padron cigars, La Flor Dominicana, Rocky Patel Premium Cigars, Oliva Cigar Company and A. Fuente cigars.

To make a donation to the Els for Autism Foundation click here