Wesco, a longtime commercial client of Reliance Insurance approached the company with an opportunity to donate to PALS Adult Services Society. PASS supports individuals with autism and other neuro-developmental disabilities as well as their families by providing programs, services and housing.
Unbeknownst to Wesco, Jim Ball, the president of Reliance Insurance had an adult autistic son, Craigy, age 45, and he and his wife Katie had been looking for a way to be involved in supporting adults with Autism.
Jim began meeting with Trever Broadhead, executive director of the society. Together, they developed a unique partnership, PASS and Reliance Insurance agreed to fund a three-year development officer role, whose job it is to seek funding from foundations and sponsors to enable the society to expand its services.
“The whole team at Reliance Insurance have been a pleasure to work with and so supportive PASS and the outcomes we are trying to achieve for our program members. I’ve really enjoyed working with Jim and Katie over the past year to establish our funding partnership which made it possible to hire a talented Development Officer to help us grow as an organization.”
– Trever Broadhead, Executive Director of PASS
For the past 16 years, PALS’s major fundraising event, the annual gala, has been held in celebration of the important work society is doing in the autistic community. Reliance Insurance presented the 2023 Gala, held on April 28th at the Italian Cultural Centre.
Jim spoke about adults with autism and how he and Katie were committed through PASS, to helping families with autistic adults cope with the present and plan for the future. Others spoke about autistic children’s challenges and successes and a special award was given to a long-term supporter. The evening was a tremendous success with 350 guests raising $525,000, a gala record.
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About PASS
PALS Adults Services Society (PASS) provides an innovative daily program and independent housing for adults with autism spectrum disorder and other neuro-developmental disabilities. As children with autism “age out” of the school system, they enter adulthood facing a significant lack of support and resources. Like any adult you know, each member of PASS has a unique vision for their lifestyle, career, family, and community—yet our society is not built to support them in living full lives. PASS supports members in bringing these visions to life through skills acquisition, community participation, employment, and housing opportunities.
