Christiaan supports…

PHILANTHROPY

Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education & Research

Christiaan Bezuidenhout and the Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education & Research (the Blank Center) announced in September 2021 their partnership to raise awareness of stuttering and the life-changing approach to treatment at the Blank Center, led by Dr. Courtney Byrd.

“This is a very special partnership for me. I’m grateful for the opportunity to help more people become aware of the mission and vision of the Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education & Research,” comments Bezuidenhout, who has lived his whole life navigating the challenges of stuttering. “Stuttering is a subject that is close to my heart, and my own life has been changed by the groundbreaking work at the Blank Center. I’m looking forward to working with Dr. Byrd to ensure that the world understands that it truly is ok to stutter and, to prevent as many children as possible from going through the same struggle with their stuttering that I did.”

The Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research, named after its eponymous patron, who is also a person who stutters, was established at The University of Texas at Austin to advance understanding about the nature and effective treatment of stuttering, to create a pipeline of expert clinicians and researchers, and to make quality care accessible to all people. The Blank Center is headed by Founding and Executive Director, Dr. Courtney Byrd.

“Christiaan is a role model for children and adults,” says Dr. Byrd. “As a successful athlete winning on the global stage, he is uniquely positioned to reach and inspire the stuttering community worldwide to never let stuttering stop them from pursuing their personal and professional dreams.”

As part of the partnership, Bezuidenhout will showcase the Blank Center’s logo on his golf bag and will participate in several initiatives, events and programs meant to educate the general public, reduce the stigmatization of stuttering, facilitate access to the Blank Center’s approach to treatment.

The Blank Center rests on a foundation of ‘Dream. Speak. Live.’ with the evidence-based understanding that communication is not defined by fluency, and through that foundation, stuttering does not stop people who stutter from pursuing their dreams, speaking from their hearts, and living their lives to the fullest. Through participating in the Blank Center treatment provided at no cost, children, teens and adults learn to stutter openly, speak confidently, communicate effectively and advocate meaningfully, which ensures that their overall quality of life is not negatively impacted by whether or not they stutter when they speak.

PHILANTHROPY

Els for Autism

The Els for Autism Foundation was founded by Ernie and Liezl Els in 2009, to date raising tens of million of dollars and spearheading a campaign that led to the opening in 2015 of The Els Center of Excellence in Florida, a world-class site hosting leading-edge programs and services for individuals with autism. This game-changer facility for the local autism community is also the perfect hub for a variety of global outreach activities, ensuring the Center’s positive influence is felt far beyond the boundaries of its walls.

The Foundation’s ongoing mission is to better understand the aspirations of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and help them to fulfil their potential to lead positive, productive and rewarding lives, through:

- Understanding the nature of ASD and facilitating the development and delivery of treatment therapies, educational programs, training programs, and recreational programs as well as independent living programs.
- Ensuring the development of global outreach that will facilitate the sharing of best practices and programs.
- Raising awareness and promoting the value, acceptance, and inclusion of people with ASD.