Grant a Gift Autism Foundation and the UNLV Medicine Ackerman Autism Center Announce Transformational Takeover
Combined organization will provide unprecedented access and resources to local families affected by autism and other neurodevelopmental challenges.
LAS VEGAS (June 7, 2021) – Grant a Gift Autism Foundation, Nevada’s leading not-for-profit provider of clinical, support, and vocational programs and services to families affected by autism, announces the takeover of the Ackerman Autism Center.
Currently the Ackerman Center is operated by UNLV Medicine with financial support provided by Grant a Gift Autism Foundation through its fundraising efforts. Starting June 28, 2021, all aspects of the management of the Ackerman Center will be transferred from UNLV Medicine to Grant a Gift Autism Foundation. Grant a Gift and the Ackerman Center will continue to work with UNLV Medicine under an affiliate agreement allowing the Doctors that currently serve our clients to continue those services at Ackerman.
“By combining the operational and fundraising expertise of Grant a Gift with the clinical excellence of the Ackerman Center, we will be able to bring more resources more quickly to families affected by autism in Southern Nevada,” explains Grant a Gift Autism Foundation President & CEO Peter Krauss. “This could not come at a more critical time as the demand for our services has never been higher. This change allows us to grow faster and be more flexible in meeting the needs of our clients.”
Grant a Gift and the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV jointly opened the UNLV Medicine Ackerman Autism Center in 2016, combining cutting-edge care, vocational training, social support programs, and education for families – all in a “one-stop shop” outpatient setting. After just a few years in operation, in 2019, the success of the partnership was recognized regionally through the Nevada Medical Center Eric M. Hilton Healthcare Collaboration Prize.
In the first five years of the partnership, Grant a Gift and the Ackerman Center have served over 5,000 client patients and their families most of whom had nowhere else to turn for help.
“Many families do not receive help in finding a provider, and children have to wait for openings with a therapist,” reports Gary Ackerman, Founder of the Ackerman Autism Center and Dealer Principal of Gaudin Motor Company. “The Ackerman Autism Center is proud to have played a big role in solving this crisis and remains committed to serving our community in the future.”
The takeover will accelerate services to the thousands of children, adults, and their families affected by autism who still seek assistance and the tens of thousands more who will eventually need diagnosis, treatment, and support. Autism affects 1 in 54 children in the United States.
As a result of the takeover, Grant a Gift plans to significantly increase staffing at the Ackerman Center, which will reduce the wait for services, and to expand the services offered including speech therapy to ensure that clients of all ages are supported.
“Parents who have a child with autism or suspect that their child may have autism need access to help, direction, support, and services as soon as possible,” says Dr. Julie Beasley, Child Neuropsychologist at the Ackerman Center. “The sooner children receive services, the better the long-term outcomes, and the lower overall financial cost.”
As of June 28, 2021, the combined entity will be known as Grant a Gift Autism Foundation – Ackerman Center with a new logo to be released at that time. A new website is in development that will provide easy navigation for clients to find the services they need and is planned for release on or about the 28th of June as well.
For more information, please call 702-910-3303.