BankFive donates to autism support program

SWANSEA - BankFive Foundation, a fund of the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts, recently awarded $5,000 to Community Autism Resources Inc. in Swansea.

CAR offers comprehensive, holistic, evidence-based support to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), their families and community members, according to a news release. Core services are designed to help individuals with ASD reach their fullest potential and to participate in educational and leadership programs.

The donation will be used to help offset expenses associated with CAR's Gottschall Access Program, a three-year program in which students are enrolled in specially designed courses on a college campus that helps them develop life, vocational and social skills. In addition, the program gives the students an opportunity to participate in internships that eventually lead to gainful employment. The donation will provide for the purchase of such things as iPads, sensory equipment for the classroom, general school supplies and farming and gardening supplies.

"We are so grateful to BankFive and the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts for their contribution to and support of the Gottschall Access Program through Community Autism Resources," said Barbara Domingue, executive director of CAR. "Their generous gift will have a significant impact on helping our students achieve their goal of obtaining a meaningful post-secondary educational experience."

BankFive President and CEO William Eccles Jr. said: "The services provided by CAR are extremely important to those who have Autism Spectrum Disorder. We know the funds we provide to their Gottschall Access Program are going to be put to good use in preparing students for the future."

Community Foundation President John Vasconcellos said: "We are proud to partner with BankFive in support of Community Autism Resources and their efforts to help individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder reach their fullest potential. Grants like this from the BankFive Foundation help us in our pursuit of education for all in Southeastern Massachusetts."

Since 1995, SouthCoast residents have been turning to the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts to make their philanthropic giving as effective as possible. The foundation is a public charity serving thousands of people who share a common concern: improving the quality of life in southeastern Massachusetts. To date, the foundation has distributed more than $25 million to humanitarian, educational and cultural organizations in the region, according to the release.