SECU donates $1.5 million for Davidson County autism clinic

Dec. 26--The member-funded State Employees' Credit Union Foundation announced it is giving a $1.5 million grant for the construction of a new autism clinic in Davidson County.

Local credit union representatives were on hand for the announcement and check presentation made by SECU Foundation Board member Michael Clements to ABC of NC Foundation during an SECU advisory board meeting held in Winston-Salem.

ABC of NC is an autism services provider based in Winston-Salem. This summer the organization began construction of a new 26,000-square-foot autism clinic at 905 Friedberg Church Road, which is part of an overall $6.5 expansion of its Winston-Salem campus.

The clinic will offer diagnostic, therapeutic and behavioral services for children with autism. ABC of NC said the clinic will help shorten wait times for diagnosis, make interventions more available and give teens and young adults on the spectrum better access to transition services.

Funding for the expansion, specifically the construction of the new clinic, has been supported by a capital campaign that has raised more than $4.2 million so far. Contributions have come from organizations that include the BB&T Foundation, Golden LEAF Foundation, Reynolds American Foundation and Wake Forest Baptist Health.

SECU announced the $1.5 million grant is to support a new healthcare and human services initiative in Davidson County and to meet the needs of northwestern North Carolina's growing autism population.

Felice Brenner, chairwoman of the ABC of NC Foundation board of directors, said the grant will further boost capital improvement and building campaign efforts and enable the organization to reach more people with autism.

"When construction is complete in August 2018, the 26,000-square-foot SECU Autism Clinic at ABC of NC will provide shorter wait times for diagnostic assessments, more equitable access to evidence-based autism therapies and the addition of adolescent and young adult services," Brenner said. "Thanks to the generosity of SECU members, we will be able to provide hope and a brighter future for individuals with autism in our state, whether they are beginning their journey or transitioning to adulthood."

Cynthia Jolly, chairwoman of the SECU Foundation board of directors, said they are proud to assist ABC of NC Foundation in their mission of providing high-quality programs and services to individuals with autism spectrum disorder

"With the generous support of our 2.2 million members statewide, including 341,000 members in the 13 counties primarily served by the nonprofit, the SECU Autism Clinic at ABC of NC will address the critical need for greater resources for those living with autism and their families," Jolly said in a written statement.

ABC of NC is a nonprofit organization that has been providing services to children with autism and their families with diagnostic, therapeutic and educational services since 2002. Their primary service area is Catawba, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Iredell, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin counties.

ABC of NC employs about 50 people and serves 350 children a year. The nonprofit said the expansion of its campus will more than double its staff size and capacity within two years.

Sharon Myers can be reached at (336) 249-3981, ext. 228, or at sharon.myers@the-dispatch.com. Follow Sharon on Twitter: @LexDispatchSM

___

(c)2017 The Dispatch, Lexington, N.C.

Visit The Dispatch, Lexington, N.C. at www.the-dispatch.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.