Organizational Profile of ACRES Project for Adults with Autism

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Organizational Profile of ACRES Project for Adults with Autism
Contemporary society has many organizations whose role is to support adults with specific needs. One such community organization is the ACRES Project, which focuses on adults with autism. The ACRES Project is a small nonprofit organization that is located in the State College of Pennsylvania; it helps adults on the autism spectrum grow and aspire to achieve their dreams. The ACRES Project mission ‘A growing community designed by adults with autism for adults with autism.’ ACRES Project is a response to an increasing number of persons who are diagnosed with autism and related disorders. ACRES’s Project took a step to address the challenges for adults with autism by providing proper support and better environments. ACRES project is defined by the challenge that is posed by the increasing number of autism cases and related cognitive skills; the persons who are faced with autism are unable to cultivate effective social and organizational skills that allow them to cope socially and earn a livelihood. ACRES project saw an opportunity in these challenges by recognizing that everybody has a talent. As a result, the ACRES project committed itself to turn passions and skills in adult persons with autism into gainful living and better working opportunities. The opportunities allow people with autism to live, grow, thrive, and sustain financial milestones.
ACRES is run by staff, who are supported by the board. The current officials who are in the ACRES board include Bellamarie Bregar, who is an Executive Director, Douglas Martin, who is the president, and Cathy Prosek (Treasurer). Other ACRES staff members include Bellamarie Ludwig, Len Kowalski, Darlene Maple, Lenny Rutecki, Robert Prosek, and Derek Canova. ACRES also have program consultants who include Becca Stroschein and Megan McGrath, and Mary Krupa, who is marketing and outreach staff. ACRES recruits interns and volunteers who are willing to support its activities. The students’ volunteers and interns are directed to apply for positions so long as they are eager to, among other things, design curriculum for ACRES day programs, do public outreach, do grant-writing, fundraise and assume the role of employment. The volunteering work includes property maintenance, garden flowering, teaching music or art, and painting, among others.
ACRES Project has received immense support since its inception. ACRES received a donation of $10,000 from the Decibel Group to start its activities in 2017, which enable it transformed its two-acre green space and house into a center that is geared towards supporting persons with autism challenges. In 2019, The ACRES Project was privileged to receive another grant of $100,000 from Centre Foundation, which was used to fund ACRES Aquaponic programs, which become the pioneering aquaponics greenhouse in Centre County. This type of funding demonstrates the goodwill that various partners and stakeholders have in ACRES. Besides, ACRES is being supported by partners and donors in its effort to create a community where there is the cultivation of social wellbeing among the autistic persons. Suc...