Autism Charity Is Spruced Up For Fundraising Drive
AsIAm is calling on business to join in its Festive Forest fundraiser. Founder Adam Harris believes vulnerable families need more state help, writes George Morahan
AsIAm, Ireland’s national autism charity, is aiming to raise €78,000 from the business sector with its 12 Ways of Giving fundraising campaign that centres on a Festive Forest of virtual Christmas trees.
The charity, which is led by social entrepreneur Adam Harris, is offering 48 trees that will be hosted on the AsIAm website. The trees are priced in four varieties: Blue Cedar (€500), Red Spruce (€1,000), White Fir (€2,000) and Golden Conifer (€3,000). Businesses that purchase a tree will have their corporate logo affixed, and clicking on the tree will show the impact the money spent will have in the community.
“We’re asking businesses and corporations to sponsor the virtual Christmas trees on our website,” said Dick White, fundraising manager at AsIAm. “We have a dedicated section for the 12 Ways of Giving within the website, and supporting companies will be given a range of social media tools to broaden the message, and to get their support out to the wider network they have.”
Supporters are offered in return membership of the charity’s business ambassador network, biannual webinars, a visit to the AsIAm offices, and a meeting with Harris, staff and the board. “If we could sell out, it would be a significant boost for our fundraising in 2023,” said White, adding that 75% of AsIAm’s funding comes from business and public donations.
AsIAm was established by Harris in 2014 and has grown to a staff of 21, half of whom are autistic. The charity provides the public and those living with autism with information on autism and
a platform for those affected by autism to share their views and stories.
AsIAm’s work spans education, empowerment for people with autism, skills and knowledge training to help organisations become autism-friendly, advocating public awareness and policy campaigns around issues in the community, and bringing autistic people and their families together with those sharing similar experiences.
The charity was at the forefront of efforts to secure primary and secondary school places for children with autism amid widespread confusion in August ahead of the current school year when over 100 students were without a confirmed school place.
Adam Harris, whose endeavours has been backed by Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, welcomed Budget 2023 measures such as the free primary school book scheme and the increased funding for autism classes and SNAs. However, he believes more could have been done to directly protect the most vulnerable families and individuals.
“The €12 weekly increase in Disability and Carers Allowances from January 2023 is not commensurate with the current rates of inflation,” he said. “By not indexing and protecting the most vulnerable in society, we are continuing to perpetuate poverty for these families and individuals.”
Harris’s view is that the persistent increases in the cost of living means social welfare protection against poverty is reduced. “Our budget theme for 2023 focused on reducing the financial hardship to create a fair and more sustainable and inclusive society,” he said.
“AsIAm believes that poverty, isolation and social exclusion should not be inevitable outcomes of being autistic or raising autistic people. The government needs to provide greater financial investment to marginalised groups in society, including autistic people, to both support their participation in society and ensure happier and healthier lives for members of these communities.”
Autism Spectrum Information Advice & Meeting Point, a company limited by guarantee, generated income of €925,000 in the year to June 2021; €320,000 was sourced from public and private grants, including €90,000 from Pobal and an anonymous donation of €50,000. On the fundraising side, AsIAm raised €376,000 in donations, up from €292,000 in the previous 18-month period.