This article originally appeared on HalifaxCitizen.ca. View the original article in full here.
By Ben Cousins
A HRM-based company, A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections, has made a substantial contribution to autism awareness.
The company donated $6,051.59 to Autism Speaks Canada as part of an ongoing program where each home inspector is encouraged to donate a portion of their profits to the cause. Each dollar is then equalled by the regional owners and equalled again by the company’s president and founder, Bill Redfern. Each dollar donated by a home inspector is essentially worth $3.
“We wanted to choose a cause that stretched coast-to-coast and was in every community and impacted folks right across Canada,” said Rick Mayuk, the regional owner of A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections in Atlantic Canada.
“The program with Autism Speaks is a great way for our inspectors to get behind a cause… and really be a part of the community.”
A couple weeks ago, two members of the A Buyer’s Choice team recently presented the official cheque to Autism Speaks Canada at their Toronto office.
“The partnership between our organizations have blossomed,” said Jill Farber, executive director of Autism Speaks Canada in an email.
“A Buyer’s Choice has impacted Autism Speaks Canada and the autism community across Canada. Over the last two years, A Buyer’s Choice has helped spread awareness and helped raise vital funds for every individual with autism. We look forward to continuing this relationship.”
Autism Speaks Canada’s mission is to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders by funding global research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism.
The organization also aims to raise public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families and society.
According to Autism Speaks Canada, one in 68 children are currently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The prevalence has increased more than 100 per cent in the last 10 years.
Autism is now the fastest growing and most commonly diagnosed neurological disorder in Canada.
Redfern, who was outside the country and unavailable for comment, founded A Buyer’s Choice in Bedford back in 2005 and the company has expanded ever since. There are now nearly 200 A Buyer’s Choice franchises across 16 countries.
Autism awareness is near and dear to A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections, as two of Redfern’s three children are autistic.
In the first year of the program, the company raised roughly $2,500 and this year the donation grew to more than $6,000. The company also participates in autism walks in their respective communities.
“Franchises can sometimes get a bad rap where people sometimes think just because you’re a franchise, you’re not local and, in fact, it’s the very opposite,” said Mayuk.