HEAL Foundation raises over $300,000 at Gala, Golf Gig

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The HEAL Foundation (Helping Enrich Autistic Lives) raised over $300,000 last week at the 13th annual HEAL Gala and Bobby Weed’s Golf Gig at TPC Sawgrass.

Included within that total figure, the Ponte Vedra Beach-based nonprofit raised approximately $83,000 that will be used to provide about 240 tricycles to local special physical education classes. The Gala, held on Feb. 21 at the TPC Clubhouse, hosted 400 attendees, while the Golf Gig, held on Feb. 22, hosted 124 players.

“I will tell you that every person in this room is very special,” said Bobby Weed, HEAL Foundation co-founder, at the Gala. “You’re all very, very special in so many ways, and you’re all here for a wonderful reason and a wonderful cause.”

Weed and his wife, Leslie, founded their foundation in 2004 after raising their daughter, Lanier, who is non-verbal and profoundly affected by autism. Since 2007, the foundation has awarded nearly $2 million in grants providing summer camps, sports leagues and support groups; educational enhancements and iPads for Exceptional Student Education (ESE) classrooms; educational seminars for parents, teachers and therapists; year-round fun recreational and social events for families and more.

Guests at the sold-out Gala enjoyed dinner and drinks, a live and silent auction, a “Bid from the Heart” event, a performance from Haley Weed, the daughter of Bobby and Leslie and sister of Lanier, and additional entertainment by the 7 Street Band. The Golf Gig included breakfast and a subsequent golf tournament scramble on Dye’s Valley Course.

Leslie Weed said at the gala they decided to raise money for tricycles this year after learning that Lanier’s school in Clay County had to share their two trikes with other schools. 

“I said write a grant, we’ll get you two bikes back and the next gala I’m going to buy a bike for every school so kids can learn to ride a bike!” she exclaimed.

On a similar note, the HEAL Foundation’s next initiative is to build five all-ability parks in the Northeast Florida community. 

“There were no autism organizations 20 years ago,” Leslie Weed said at the Gala. “They’re everywhere now. I’m very happy that we got to start this one early, and we have so much support.”