NFL Group Donates $20,000 to Warren Autism Center

As head of the NFL Alumni, Joe Pisarcik is always interested in programs focused on programs aimed at helping kids—that's been the focus of the non-profit founded to address health and benefit issues for aging professional football players since the 1980s.

It was at one such program that Pisarcik met Sheri Haiken, of Warren's Autism Medical Center, which specializes in working with young children with autistic spectrum disorders and medical issues. He said he was interested in learning more about the innovative methods the center uses to bring together medical experts from across the country in teleconferences to better diagnose issues affecting the children who unable to express what they're feeling because of the autism.

One look and Pisarcik knew the Autism Medical Center was something he wanted the NFL Alumni to help. 

"Just looking at how it affects kids and how quickly it's growing in the population," he said. "I just thought it was a good organization for us to get affiliated with."

On June 28, Pisarcik presented a $20,000 donation to the center on behalf of the NFL Alumni, which raises money through golf outings and other fundraising events hosted by NFL players of yesterday and today.

The presentation came during a special gala event at Hamilton Farm Golf Course, with about 150 people in attendance. The night included music, raffles, and perhaps most importantly, networking opportunities for the attendees, most of whom were either parents of autistic children with medical issues or professionals working with them.

The donation is also recognition of the work of the center's founder, Paul Abend, whose unflagging energy and creativity on behalf of people with autistic spectrum disorders impressed even the hard-nosed former footballers.

Abend describes himself as the kind of person who asks how to get something done, rather than why someone hasn't done it. His idea for the Autism Medical Center arose from his own need to consult with medical specialists for his son—and knowing, as a physiatrist (rehabilitation physician) that the most knowledgeable doctors for him to work with are scattered across the country.

So he established a teleconferencing link enabling some of the top researchers, clinicians and practitioners to work together.

"With autism, and the medical conditions, you need an interdisciplinary approach," Dr. Abend said. The coordinated approach has proven extremely beneficial for many patients, and Dr. Abend has drawn additional support from major corporations and Donald Trump, who are providing free air travel on corporate jets not in use by executives, to get children from around the country to doctors they need to see—or the Autism Medical Center.

Dr. Abend's creative solutions and energy are what drew Pisarcik to the center for a visit to check it out before promising any support from the NFL Alumni.

"I went down to the center and looked at it and said, 'These guys are committed," Pisarcik said. "And that's what you want to see."

Joining Pisarcik at the June 30 gala presentation were Bart Oates and Brian Kelley, both former New York Giants as Pisarcik is.