Contact:
Lindsay Graham
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
404.785.6748
lindsay.graham@choa.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Marcus Autism Center Receives $800,000 from Tom & Karen Chapman
Major Gift to Fund Autism Navigator and Case Management Program
ATLANTA (June 4, 2012) – Marcus Autism Center has received a transformational $800,000 gift from Atlanta resident, Thomas F. (Tom) Chapman, retired chairman and chief executive officer of Equifax, Inc. and his wife, Karen. The Chapmans’ generous donation will fully fund two new initiatives at Marcus Autism Center, which will begin benefitting patients and families as early as this summer. This is the largest single contribution by an individual to the Marcus Autism Center, with exception of gifts from Bernie Marcus.
Marcus staff will fully implement a community-based primary care provider web tool that will educate pediatricians on the early signs of autism, provide assessment procedures and pilot a diagnostic program in local pediatrician’s offices. This will help pediatricians to assess early signs of autism at a younger age, thus helping children receive treatment earlier and bettering their chances of improving communication and social skills.
The gift will also fund a new case management program for the patients and families throughout the state who are diagnosed with autism. This web-based tool will facilitate the training of preschool teachers in identifying the early signs of autism and in providing classroom-based treatments. This web program will also serve as an easily accessible and community-specific hub of resources and information. This tool will enable case managers and families to maximize access to community resources across the state of Georgia.
“It is such a great thing to see someone who is so successful in life give back to such a great cause. Tom is definitely a leader in the business community as well as the philanthropic community. Autism is a huge need, and Mr. Chapman is funding a much needed transformation at the Marcus Autism Center. His generosity will touch thousands of lives in a short amount of time,” says, Bernie Marcus, Founder of the Marcus Autism Center.
For more than 40 years, Chapman built an outstanding career in banking, information technology and marketing. Having retired in 2005 from his position as chairman and chief executive officer of Equifax, Inc., Chapman is active in civic and community affairs and is widely recognized as a dynamic writer and lecturer on leadership, strategy and values in business.
He currently serves his alma mater, Clemson University, in a number of capacities including serving on the board of directors of the Clemson University Foundation, the President’s Advisory Board, the Athletics Advisory Committee, and he also recently founded the Thomas F. Chapman Leadership Scholars Program at Clemson. Chapman is active in cancer prevention, detection and care initiatives at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. He served on the Southern Company board from 1999 until 2010 and previously served as the Corporate Walk Chair for the Georgia Chapter of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Annual Light the Night Walk.
“I wanted to invest to change the lives of parents and children at the Marcus Autism Center,” says Chapman, “I was impressed by the passion and commitment at Marcus and I hope this will be the breakthrough opportunity to help families affected by autism.”
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Marcus Autism Center
Marcus Autism Center is a not-for-profit organization that treats more than 5,500 children with autism and related disorders a year. As the one of the largest autism centers in the U.S., the Marcus Autism Center staff offers families access to the latest research, comprehensive evaluations and intensive behavior treatments. With the help of research grants, community support and government funding, our staff focuses on increasing every child’s independence through early diagnosis and treatment. Visit www.marcus.org for details and become our fan on Facebook.