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-- WITH PHOTO -- TO BUSINESS, FAMILY, HEALTH, AND MEDICAL EDITORS:
Only One Year After Launching, Award-Winning Rising Tide Car Wash Has
Made Unprecedented Strides in Empowering Young Adults with Autism
PARKLAND, Fla., April 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In its first year of
business,Rising Tide Car Wash has not only made an extraordinary
difference in helping people with autism to build a career and achieve
an independent lifestyle, but it has also played a major role in
inspiring communities to change their perception of the capabilities
that people with autism have.
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140423/77842
Currently, unemployment among people with autism is approximately 90
percent, and at least 500,000 more individuals with autism will enter
the workforce in the next decade. One year ago (April 6, 2013), John
and Thomas D'Eri, co-founders and respectively the president and COO
of Rising Tide Car Wash, launched their business to create a
supportive environment where young adults with autism could thrive and
achieve independence. This included John's son and Thomas' brother,
21-year-old Andrew D'Eri, a vibrant individual with autism.
Today, Rising Tide is one of the largest employers of people with
autism in the U.S. with 30+ employees, and aims to be the premier car
wash experience in the market. Breaking down the car washing process
into 46 distinct steps, Rising Tide helps its associates with autism
realize their incredible capabilities, gain confidence that they never
had before, make friends, gain financial independence, and have a
place to call their own.
Since opening, Rising Tide has almost tripled its customer base, and
built an "Unlimited Wash Club" membership of approximately 1,000
people.
During the past 12 months, Rising Tide has made significant strides in
creating awareness of the capabilities that people with autism have.
These include:
-- On April 21, 2014, Rising Tide was featured on the national evening
television news program, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. Emmy@
award-winning international journalist Harry Smith visited Rising Tide
to create the segment, which showcased how Rising Tide is empowering
young adults with autism. To view the segment, visit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd2-kvJQnk4&feature=youtu.be.
-- Chosen from over 240 applying companies worldwide as one of 13
carefully vetted ventures, Rising Tide was selected to attend
Unreasonable Institute Global, one of the most prestigious social
impact accelerator programs in the world, in summer 2014.
-- On April 6, 2014, Rising Tide was awarded with the 2014 Miami Walk
Now for Autism Speaks' first-ever Autism Awareness Award.
-- On April 1, 2014 (World Autism Awareness Day), at a Rising Tide
press conference with Congressman Ted Deutch, U.S. Representative for
Florida's 21st congressional district, the D'Eris awarded 14 Rising
Tide employees, who celebrated their first anniversary with the social
enterprise, with a certificate of recognition. The employees represent
40 percent of Rising Tide's opening staff. Of those employees, one has
been promoted to manager, and three to team leader.
-- On March 18, 2014, Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief and the
Broward County Commissioners honored Rising Tide as the Broward
CountyBusiness of the Week/ deemed March 18 Rising Tide Car Wash Day
in Broward County.
-- On March 14, 2014, Rising Tide was announced the winner of
CareerSource Broward's Connections 2014 Small Business of the Year
Award, which recognizes a business with fewer than 50 employees with
an exceptional record of disability-friendly practices, including
hiring persons with disabilities and participating in job training
programs. Broward County Public Schools nominated Rising Tide for the
award.
-- John and Thomas D'Eri were invited to speak at the February
2014TEDx Coconut Grove, an entity of the national TED program of
local, self-organized events that engage the community in a discussion
of ideas to expand perspectives and make a philanthropic impact. Also
in February 2014, Rising Tide was the recipient of TEDx Coconut
Grove's annual Hope Prize of $5,000, which reflects the national TED
program's effort to give exceptional individuals with a wish to change
the world the opportunity to fulfill those wishes.
-- John and Thomas D'Eri were selected by Autism Speaks to share their
knowledge at the first-of-its-kind national Extraordinary Ventures
Conference in January 2014.
-- Rising Tide is featured in "Sounding the Alarm," a Blockburger
Productions documentary which provides a poignant look inside the
lives of those touched by autism.
-- Rising Tide was awarded the SOCAP13 (Social Capital Markets
Conference) scholarship in summer 2013.
"After only one year in business, we are happy to have achieved many
great milestones in empowering young adults with autism," said John
D'Eri. "We look forward to continuing our progress in setting people
with autism up for success, and changing the perception of communities
around the U.S. and the world to understand the awesome capabilities
that people with autism have."
About Rising Tide Car Wash
Rising Tide Car Wash is a scalable social enterprise with the primary
mission to employ adults with autism. By delivering a first-rate car
wash experience to the consumer, Rising Tide strives to inspire
communities to change their perception of the capabilities of people
with autism. Through intensive training, team building and caring for
the community, Rising Tide sets its employees up for success. With
this model, Rising Tide has a goal to provide people with autism with
an opportunity to build a career and achieve an independent lifestyle.
Rising Tide aims to be Broward County's first B Corporation (the gold
standard in verifying that a company is truly a social enterprise) and
the fourth in the state of Florida. Rising Tide Car Wash is located at
7201 N. State Rd 7, Parkland, FL 33067. It is open seven days a week
from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, visit
www.risingtidecarwash.com, call (954) 344-1855 or email
info@risingtidecarwash.com.
Media Contacts:
Duree Ross, Duree & Company, Inc. 954-723-9350 / Email
Jennifer Martinez, Duree & Company, Inc. 561-301-4998 / Email
Read more news from Rising Tide Car Wash.
SOURCE Rising Tide Car Wash
-0- 04/24/2014
/Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140423/77842
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
/Web Site: http://www.risingtidecarwash.com
CO: Rising Tide Car Wash
ST: Florida
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PRN
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0000 04/24/2014 12:30:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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