Richard Spurling

Richard achieved a degree in International Business from Florida Atlantic University, where he played Division I tennis. After graduation, Richard continued to pursue a career in the tennis industry, teaching tennis and managing several high-profile tennis programs in Florida and Massachusetts. Richard earned his MBA from Babson College in 2008, with a focus on entrepreneurship. While living in Massachusetts, Richard and Dr. Shafali Jeste, an autism researcher, collaborated to create a program that was designed to use the sport of tennis as a means to provide unique social and developmental benefits to children with autism.

The first program location of ACEing Autism launched soon thereafter in the Longfellow Club in Wayland in 2008. Since its founding, ACEing Autism has grown into a vibrant, volunteer-driven organization that serves over 1,500 children in 34 states through 120 program locations. Richard currently resides in Los Angeles with his two children, Nischal and Kiran, where he is advancing the vision of ACEing Autism, with the aim of serving 3,000 children by 2024. He also serves on the USTA National Adaptive Tennis Committee and still enjoys competing on the tennis court!

To contact Richard, please email richard@aceingautism.org