Birdies for Charity is a program that runs in conjunction with the Regions Tradition and serves as one of the tournament’s charity initiatives. The program is gives eligible charities and schools the opportunity to raise funds through flat donations and per birdie pledges based on the number of birdies made by PGA TOUR Champions players during the Regions Tradition.
What would you think if a swim instructor quit within five minutes of the first lesson?
When it happened to Brian and Chrissy Schubert, they thought, “We need something better. Not just for us, but for everyone like us.”
They’d been through this before.
Fourteen years ago, they welcomed a new daughter into their family of four. Four years later, this same daughter – Ady – was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As the family dealt with this, they also began to understand – and hear – about the unique challenges associated with this condition.
Today, that wisdom, experience and insight have been funneled into Ady’s Army, a nonprofit the Schuberts founded with the goal of giving families of autistic children peace of mind, financial resources, and answers to their questions.
Ady’s Army is basically serving our community, be it the special-needs child, adult or the actual family. Ady’s Army is inspired by things that my wife and I struggle with.Brian Schubert
Branches of Ady’s Army
What is Ady’s Army?
“Ady’s Army is basically serving our community, be it the special-needs child, adult or the actual family. Ady’s Army is inspired by things that my wife and I struggle with,” said Brian Schubert.
It was born from parents who were overwhelmed and financially burdened. Some of the elements came from fears and unique dangers associated with autistic children – like wandering and accidental drowning. Others are in recognition that families and relationships need nurturing, too.
“Ady was almost killed in December 2015. She escaped. A neighbor we didn’t know found her, but it’s the worst feeling,” Brian said. “We knew we had to help families that maybe couldn’t afford it to have some type of a barracks, a barrier. So, we started Ady’s Barracks to help families build fences.”
In eight years, that service has grown to now include:
Ady’s Barracks – This service helps provide funds to help families build proper fences to help discourage wandering off or elopement.
Ady’s Fins – Swim lessons for ASD individuals. The instructor – from out of state – comes to Alabama for four weeks, has saved at least two children, and has an amazing success rate in teaching those with ASD how to swim.
Ady’s Racers – Families spend the day at Barber Motorsport, usually around the holidays. It provides a safe place where families can relax and build community with others. It also includes inflatable obstacle courses, music, food and a place where families and their kids can be themselves.
Yet there is much more – Ady’s Respite; Ady’s Symphony and Lemonade Brigade.
And coming soon … something even bigger.
“When we started, we thought we’d do our good deed for 10-15 years, because we’d been blessed from family and friends that helped us get out of a very dark phase of our life,” Brian added. “But then when Ady started communicating, we wanted to honor her wishes.”
And those wishes pointed toward an adult life, and for an organization that likely has much more work to do, as more families and more individuals benefit from the Schubert’s experience and dedication.
“Each year for the last five or six years, we’ve used the proceeds we’ve received from Birdies to help us serve families in Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile,” said Brian. “And now we’re looking at Ady’s Army’s legacy, a more permanent facility, where people can live and have purpose and meaning as adults.”