Meet Richard Spurling | Founder and Executive Director, ACEing Autism

We had the good fortune of connecting with Richard Spurling and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Richard, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
As the founder of ACEing Autism, social impact is the reason our organization exists. We use tennis as a vehicle to create opportunity, connection, and belonging for children on the autism spectrum—many of whom have limited access to inclusive sports and physical activity. Through our programs, children build motor skills, confidence, and social engagement in a supportive, one-on-one environment designed around their individual needs.
Equally important is the impact on the broader community. ACEing Autism brings together families, volunteers, coaches, and tennis facilities to foster understanding, empathy, and inclusion. Our volunteer-based model trains and empowers thousands of young people to work directly with children with autism, creating meaningful relationships that extend far beyond the tennis court. By building sustainable programs nationwide and partnering with local communities, we are not only improving quality of life for participants and their families, but also changing perceptions of what inclusion in sport can and should look like.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My work centers on building and growing ACEing Autism into an organization that meaningfully serves children on the autism spectrum while strengthening the communities around them. What sets us apart is our intentional focus on quality and inclusion at every level. Our programs are thoughtfully designed, research-informed, and delivered through a highly supportive model that pairs each child with trained volunteers. We are not just offering tennis lessons—we are creating an environment where children feel safe, successful, and celebrated, and where families feel supported.
Professionally, the journey to this point has not been easy, but it has been incredibly rewarding. Building a national nonprofit from the ground up required persistence, adaptability, and a willingness to learn quickly from challenges. We faced early questions about sustainability, scalability, and awareness, and we overcame them by staying deeply connected to our mission and surrounding ourselves with people who believed in it. One of the things I am most proud of is the team we have built and the collaborative culture we’ve created. We attract passionate, mission-driven people, and together we’ve managed significant growth while maintaining exceptional program quality—something that is not easy to do as an organization scales.
Along the way, I’ve learned that impact is never the result of one person’s efforts. It comes from trust, collaboration, and a shared belief in why the work matters. What I want the world to know about ACEing Autism is that we are working tirelessly to bring our program to every city in the United States because we believe access matters. One hour of tennis can make a meaningful difference in a child with autism’s physical health, social development, and confidence. If you are interested in learning more or want to bring our program to your community, we would love to hear from you and continue growing this impact together.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting for a week and I wanted to give them the best possible experience, I’d start in Santa Monica. There’s nothing like walking along Third Street Promenade to ease into the trip—great people-watching, energy, and that classic Southern California vibe. I’d plan brunch at Lunetta, which is one of my favorite spots for a relaxed but memorable meal, and spend the afternoon near the beach.
One of the highlights would definitely be getting outdoors. I’d take them on a hike in the Palisades—great views, fresh air, and a reminder of how special it is to live in a place where nature and city life coexist so seamlessly. That evening, dinner at Carmine’s would be a must—warm, welcoming, and perfect for sharing good food and conversation.
If they were here for the full week, we’d expand beyond Los Angeles. I’d head south to Newport Beach and Balboa Island to enjoy the coastal charm, walk the boardwalk, and slow things down a bit. From there, we’d explore La Jolla and San Diego, soaking up the scenery and laid-back atmosphere. A highlight would be playing tennis at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club—an iconic setting that combines my love of the sport with one of the most beautiful backdrops in California. The week would be a mix of great food, outdoor time, tennis, and simply enjoying some of the best people and places Southern California has to offer.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This shoutout truly belongs to the people who have made ACEing Autism possible. While I may be the founder, our impact is driven by an extraordinary community of individuals who show up every day with passion, generosity, and heart. I am deeply grateful to our dedicated national staff, the hundreds of Program Directors across the country, and the thousands of volunteers who give their time, energy, and compassion to ensure that every child and every family has a positive, meaningful experience. Their commitment is the backbone of our organization and the reason families continue to trust us with their children.
I also want to give special recognition to my cofounder, Dr. Shafali Jeste. Early in her career, she shared a vision with me that together we could create something truly impactful for families of children with autism—an idea rooted in science, inclusion, and possibility. Her insight, credibility, and belief in what ACEing Autism could become were instrumental in turning a simple concept into a sustainable, national organization. In addition, I owe a great deal to my Babson College professor, Elizabeth Thornton, who gave me the confidence to pursue this idea in the first place. Her encouragement and mentorship helped me see that this vision was not only meaningful, but achievable. ACEing Autism is the result of collective effort, mentorship, and belief, and I am profoundly thankful to everyone who has played a role in our journey.

Website: https://www.aceingautism.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aceingautism/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5120320/admin/dashboard/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Aceingautism