A United States AIr Force C-17 cargo plane touches down in St. Kitts loaded with a delivery of goods for the new St. Kitts Spectrum Services autism centre. 

With a little help from the United States Air Force Reserve, "Operation Autism Relief – St. Kitts" is a success. Early this morning, the Christophe Harbour Foundation in partnership with Source Relief Inc. loaded several palettes of furniture, autism therapy toys and assessment tools onto a United States Air Force C-17 cargo plane at the Charleston Air Force Base. Some three hours later, the plane touched down in Basseterre, St. Kitts. with the materials, which are slated for the highly anticipated St. Kitts Spectrum Services Autism Centre, which is scheduled to open in Basseterre on September 4th.

The Charleston, S.C.-based flight crew along with representatives of Christophe Harbour and Source Relief onboard the C-17 that delivered Autism Center materials to St. Kitts. 

The opening of the Centre is the culmination of four years of autism therapy development led by St. Kitts-based autism advocate Ms. Mauricer Marshall, Florida-based Certified Autism Specialist Dr. Sheryl Rosin, and the Ministry of Education. St. Kitts Spectrum Services is the first of its kind to open in the Eastern Caribbean.

“Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the world with a prevalence of 1 in 59. It affects 1% of the world, and St. Kitts and Nevis are no different,” said Dr. Rosin. “I identified 58 cases on Island, but believe there are many more. The opening of this Centre will change the landscape of disability in St. Kitts and Nevis and provide opportunities for children and families to receive the quality and effective services they deserve.”

The goods being unloaded by the United States Air Force Reserve flight crew on the ground in St. Kitts. 

There is no cure for Autism, but many evidence-based practices can be used to change the course of a child’s life and help them to reach their full potential. A Christophe Harbour employee and parent of an autistic child brought the need for local services to the Christophe Harbour Foundation.

“After talking with Dr. Rosin, I was surprised to learn how much there was still to do to develop autism programs here in St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Katherine Verano, Christophe Harbour Foundation board member and marketing chair. “The Christophe Harbour Foundation is a long-term partner with the Ministry of Education and Dr. Rosin in growing autism awareness in St. Kitts and Nevis.”

Dr. Sheryl Rosin celebrates the arrival of materials destined for the new St. Kitts Spectrum Services autism centre. 

After the Centre’s needs were identified, the Christophe Harbour Foundation enlisted the help of Source Relief, Inc. a non-profit organization started by South Carolina-based global sourcing and logistics company Source Consulting, LLC, to ensure the supplies were delivered to St. Kitts on time for the opening. Chris Findlay, CEO of Source Consulting, suggested the Denton Program, a United States Air Force Reserve logistics support program designed to coordinate training missions with humanitarian relief efforts.  

“The Denton Program was the perfect way to get these vital supplies to the St. Kitts Spectrum Services autism centre on time and at very little cost,” said Findlay. “This operation is the culmination of great teamwork between the public and private sector. Our team is proud to be part of this groundbreaking operation. The fact that my father, Colonel George Findlay was a career C-5 pilot makes it even more personal and special.”

Today’s shipment represents a total donation of $36,450 in goods and services by the Christophe Harbour Foundation and logistics support by Source Relief Inc.  Since its inception in 2008, the Christophe Harbour Foundation has donated more than $2 million to community projects throughout St. Kitts and Nevis. 

For more information: Christophe Harbour; Source Consulting; Denton Program

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About Christophe Harbour and the Christophe Harbour Foundation

Located on the southeast peninsula of St. Kitts, Christophe Harbour is an integrated luxury residential resort community with shorelines along the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The community features a world-class superyacht marina and village, luxury oceanfront and hillside residences, a members-only Pavilion Beach Club, and the award-winning beachside bar, SALT Plage. Quickly becoming the Caribbean’s leading destination for superyachts and luxury island living, Christophe Harbour opened its first luxury retail shops at the marina village in late 2016 and welcomed the Caribbean’s first Park Hyatt St. Kitts in 2017. The resort’s philanthropic arm, the Christophe Harbour Foundation, is dedicated to community outreach (conservation, education, recreation, cultural, historical, and social development projects) in St. Kitts and Nevis. The Christophe Harbour Foundation is the leading supporter of youth literacy development on St. Kitts.

About Source Consulting LLC and Source Relief, Inc.

Headquartered in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, Source Consulting, LLC is a global sourcing and logistics company providing procurement and consolidated shipping services to builders, developers and homeowners across the globe, including the Caribbean and Central and South America. Their Miami-based warehousing operation serves as the hub for all materials to be consolidated and exported directly to their clients throughout the Caribbean and Americas. Source Relief Inc  is a 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Organization founded by Chris Findlay, CEO of Source Consulting LLC in October 2017 to assist with disaster relief following hurricanes Irma & Maria.

About St. Kitts Spectrum Services Centre

The St. Kitts Spectrum Services Centre provides evidence-based instruction for improved outcomes for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The Centre broadens the scope of services in St. Kitts and Nevis by reaching new client populations in order to improve access to needed services. The presence of the Centre also increases autism awareness and sensitivity within the local community and facilitates coordination among community agencies in order to improve the safety and quality of life of persons with ASD. The St. Kitts Spectrum Services Centre is the first Autism centre to open in the Eastern Caribbean.