El Santo is raising money and awareness about autism at its signature event.
The Columbia Street eatery is holding its third annual El Santo CAN fundraiser for the Canucks Autism Network on Sunday, Oct. 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. Attendees are treated to food and cocktails specials created especially for the fundraiser.
“The event is basically people having fun. We have music, we have live entertainment, we have a silent auction, we have a live auction,” said Alejandro Diaz, managing director of el Santo. “We raise a little bit of awareness, but we are having fun.”
The fundraiser features a seven-course dinner with drink pairings and guest speakers who talk about autism.
“It’s raising awareness,” Diaz said. “Raising funds is great, but raising awareness is the most important thing.”
In the past three years, El Santo has raised more than $30,000 for the Canucks Autism Network through the dinner, $1 donations from each item sold on the kids’ menu and other initiatives. Canucks Autism Network provides sports, recreational, and social programs for individuals and families living with autism.
“One of my kids is on the spectrum. For me, this is why it’s very important to do this,” Diaz said. “I really like to tell people about autism. There are lots of people that have no idea. They think an autistic kid is someone who is nonverbal, who can’t talk.”
According to Autism Speaks Canada, autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences. It notes that the term “spectrum” reflects the wide variation in challenges and strengths possessed by each person with autism.
“There are so many Parkers, Diaz said. “Sometimes as parents we don’t want tell people that our children are autistic because there is a stigma. It’s really important to tell people.”
Along with working to reduce the stigma and increase awareness of autism in the community, Diaz tries to do that in El Santo.
“For me, hiring people on the spectrum is so important because it creates a feeling of empathy. In restaurants – especially the kitchen – it’s a very rough environment,” he said. “For me, we have an environment that is very inclusive.”
Diaz doesn’t hire employees specifically because they have autism, but he doesn’t avoid hiring them because they’re on the spectrum. Like other hires, employees with autism are interviewed and go through the regular hiring process to ensure they’ll be a good fit in the restaurant.
“We want to set them up for success. I don’t want to hire someone just because he’s autistic,” he said. “We can hire people with experience, but if they don’t have the right attitude it doesn’t work. As long as someone, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, has the right attitude, we can make it work.”
Tickets to El Santo CAN are $145 and available at El Santo, 680 Columbia St. or at Eventbrite.ca (Search for El Santo CAN).
