Tom Bernard

Tom Bernard had a 30-year career in global finance before retiring in Aspen, Colorado to devote himself to writing and philanthropy. He has served on several corporate and nonprofit boards, and was board president of Aspen Words, the literary arm of the Aspen Institute.

In 2004, Mr. Bernard and his wife Sallie founded The Extreme Sports Camp, which provided summer and winter recreational opportunities for children on the autism spectrum. The nonprofit organization expanded to include adults and year-round programs beyond recreation, including job training, life skills and the arts. In light of the broadened mission, the organization was renamed Ascendigo.

Mr. Bernard purchased and remodeled a home in Carbondale, Colorado called The Yellow House, which is now home to three young men with autism, including the Bernards’ son, Bill, and a host couple. The Yellow House Operations, LLC staff rotates to provide 24 / 7 supervision, and the residents participate in Ascendigo programs along with non-residents. The house features state-of-the-art safety and supervisory technology, and is a model of supervised community living for adults who are more significantly impacted by autism.