Converse College Honors Ponte Vedra Resident Leslie Hale Weed with the Converse 100 Award

SPARTANBURG, SC (06/14/2013)(readMedia)-- Converse Colleged honored Leslie Hale Weed, an alumna from the Class of 1983 and a resident of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, with the Converse 100 Award for her outstanding achievements and character. The award was presented by Converse President Betsy Fleming and Converse Alumnae Association President Elisabeth Kinney McNeil during the college's reunion weekend.

A third generation Converse alumna, Leslie was a successful business owner and operator of Suits Me Fine, a ladies swimwear and resort-wear boutique with locations in Amelia Island and Ponte Vedra, FL.  Following their youngest daughter's diagnosis with severe autism, Leslie and her husband, Bobby founded the HEAL (HEALing Every Autistic Life) Foundation in 2004. The HEAL foundation is located in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and serves individuals and families living with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The Foundation serves as an outreach organization and has awarded nearly one million dollars in grants to support camps, education, community programs, ESE classroom enhancements, educational seminars and recreational and social events for families.

For more than ten years Leslie traveled to Washington, DC advocating for children with Autism on a national level. Leslie is a member of CoMeD, the Coalition of Mercury Free Drugs, and was instrumental in writing a FDA Citizens Petition designed to remove mercury from drugs and vaccines. 

About Converse College

Founded in 1889 and located in Spartanburg, S.C., Converse College is a master's university dedicated to developing adaptable leaders equipped with the creativity, character, knowledge and perspective to effect positive change in the world. Converse was ranked 3rd in the nation for research, service and social mobility by Washington Monthy and is a Best Value in the South by U.S.News & World Report.

Converse offers a wide range of academic programs for undergraduate women and coed graduate students through the School of Humanities and Sciences, School of Education and Graduate Studies, and School of the Arts. The Converse learning community is differentiated by the Nisbet Honors Program, Petrie School of Music, award-winning independent and collaborative research, leading national debate teams, study abroad and internship programs, and a 10:1 student/faculty ratio.