Rockville Centre foundation's 'Light it Up Blue' Gala to return

Joe Winters, the former chairman and chief executive officer of Winter Bros. Waste Systems, will be honored in recognition of his advocacy on behalf of those with autism by RVC Blue Speaks at its gala on April 23 at the Coral House in Baldwin. The event will mark the organizations fourth gala, and first since 2019.

Winter Bros. is a leading provider in recycling and solid waste services on Long Island, while RVC Blue Speaks is the largest Long Island-based autism charity. Williams’s wife, Michelle, will accept the legacy award in his honor. Her husband founded the Winters Center for Autism, a vocational training and job placement program for people with autism. Butch Yamali, the president and chief operating officer for the Dover Group, who was the 2019 gala honoree, donated money to host the event.

“On behalf of the RVC Blue Speaks board of directors, we are very grateful to Winters Bros. and Mr. Winters’ family and are pleased to recognize them for their tireless advocacy in support of a wonderful cause, one we all hold dear to our hearts,” said Anthony Cancellieri, co-chairman of the board. “Over the past four years, Rockville Centre and the surrounding communities have generously opened their hearts and wallets to support families affected by autism. We are grateful for their continued support.”

Anthony and Mary Lou Cancellieri, who are Rockville Centre residents, founded RVC Blue Speaks in 2016 when their grandson, Louis, was diagnosed on the autism spectrum at age 2. The group’s mission is to promote awareness and acceptance of those affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder, so that their quality of life is enhanced and their potential is fulfilled, and to fundraise for genetic research, support programs and community initiatives that directly serve families in need on Long Island and to change the conversation about autism into action and progress.

To date, the group has donated thousands of dollars to support those with autism through grants and scholarship programs. It has also given to the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Hagedorn Little Village School in Seaford. Additionally, RVC Blue Speaks partnered with Mount Sinai South Nassau to fund “Louie,” a Vecta machine that provides a calming atmosphere for people with autism .

For more information or to reserve a ticket for the gala, visit rvcbluespeaks.org or @RVCBlueSpeaks on Facebook.