Rockville Centre to light it up blue

During his life, Joe Winters worked tirelessly to advocate for those with autism.

He founded the Winters Center for Autism, a vocational training and job placement program for those on the spectrum. In recognition of his efforts, he will be posthumously honored on Saturday at the RVC Blue Speaks Light It Up Blue Gala at the Coral House in Baldwin.

RVC Blue Speaks was founded by Anthony and Mary Lou Cancellieri in 2016, and has become the largest Long Island-based autism charity, raising more than $300,000 for autism support and awareness. Saturday will mark the first gala since 2019 because of the pandemic. Winters, who was the chairman and chief executive officer of Winters Bros. Waste Systems, a leading provider of recycling and solid waste services on Long Island, was supposed to be honored at the 2020 gala, but it was canceled. He died in January 2021, at age 54, of complications of Covid-19.

“RVC Blue Speaks is an organization that our family has long admired for their commitment to the autism community,” Joe’s son Patrick told the Herald in a statement. Patrick is the president of the Winter Bros. board of directors, and will accept the honor on his father’s behalf, alongside his mother, Michele. “We are honored to accept the Blue Legacy Award in memory of my father,” Patrick added. “His legacy lives on through the work at the Winters Center for Autism.”

The center, in West Babylon, helps people on the spectrum get the training they need to join the workforce. Joe Winters founded it after his son Sean was diagnosed with autism. Chris Pozia, the facility’s executive director, said that the unemployment rate for adults with autism is 90 percent, and the center works to help employers understand that there is a talent pool they could tap into if they give those with autism the proper training. She added that the award was bittersweet, because Winters isn’t alive to receive it.

“The relationship between RVC Blue Speaks and the Center for Autism is very symbiotic,” Pozia said. “Our goals, our mission, our values are to help people with autism, to help their families and to really help people find purpose and fulfillment. It was our founder Joe’s vision to really use his platform of Winter Brothers, and his experience as a dad having a son with autism, and his connections in the business community to focus on employment for people with autism.”

The Cancellieris founded RVC Blue Speaks after their grandson Louis, who is now 8, was diagnosed with autism when he was 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. It also supports genetic research, programs and community initiatives that directly serve families in need on Long Island, and works to change the conversation about autism into action and progress.

Money that RVC Blue Speaks has raised over the years has funded thousands of scholarships for high school students entering the Bridges to Adelphi program at Adelphi University, as well as 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. The organization also partnered with Mount Sinai South Nassau to fund “Louie,” a Vecta machine that provides a calming atmosphere for people with autism in the often stressful and unknown environment of an emergency room or hospital.

“Joe Winters did fantastic work before he passed away, and now his family is continuing to build this center,” Anthony Cancellieri said, “and at this center they will be able to train individuals on the spectrum.”

At Saturday’s gala, the foundation will also recognize Tom Wilson with its Courage Award. Wilson, 21, was diagnosed with autism when he was 8, but despite his struggles, he amassed a 4.0 grade point average at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue last semester, where he is studying hospitality, business and philosophy.

“We have an award called the Courage Award,” Cancellieri said, “which simply means despite being on the spectrum, you’re still going to do great things, and he’s a perfect example.”

Wilson, a Bellport resident, said he was humbled to be recognized. “I feel very proud of myself, and I would like to thank them for honoring me,” he said. “It feels like a massive accomplishment for me, and I feel very proud.”

Cancellieri said he expected a crowd of about 200 at Baldwin’s Coral House, and he anticipated raising $75,000 for the foundation. The gala is slated to start at 7 p.m. For more information about RVC Blue Speaks, or for tickets, go to rvcbluespeaks.org or @RVCBlueSpeaks on Facebook.