Who says video games are destroying today's youth? Not Matt Rossi. The 15-year-old Merrick resident has practically grown up with a control pad in his hands. Super Mario Brothers. MegaMan. Dragon Warrior. Name the game, the kid is into it.
And not Alyse Middendorf, executive director of Long Island Advocates Inc., a private, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the legal rights of Long Island's disabled. Middendorf said she doesn't play video games herself, but Matt's passion for them is just fine with her. It's led to his interest in computers and his ability to design web sites, a job that Matt has voluntarily done for L.I. Advocates.
Matt also maintains the agency's site, which involves updating news and posting coming events. It's an invaluable service, Middendorf said, and one that has really made a difference in her group's ability to help the disabled.
"We wouldn't be able to continue to reach more and more people without Matt's [help.]" Middendorf said.
Web designers are a luxury that the non-profit agency hasn't been able to afford in the past. But Matt, who will be a sophomore at Calhoun High School this fall, came pretty cheap. Free actually.
He learned of the agency's need through a friend of his mother's. And since Matt got the web site got up and running last winter, Middendorf said L.I. Advocates has received calls from as far away as California. They've been able to refer these out-of-state requests for help to appropriate groups. In short, they've been able to help more people.
Matt prefers to downplay his efforts on behalf of Long Island Advocates. "I'm just glad to be able to help out really," Matt said, humbly.
Matt said he'd been hooked on high-tech ever since his family bought their first computer back in 1993, an old Macintosh laptop. According to his mom, his interest in computers started well before that. She said Matt taught himself to read when he was 4-years old, so that he could study manuals to get better at Nintendo games.
By all accounts, Matt can be labeled a "computer "whiz." He writes all the codes for the L.I. Advocates web site instead of using web design programs. "It's not really that difficult," said Matt. "I kind of prefer to do things the old-fashioned way."
Matt is also the Web master of his own site. Its called Role Playing Games (RPG) Icon Archives and it allows those who log on to download all kinds of images of video game heroes and characters, from A to Zelda.
Matt doesn't make any money operating the site. He does it because it's fun. Someday, though, Matt would like to earn a living in the a computer field, the only trouble is picking which one. He loves all facets of the computer industry. "But software is where the money is," Matt said with a grin.
Until a big computer firm comes calling, Middendorf said L.I. Advocates will continue to be grateful to Matt for his gracious help, and his generous spirit.
"Matt is just beyond belief," said Middendorf. "He's not only got the expertise to help, but the compassion, too. He's definitely one of a kind."
