Winters Bros. Named RVC Blue Speaks “Light it Up Blue” Gala Honoree

Legacy Award Presented In Honor of late
​Winters Bros. Chair & CEO,
Joe Winters, Autism Advocate  

​In recognition of his advocacy on behalf of those with Autism and philanthropy to related charitable causes, RVC Blue Speaks, the largest Long Island-based autism charity, will honor the legacy of entrepreneur Joe Winters, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Winters Bros. Waste Systems, a leading provider of recycling and solid waste services on Long Island. Mr. Winters’ wife, Michele, will accept the legacy award in his honor. Mr. Winters founded the Winters Center for Autism, a vocational training and job placement program for people with autism.
 
Since its inception in 2017, RVC Blue Speaks has raised over $300,000 for autism support and awareness. Their fourth annual gala (the last event was 2019), will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at the Coral House in Baldwin, NY. Mr. Butch Yamali, President and CEO of the Dover Group, and the 2019 RVC Blue Speaks gala honoree, has once again donated the cost of 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-Chair of the Board of Directors. “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 of Rockville Centre, NY, 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 raise funding 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 to support those with autism through grants and scholarship programs. They have generously 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. They partnered with Mount Sinai South Nassau to fund “Louie,” a Vecta machine that provides a calming atmosphere for people with autism spectrum disorder in the stressful and often unknown environment of an emergency room or hospital.
 
It also awarded thousands in scholarships to high school students entering the Bridges to Adelphi program at Adelphi University. The program at Adelphi allows students on the autism spectrum to more easily transition into university life and then, upon graduation, the workforce. Locally, the group has begun implementing plans to partner with the Village of Rockville Centre on a village-wide “light it up blue” awareness campaign for the month of April.  
 
Today, Winters Bros. is the largest recycling and solid waste company on Long Island serving residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers. The Winters Center for Autism, a not for profit affiliated with the Winters Family Foundation, was launched in 2020. The Center is committed to enhancing and improving the quality of life for adults with autism through job creation, training and placement while helping Long Island employers develop and implement programs for capable and trained employees.
 
“The Winters Family and Winters Bros. Waste Systems are committed to support organizations that work to aid people with autism so they're able to enhance their quality of life,” said Mrs. Winters. “Joe was tremendously impressed with the work of RVC Blue Speaks. I am deeply touched to accept this award in honor of my husband’s legacy.”
 
For more information about RVC Blue Speaks or to reserve your ticket for the upcoming gala, please visit www.rvcbluespeaks.org or on Facebook @RVCBlueSpeaks.