STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A landmark contribution in the amount of $250,000 has been donated to CrimsonRise by philanthropists Lisa Addeo and Gina Addeo to support the development of the Nicholas D’Amora Center.
CrimsonRise is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving autistic individuals and others with sensory, movement, and communication differences.
Nicholas D’Amora who was non-verbal and a tireless supporter for the autistic, died in May 2023 at the age of 25 after a severe epileptic seizure.
Known as “The Changer,” both he his mom Barbara D’Amora were relentless champions for those with autism.
The Addeos are proudly following in the footsteps of their parents, the late Richie and Gail Addeo, founders of ADCO Electrical Corporation, carrying forward a family legacy rooted in integrity, service, and deep commitment to the Staten Island community.
Gina Addeo is the CEO and President of ADCO Electrical Corporation and a longtime philanthropic leader committed to strengthening the Staten Island community.
A trailblazer in the electrical contracting industry and the first female electrician ever licensed by New York City, she is a key leader within her family’s business and has spent decades breaking barriers in what has long been considered a male-dominated field.
Lisa Addeo, executive vice president of ADCO Electrical Corporation, plays a central role in advancing the company’s long-standing commitment to community service and philanthropy.
She oversees the company’s extensive charitable initiatives, including the founding of the Addeo House at Eger, a warm, homelike hospice residence serving Staten Island families since 2007 created in memory of her parents.
Under Lisa Addeo’s leadership ADCO Electrical Corporation has supported dozens of nonprofit organizations such as the March of Dimes, Mercy Home for Children, the JCC, Staten Island University Hospital, Catholic Charities, Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, the St. George Theatre, St. Dominic’s and a number of youth sports programs.
The Addeos’ generous gift will support the development of the CrimsonRise Nicholas D’Amora Center, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to empowering non-speaking individuals with autism and other neurological differences.
Barbara and Nicholas D’Amora (Courtesy/family photo)(family photo)
Barbara D’Amora, co-chair of the Capital Campaign, said, “After the devastating loss of our beloved son Nicholas, Gina and Lisa Addeo reached out to our family with a level of commitment and compassion that we will never forget. Their extraordinary generosity reflects not only their friendship, but their deep belief in the mission Nicholas championed for all non-speaking individuals. This amazing gift honors his legacy in the most meaningful way – by helping countless others find their voice and their place in the world.”
Gina and Lisa Addeo commented, “We were very moved by the impact Nicholas had in the community, especially for those who found a voice after he became a strong public advocate for all non-speakers like himself. He was a wonderful young man, very deserving of such recognition”.
Slated to open in late March 2026, the Center, located at 1313 Clove Rd. in sunnyside, will be the first of its kind and co-founded by four autistic young men, Nicholas D’Amora, Cristofer Puleo, Tejas Rao Sankar and Will Jusino, and their allies.
It will offer specialized support grounded in the principles of presuming competence, communication access, motor and sensory regulation, and community inclusion.
Executive Director, Lakshmi Rao Sankar, noted: “We are looking forward to being in a wonderful new space where non-speaking autistic people will celebrate having created an organization that is centered on their voice.”
Lenore Puleo, co-chair of the Capital campaign, said, “For CrimsonRise, this donation marks a major milestone in its capital campaign and accelerates the organization’s ability to provide transformative opportunities for nonspeaking individuals to learn, communicate, and participate fully in the world around them.”
The CrimsonRise Nicholas D’Amora Center will feature:
Communication and regulation support for non-speaking individualsTraining opportunities for families, educators, and therapistsProgram and organizational consultingPrograms designed to help individuals access education, employment, and meaningful participation in the community
The Addeos’ gift provides critical momentum for the Center’s development and highlights the power of community investment in uplifting neurodiverse individuals across Staten Island and beyond.
CrimsonRise invites community members, families, and supporters to join this transformative effort by contributing to the CrimsonRise Nicholas D’Amora Center Capital Campaign.
Every gift — large or small — directly supports the creation of a state-of-the-art center that will empower non-speaking individuals to communicate, learn, and fully participate in their communities.
Those wishing to make a tax-deductible contribution can visit https://www.crimsonrise.org/capital-campaign/ to donate and help bring this landmark project to life.
About CrimsonRise
A non-profit organization that serves autistic individuals, the organization is guided by a belief in presuming competence, CrimsonRise provides communication access, regulation support, training, and community engagement opportunities that allow non-speaking individuals to thrive.