Ardsley Teen Raises $75K for Autism, Wins Kohl’s Scholarship

Nicholas Lombardi has become a celebrity of sorts in his hometown of Ardsley. 

The 18-year-old has raised more than $75,000 for autism awareness, recently won a highly selective scholarship from Kohl’s and even has his own day of the year named after him. 

Lombardi’s claim to fame is a button he created for his brother nine years ago. 

When Lombardi was around 9-years-old, he began noticing his brother Joey—two years his junior—was not as accepted as other children. Joey was diagnosed with autism at a young age, attending Early Intervention at Jawonio beginning at age three. 

“What got me angry as a kid was that people would see Joey, and because he wasn’t in a wheelchair, it wasn’t overly obvious that he has special needs,” Lombardi said. “So people would judge my brother, saying he’s just a bad kid, and they’d judge my mom saying she’s a bad parent who can’t control her child.”

So in order to combat the preconceived about Joey, Lombardi had an idea: if people just knew that he wasn’t misbehaving, and that he was autistic, then they would be more accepting.

By the time Lombardi was 10-years-old, he had made six pins that read, “I’m Not Misbehaving, I Have Autism, Please Be Understanding.” They also featured an autism ribbon. 

A few months later, Autism Speaks heard about the pin, and reached out to Lombardi in the hopes of distributing it. The autism awareness organization was given the rights to the button, which now bears its puzzle piece logo. 

Since it began selling on the Autism Speaks website in 2005, the button has raised upwards of $75,000 for autism awareness.

Lombardi is thrilled to know that he has been able to make this contribution to autism advocacy, research, treatment and support.

“It feels awesome that I’ve not only helped my brother be understood by people, but kids all over the country and the world,” Lombardi said. “I think awareness is the most important thing, and as long as I can help with that, I’m the happiest guy in the world."

On January 23 of this year, the Village of Greenburgh decided to honor its hometown hero by naming the day after Lombardi.

“When you get told that they’re naming a day after you in your town, it’s really humbling and really takes you back—it really helped me to realize how far we’ve come with the pin,” Lombardi said.

At the same time, Lombardi was busy getting his application for the Kohl’s Care Scholarship Program ready.

His mother, Phyllis, found out about the Kohl’s scholarship online, and thought it would be a perfect fit for her son. 

The Kohl’s Cares Scholarship Program acknowledges and rewards young volunteers who have improved their community in some way.

In order to be eligible, Lombardi had to write an essay on why he thought he deserved the scholarship, and describe his accomplishments. He also had to receive nominations from community members who believed that he had made a true impact.

Lombardi was overjoyed after winning out of all of the applicants to his local Kohl’s store in Yonkers. With this feat, he was granted a $50 gift card and his picture in the store. After winning in his store, Lombardi became eligible for the regional competition. Lombardi became the East Coast winner, and was granted $1,000 in scholarship money.

“To win my region was really cool. It was very exciting, I felt like a celebrity for a little bit,” Lombardi said. “It’s cool to think that I’ve made so much of an impact that they feel that I deserve that recognition.”

Still, the incoming freshman to Manhattanville College in Purchase has big plans ahead.

Lombardi will major in Special Education, and continue on in that field. He also hopes to one day franchise an idea he has called “Sibling Room.” Lombardi recalls hours throughout his life spent in waiting rooms while his brother would be in various therapies.

“What if in every special education therapist’s office, there’s a separate room for siblings, where they can relax, do homework, socialize with other siblings, and maybe go to a weekly support group. Siblings are a whole population that doesn’t really get noticed because all of the focus is on the kid with special needs,” Lombardi said.

Yet despite long hours spent in doctor’s offices, Lombardi feels no resentment toward his younger brother—he feels the opposite.

“Joey has taught me so much about life, about understanding, patience. He’s showed me how to appreciate the little things, never to judge anyone, and never to take anything or anyone for granted,” Lombardi said.  “Always be open minded and understanding to others.”

For now, Lombardi is getting ready to attend college, and looking forward to making even more of an impact on autism, and our understanding of it.

“I think over the years, from when I was a little kid, awareness has gotten a lot better. From the mainstream media to everyday, a lot more people are talking about it,” Lombardi said. “Its an ever growing number. Just a few years ago it was 1 in 160, now it’s 1 in 88. There are still plenty more things that we should pursue, but it’s gotten so much better.”

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For more information on the Autism Button, or to purchase a button, visit http://www.autismbutton.com and/or https://www.facebook.com/autismbutton.