TARRYTOWN, NY – The New York Self Storage Association announced late last week that it is donating $1,000 to the nationally recognized organization, Autism Speaks.

The New York Self Storage Association (NYSSA) is a coalition of New York State storage facilities incorporated in 1982 to provide a powerful network of information and a wealth of experience to those who have an interest in the self-storage industry. The NYSSA membership is comprised of owners whose facilities range from 5,000 sq. ft. and 40 rental units to multiple facility owners with thousands of rental spaces. The primary aim of the Association is to give each owner and operator a support system and to create great industry visibility.

During the Association’s annual Fall Conference in Tarrytown, New York, Vice Chairman and CEO Peter Ferraro graciously announced the donation to a room of over 130 storage owners, operators, vendors, and professional members. The donation was accepted by Bradley Gerstman, founding partner at Gerstman Schwartz & Malito LLP and autism advocate, alongside Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino. Gerstman has served as a board member of the Autism Legal Foundation and works as counsel to the Autism Coalition of Long Island.

Peter Ferraro said of the occasion,

“We are excited to share this moment with all of our members. Autism Speaks is a great organization that is leading the way in supporting and advocating for children across the spectrum, as well as their families. The Association’s Board of Directors and members hope that this small gesture will help their mission, and we have made a commitment to continuing to work with the national organization.”

Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, grandparents of a child with autism. Since then, Autism Speaks has grown into the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes and treatments for autism, increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. For more information, please their website at www.autismspeaks.org.