Shop Mission Market →

UPCOMING EVENT

Believe Gala

Come join us at our annual Believe Gala at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers as we raise funds to support our programs for children and adults with autism throughout New York City and Long Island. The evening will include a cocktail reception, silent auction, dinner, awards program, special performances, and a dessert reception.

Purchase Tickets

2025 Honorees

Michael Serao

Community Leadership Award

Michael Serao is a dynamic executive banking professional with over 25 years of industry experience who stands at the intersection of financial leadership and community advocacy. Currently serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at First Central Savings Bank, Serao has dedicated himself to championing autism advocacy as a Board Director for QSAC and Chair of its HR Committee. His commitment to community extends across multiple causes, including education, environmental conservation, and support for special needs through various board positions with organizations like Shareing & Careing and the Freeport Education Foundation. As CEO of Serao Enterprises, President of Guy Lombardo Properties, and Chair of the Planning Board for Hewlett Harbor, he builds not just structures but stronger communities. Michael shares his Hewlett Harbor home with his husband, Dr. Fidel Abreu, their three dogs, and maintains close connections with his son Alex in Florida—embodying his personal philosophy that being nice and getting involved truly makes our world better.

Winifred “Wini” Schiff

The Beacon Award

As Chief Executive Officer of the Inter Agency Council (IAC), Wini stands as a formidable champion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, masterfully coordinating a coalition of nearly 200 member organizations dedicated to advancing crucial policies and services. Her remarkable four-decade career since 1986 encompasses every vital aspect of disability services—from direct support and program development to staff training, administration, and transformative advocacy. What sets Wini apart is her rare blend of comprehensive institutional knowledge and genuine passion for the disability community, along with her personal perspective as the parent of an amazing daughter with autism. Her exceptional leadership unites diverse stakeholders—service providers, families, government agencies, and elected officials—to address systemic challenges and elevate critical issues into the spotlight. Under her visionary guidance, IAC continues to expand possibilities and establish new benchmarks of excellence, ensuring that innovation and inclusion remain central to the field’s ongoing evolution.RetryClaude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.

QSAC, Inc is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, EIN 11-2482974, and is registered as a charity with the New York State Charities Bureau. Donations to QSAC are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. A copy of the QSAC’s latest annual financial report may be obtained from QSAC or from the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau’s Website or by requesting it in writing from QSAC by mailing your request to 253 West 35th Street, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10001. Information about charities operating in New York State can be obtained by contacting. the Attorney General’s office at (212) 416-8686.