Nicholas Parrillo, a Warwick resident who is both blind and autistic, has received a $2,000 grant from the Joey Fund to pursue his desire to row. Part of the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, the Joey Fund distributes grants to families affected by autism.

The Joey Fund was established in 2013, after Bob and Michele Gay lost their 7-year-old daughter Josephine to the Newtown, Connecticut shooting. Living with autism, Bob and Michele started the Joey Fund in honor of their daughter, hoping to help other families that are affected by autism.

Through partnership with the Doug Flutie Foundation, they have distributed 36 grants totaling more than $130,000 to affected families over the past two years, according to their website, flutiefoundation.org/joey’s-story.

“It’s very hard for him to get physical activity,” said Kara Parrillo of her 18-year-old son. “It’s so important for kids to get exercise…there’s not much funding for adult activity, many disabled adults are overweight,” she said.

Attending Access Sport America for five summers now, Nicholas was able to exercise in a setting accommodating for those with any sort of disability.

After Community Rowing came to visit Access Sport for a day, Kara said that Nicholas tried it and immediately liked it.

“It’s competitive, fantastic and you don’t need sight for it,” she said. “He rows faster than the duck boats.”

However, in order to be on a team, Nicholas would have to take lessons first. Community Rowing provides one-on-one lessons that would work perfectly but were just too expensive, Kara said, at $70 an hour. After hearing about the Doug Flutie Foundation at Access Sport, Kara went on the website and found out about the Joey Fund.

“Our pediatrician wrote a letter of support,” said Kara. After applying and receiving the grant, Nicholas will receive access to it starting July 1.

“We were so thrilled we got accepted,” Kara said. “I love the Joey Fund, they’re always there for support.”

Beginning lessons the last week of July, Kara said that Nicholas has been practicing at the YMCA, using the rowing machines. After he gets up to speed with the lessons, Kara said they will see what team he can go on.

“If he likes it and this works out well, this opens up a whole new world for him,” Kara said, since Nicholas could pursue rowing his whole life. “It would just be an awesome experience for him.”

Without the grant, Kara said they would not have been able to accommodate them at Community Rowing, since they did not have any financial aid available. It is the Joey Fund that is making this possible, Kara said.

“This is going to change my son’s life…he’ll be able to be a part of a team,” said Kara, excited for what this experience has in store for Nicholas.

This is just one example of how the Joey Fund has had an impact on families affected by autism, helping kids pursue their passions and have fun in ways that would otherwise be inaccessible.