STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Supporters of the GRACE Foundation smiled, hugged and danced with joy as they placed 12,000 multi-colored awareness ribbons on a shiny white vehicle last week, setting a Guinness World Record for the most ribbons ever placed on a van.

The event, held at the not-for-profit foundation’s Sea View campus on World Autism Day, brought together members of the Staten Island community in an effort to raise awareness about autism and the importance of recognizing neurodiversity.

The foundation’s mission is to increase the quality of life for children, teens, adults and their families.

The 12,000 ribbons eventually covered the van and far surpassed the goal of 8,000 set by Guinness for the record.

Fifty students from the GRACE Foundation’s Day Habilitation Program, their families and supporters, spent about three hours working on the project on a sunny, yet chilly day.

They were joined by many representatives from other Staten Island not-for-profit organizations and supporting businesses, including On Your Mark, Eden II and Northfield Bank.

City Councilmember David Carr placed ribbons on the van, as did Michael Cusick, a former New York state assemblymember and current president and CEO of the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation. Both spoke of the need to educate the community about autism and the services provided by the GRACE Foundation.

“The not-for-profits really are the entities on Staten Island that take care of our families and our friends and our neighbors, and that’s important for a great quality of life for Staten Island,” Cusick said.

Though the standard set was 8,000, those at the foundation were aiming high, said Cathy Del Priore, the organization’s executive director.

“We’re going big so that nobody breaks it after us,” she said, thanking the team that made the event happen: Brian Licata, of Marvel Consults; Dan Ryan, of the Staten Island Advance; Mike Bloomfield, of Tekie Geek; Anthony Rapacciuolo, of PRcsion; Vin Bonomi of TMG Graphics; and Sal Fabozzi, of Because We Can.

To ensure each ribbon was unique and countable, GRACE Foundation students spent two weeks numbering, counting and bagging them.

The day was about so much more than a Guinness World Record, Del Priore said.

“We’re making our voice be heard,” she said, noting the importance of being vocal amid today’s talk of possible Medicaid cuts. “It’s about equality for all. Give everybody a chance. Give everybody that same opportunity.”

On hand was a Guinness World Records adjudicator, Michael Empric. He performed a spot check of the ribbon count before the event, inspected the van after completion, and presented Del Priore with the official certificate — the third for the GRACE Foundation.

“We want it to be significant and challenging,” Empric said of the setting of the goal.

Supporters gushed all day about the good things the GRACE foundation does and the need for support and understanding.

Many were determined to place as many ribbons as they possibly could, including 9-year-old Daniel “Finn” Ryan, who placed at least 100 ribbons and was able to reach the lower parts of the van many had trouble reaching.

Carr, the Republican who represents the Mid-Island’s 50th Council District, said he’s had a long relationship with the foundation, and respects the work it does.

“It calls attention to the fact that we have great providers on the borough,” he said of the event. “They are trusted hands that this community can support to do the mission that is required to serve the IDD community and their families.”

Jenna Baratta, of Where Little Minds Grow, which performs speech and occupational therapy and runs classes for young students for the GRACE Foundation, said she’s always proud to be part of the event.

“It just spreads so much awareness, and that’s really what we need with this community,” she said.

Her colleague, Danielle Mikhail, agreed.

“We’re all about the special needs community: Inclusion, inclusiveness, one big happy family trying to get people to notice what the special needs community can accomplish on their own,” she said.

The two previous Guinness World Records earned by the GRACE Foundation occurred in 2023 and 2024.

On April 19, 2023, The foundation broke the record for the World’s Largest Human Puzzle Piece with 2,423 participants.

It marked the first Guinness World Record held by a nonprofit on the borough.

Then, on Jan. 26, 2024, the foundation partnered with St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School, in Huguenot, to create the world’s largest human infinity symbol with 1,540 participants.

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