For Brett Corsello, supporting the Autism Society of Central Virginia is deeply personal.
Brett grew up in Richmond with his younger brother Chris, who has autism. Today, Chris is 34, and Brett says their relationship is just as meaningful as any other.
“When you have a sibling with autism, every relationship is different,” Brett shared. “In our case, Chris is nonverbal, so we don’t have conversations the way many siblings do. But we still have a great relationship. He enjoys being with me and my family, and I always love when he’s around.”
Growing up, Brett saw firsthand the impact that strong community support can have for families navigating autism. Organizations across Richmond played a role in helping his family find resources and build a sense of belonging.
“There are a lot of great organizations doing important work in this space,” Brett said. “Each one provides different services and resources, and together they help families find the support they need.”
For Brett, the Autism Society of Central Virginia became one of those important connections. One of his earliest memories is attending ASCV’s 5K with his family.
“The 5K was always a big outing for us growing up,” he said. “We’d go to the race and then head to Boychik’s Deli afterward. Chris and the whole family always looked forward to it. Those are some core memories for me.”
Years later, Brett deepened his involvement with ASCV by joining the Junior Board before stepping into his current role on the organization’s Board of Directors.
Serving on the board is Brett’s way of giving back to a community that supported his family early on.
Today, Brett also serves as chair of ASCV’s annual Golf Tournament, an event that continues to grow each year as more golfers and sponsors rally around the autism community.
“My favorite part of the tournament is bringing everyone together for the cause,” Brett said. “It’s a great day of golf, but what really makes it special is having more and more familiar faces join us each year as our community grows and knowing the impact it has for families in our community
Through his leadership, Brett has also helped bring his company, Juno Financial Group, in as a sponsor, further expanding the circle of supporters investing in the autism community.
For Brett, the reason for staying involved is simple.
“All the work done for individuals with autism has a ripple effect,” he said. “It impacts siblings, parents, extended family, and entire communities. That’s why supporting ASCV matters.”
