Date: May 11, 2009

Justin Civitano, a Rahway, N.J. teenager with Aspergers Syndrome, really wanted to play football. And after a little convincing, he got that wish.

Justin's parents, Robert and Christine, signed him up to play for his local Pop Warner football team, the Rahway Chiefs of the North Jersey Pop Warner League. The team was coached by Eugene "Coach Nap" Napoleon, who had met Justin the previous year while working as a camp counselor for kids with disabilities.

And it's safe to say there was a little hesitancy and concerns by both the coach and parents at first.

"I was really concerned, initially, when they first talked to me about letting him play," said Napoleon. "I didn't want him to come out and bite off a little bit more than he can chew."

However, the teenager's persistence, attitude and work ethic quickly dispelled those initial concerns.

"The fact that he worked so hard in practice, and he came every day wanting to get better...not only did it make him better, but it made the whole team better," added Napoleon.

And towards the end of the season, Justin's hard work really paid off with his first touchdown catch of the season, a fade pass in the back of the endzone that followed by a loud ovation from the crowd.

"I just couldn't believe that this kid had come so far, because of his work ethic and because he really wanted to," said Napoleon. "If he didn't have a good experience, then we didn't do our job as coaches. And that's for all of the kids, but more so for him because I knew how badly he wanted to play."

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Recently, Justin accompanied Coach Nap to the Autism Speaks Kickoff for a Cure IV event, the fourth annual awards gala benefiting Autism Speaks and the Gillen Brewer School. The event was a huge success and raised over $920,000 for children with autism and other special needs.

The event was attended by New York Giants radio voice Bob Papa, Harold McGraw, III, Chairman, President and CEO, The McGraw-Hill Companies; Jeff Lurie, Philadelphia Eagles owner; Larry Babbio, former Vice Chairman & President, Verizon Communications, Inc., Pop Warner Executive Director Jon Butler and Napoleon.

Coach Nap was being honored for his committment and service of working with children with disabilities, and during his speech to the crowd cited Justin's story and his endless determination that brought the whole team together. This was greeted with a standing ovation from the crowd.