Inspired by little brother, Glendale student founds autism nonprofit

There’s so many older brothers out there and older sisters out there that have siblings of autism, parents with children, parents who have autism. But when they all spend time you hear the same things: they see that different ability. It’s a different level of fun being with them. They really make it more emotional.”

Anish Padiyar, 17, Mountain Ridge High School senior

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By Steve Stockmar
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What began as a personal challenge for one student at Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale has grown into a student-led effort to raise money — and awareness — for families navigating autism across the Valley.

For founder Anish Padiyar, the inspiration behind Autism: Bringing Change (ABC) is close to home. His brother, Avaneesh, 10, has nonverbal autism, a condition that has shaped his family’s daily life and revealed how difficult it can be for families to access therapy.

It pushed him to act.

“It’s not some community service or community involvement topic,” said Padiyar, 17, and a senior at Mountain Ridge. “It’s doing something that I genuinely connect to, doing something that our team, the community of Autism: Bringing Change, we all genuinely connect to the topic.”

Autism, a neurological condition that exists on a spectrum, affects 1 in 36 children, according to national data. Advocates say awareness alone is not enough — acceptance and access to services remain key challenges, especially as many families struggle with the cost of care.

Launched in 2022, ABC is a student-run initiative aimed at helping families offset those costs while educating the community. The group is led by Padiyar as operations manager alongside finance manager and Mountain Ridge senior Charan Arveti, and outreach manager and Mountain Ridge junior Ichcha Pandey.

Raising awareness starts at the very beginning of the autism journey, the same way it did for Padiyar and his family.

“We had to really get to know him, beyond just that brother-to-brother-type of aspect,” Padiyar explained. “It’s seeing the world the way he sees it.”

Over the past year, students organized multiple fundraising events, including a basketball tournament, a community hike and a tennis tournament at Rose Mofford Sports Complex. Together, the events drew more than 300 participants.

Planning wasn’t simple. As a student-run effort without formal nonprofit backing early on, organizers had to build credibility with sponsors, secure venues and ensure safety protocols, including liability waivers and first-aid readiness.

Despite those challenges, the results exceeded expectations.

Anish Padiyar, 17, and his brother Avaneesh, 10.

(Photo provided by Anish Padiyar)

The group set an initial fundraising goal of $500. By the end of the cycle, ABC raised $968.20, all of which was donated to AZA United, a nonprofit that provides therapy and support services to families across Arizona.

Beyond fundraising, students focused heavily on outreach. Social media efforts generated more than 46,000 impressions, helping spread awareness about autism and the importance of early intervention and support. During the holidays, ABC members also created handmade cards to thank therapists statewide.

Community partnerships played a key role, with support from organizations including Sewa International, Phoenix Jewel of the East Lions and ACE Tennis Academy.

Now, the group is looking ahead.

ABC plans to launch its next phase in May, expanding into city-based chapters in an effort to grow its reach and impact.

For Padiyar and his team, the mission remains personal — and ongoing.

“They say there’s no cure for autism, but if we really look at it this way, the cure is the people that they spend the time with,” he said. “For my brother, it’s not that autism needs a cure, it’s that if his family, the people he loves, is around him, we’re spending time to be spending time with us. What more do we want?”

Visit https://autismbringingchange.xyz/ to learn more.

Steve Stockmar can be reached at sstockmar@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@inusua.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Autism: Bringing Change set an initial fundraising goal of $500. By the end of the cycle, ABC raised $968.20, all of which was donated to AZA United, a nonprofit that provides therapy and support services to families across Arizona.

(Photo provided by Autism: Bringing Change)

Steve Stockmar
News Editor | Sun Life Magazine & Arts & Entertainment YourValley.net

sstockmar@iniusa.org

Meet Steve
Steve Stockmar joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, and has been an Arizona journalist for almost 30 years. He serves as editor of Sun Life Magazine and contributes to West Valley communities where he focuses mostly on arts & culture, education, and profiles of neighbors making a difference.

Community: Every season Steve serves as a “buddy” with the Miracle League of Arizona in Scottsdale, has volunteered his time with Family Promise in Glendale, and previously served on the Ghostlight Theatre board in Sun City West.

Education: Graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a Journalism major and English minor.

Random Fact: Steve once won a 50-player live Texas Hold ’Em poker tournament.

Hobbies: Anguishing over his beloved Chicago Cubs and Bears; listening to Beatles and Grateful Dead music.