THE AUTISM PROJECT – FLOS HONORS FIT4ALL NY’S CARMINE LAMANNA FOR OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS
- May 8
- 3 min read
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., May 5, 2026 – Carmine LaManna, CEO, FIT4ALL NY, has been honored by Yonkers-based The Autism Project – FLOS, for outstanding commitment to autistic individuals and individuals with special needs, their families and community.
The Community Wellness & Inclusion Champion Award was presented at a special pre-Mother’s Day luncheon, “A Mother’s Love,” held at Westchester Manor, in Hastings-on-Hudson on Sunday. The awards ceremony featured guest speaker Sarah Olton who shared her experience living with autism as well as comments from LaManna and three other award recipients. Janine Rose, Emmy-winning anchor and political correspondent for News 12 Westchester, emceed the event.
LaManna heads up FIT4ALL NY’s inclusive fitness program for neurodiverse children and adults. He has been instrumental in growing FIT4ALL NY’s membership while managing the program’s specialized personal training team, personally training numerous clients and conducting community advocacy for the special needs community.
The Autism Project – FLOS – was founded by DaQueen Monroe in honor of her son, Shaquan, whose brilliance, strength and resilience inspired a mission larger than a diagnosis. The organization supports, empowers and celebrates individuals with autism and lifelong disabilities — and the families who love and advocate for them — through education, community programs, empowerment events and inclusive spaces that honor dignity and potential.
In addition to a trophy and plaque from The Autism Project – FLOS, LaManna was also presented with a proclamation from the City of Yonkers and a certificate of recognition from New York State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
“Working with the autistic community has changed my life in ways I never could have imagined,” said LaManna in his acceptance remarks. “What we do at FIT4ALL NY is not just work—it’s about purpose. Every single day I have the privilege of learning from the individuals we work with. I’ve learned patience, perspective and what ‘real progress’ looks like. Progress isn’t always big and loud moments— sometimes it’s a small step, a shining light, a connection—and those moments mean everything.”
LaManna is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT). He joined the special needs fitness industry following a more than 25-year career in the retail industry working for prominent retailers including Bloomingdale’s and Bed Bath & Beyond. He graduated from Pace University in 1991 with a B.B.A. in Marketing Management. He holds a Special Strong certification from NASM, geared towards special needs children and adults, and is a NASM-accredited Performance Enhancement Specialist. A father of three children, LaManna and his wife, Kathy, reside in New Fairfield, Conn.
About FIT4ALL NY
Founded in 2017 by Charles DeFrancesco, FIT4ALL NY, headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., is a full-service gym featuring high quality personal training and small group training services. Its adaptive fitness services business serves the neurodiverse and developmental disability populations including individuals with autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, ADHD and traumatic brain injuries. The services address a major gap in the market – most special needs programs focus on schooling, therapy and supervision whereas FIT4ALL NY uses legitimate exercise science, progression, safety standards and qualified coaching to provide socialization through exercise in a true training environment.
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Editor’s note: High resolution photos are available upon request.
Media Contact:
Alex Feintuch
FIT4ALL NY
914-646-1053