A small wonder: Santino Stagliano, 10, presents a $2,500 check to David Maola, CEO of The Center for Autism, earlier this month.
Santino Stagliano, a 10-year-old from South Philadelphia, recently donated $2,500 to The Center for Autism, 2801 Grant Ave.
Santino has been going to The Center for Autism to receive outpatient services since being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at age 5.
Santino’s friends and family have long referred to him as the “dragon master,” because he can often be found drawing dragons on T-shirts, an exercise he has found helps him to express himself better.
A few requests from family and friends for a “Santino original” quickly became close to 2,000 orders, including from New Zealand, Ireland, Italy and Australia.
Santino decided to donate half of his earnings from dragon T-shirt sales to The Center for Autism.
The Center for Foot and Ankle Disorders, based in South Philadelphia, heard of Santino’s fundraising efforts and volunteered to match his donation. ••
