Angela Burns and Stanley McClover knew the reason they came to New York in the spring of 2024. Then they discovered their why.
Brian Burns, the former's son and latter's brother, had just been traded from the Carolina Panthers. The Pro Bowler and team captain packed up and moved to his new home.
"I couldn't really understand why we were in New York," Angela Burns said. "When Brian was looked at to be traded or whatever the case may be, New York never came in the picture. At the end, when New York did come in the picture, we go, 'Whoa, OK cool. Who doesn't want to go to New York?' Then I felt like there was another reason why we were here."
As Brian Burns acclimated to his new team, the family met Ethan Medley, the Giants' director of community relations and youth football. They told him about Brian's nephew, Champ.
Medley said to them, "I've got just the person you need to talk to … Nadine."
Nadine Wright-Arbubakrr is the recipient of the Giants' 2025 Inspire Change Changemaker Award. It is an annual recognition celebrating leaders who are driving significant, measurable change in their communities across the NFL's Inspire Change initiative's four pillars: education, economic advancement, police-community relations, and criminal justice reform.
Each Changemaker was selected by their local NFL team and received a $10,000 donation from the NFL Foundation, paid directly to a nonprofit organization of their choice. Changemakers also received special recognition at each team's Inspire Change game and tickets to Super Bowl LX.
In 2012, Wright-Arbubakrr founded Nassan's Place, which provides affordable educational and recreational programs, support services, emergency assistance, and more to children and families affected by autism in and around under-served inner-city communities.
With her husband Hassan Arbubakrr, who was drafted by the Buccaneers in 1983 and played two seasons in the NFL, they found out their son, Nassan, had autism at 26 months old.
Champ received the same diagnosis around the same age.
"My son, Nassan, was diagnosed with this thing called autism that I had no clue of," Wright-Arbubakrr said. "Once I started doing research and trying to find programs and services within my own community – I was born and raised in the city of Newark and currently live in East Orange – I couldn't find programs and services. I found something maybe an hour away, so I was wondering, why don't we have services in this community? Why do we have to leave our zip code to get it? So, after six years I pondered the thought, what can I do to help make a difference? How can I solve a problem that is plaguing our community?"
Thus, Nassan's Place was formed.
Nassan, now 21 years old, has grown into a 6-foot-6, 320-pound young man.
"I truly believe that children with an autism diagnosis should not go without needed services in their community because of their zip code," said Wright-Arbubakrr, whose relationship with the Giants dates back seven years. "All of these children can thrive given the right opportunities and support. Through the support of my amazing community and people throughout this country, we have been able to make a huge impact on the lives of thousands of children over the last few years."
So much so that Mayor Ras J. Baraka and the City of Newark gifted Nassan's Place a site for a state-of-the-art autism center with affordable housing.
Wright-Arbubakrr's dedication has also earned her local, state, and federal support from leaders, including the late Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, the late Congressman Donald Payne Jr., and East Orange Mayor Ted R. Green.
Inspired by her work, the City of East Orange launched its first-ever Summer Enrichment Program for children with autism, and appointed Wright-Arbubakrr to lead it. She has also partnered with the City of Newark for the past four years to run a full-day, seven-week autism-friendly summer camp. Her influence led both cities to launch award-winning autism swim programs, and in 2022, Newark opened its first sensory-friendly park.
While funding certainly helps, Wright-Arbubakrr believes it begins with awareness and transparency.
"I think in certain communities there's a stigma, especially in black and brown communities," she said. "No one was talking about it. One of my people along this journey was Holly Robinson Peete and her husband Rodney Peete, a former NFL player. They really gave people like me the push to talk about it, to not hide our children. She used her platform. They both used that platform to make it OK for black and brown communities to talk about it, not to shun our kids or hide our kids. I've got to say transparency is so important, but when we see people like Holly Robinson Peete and Rodney Peete coming out and sharing their story and journey, it gives us hope. And especially now with Brian Burns and his family through Stanley, the platform can get even higher because there are so many families who are not talking about it."
Through the Hype 4 Life Foundation of the Brian Burns Family Charities, Brian Burns recently hosted an "Empowerment Luncheon for Dads of Autistic Children" at MetLife Stadium.
Fathers from across the region gathered for an afternoon of connection, support, recognition and encouragement, while highlighting the vital role dads play as advocates for children on the autism spectrum.
It was one of many events that Burns' family has wrapped their arms around to support Wright-Arbubakrr and Nassan's Place.
"I just intend to use my platform, use what God has blessed me with, to spread awareness to this cause but also just to do a lot of big things in New York," Brian Burns said. "I want to inspire others to give. I want to inspire others to help out. I also just want to keep it close to home. This foundation and everything we're focused on, it touches home. It touches my heart because my nephew is diagnosed with autism and I've seen the challenges that my brother has gone through. I've heard about all the things that go on, and it's tough.
"I understand there's not a lot of awareness that's being brought to this situation, the challenges that these parents are going through, because there's not a lot of knowledge on it. I'm just doing my part the best I can to express and bring light to the situation. It's a struggle. It's tough. Nothing is easy. To let the autism community know that I'm here. I care. At the end of the day, it's like why not? If I can help you out and I can do things in my power to help you out, why not give back?"
McClover, Burns' older brother who played three seasons in the NFL, spoke at the event attended by familiar faces from Nassan's Place.
"I call that my village," McClover said. "You've got to have that as a man, even without dealing with special needs or anything. You've got to have a village of people that you can depend on and talk to. It's very special. … The nurse told me [my son] probably would never speak, that it's something I would be dealing with for the rest of my life. That was the first time I ever heard anything about autism. Autism was introduced into my life then. I don't have these types of events for sympathy and none of that. It's therapeutic for me."
McClover, like so many other parents, has the Giants' Changemaker to thank for leading him to this point.
"I'm humbled," Wright-Arbubakrr said of the award. "I appreciate the recognition because it gives us an opportunity to tell more people our story and what we're doing and how we're changing lives because no one really knows who Nassan's Place is. We're this nonprofit, grassroot, urban, inner city, but we have a huge impact. My goal one day is to take what we do here and go into other underserved communities and be a blueprint for them to follow. I don't want to franchise it. I want to go find another Nadine."
That might be easier said than done.
