Press Alert | November 24, 2025
Caregiving Youth Advocate Rimbatara Neomardhika (Neo) Wins the 2025 Leon David Simmons Caregivers Award

The American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) is pleased to announce that Caregiving Youth Advocate Rimbatara Neomardhika (Neo) has won the 2025 Leon David Simmons Caregivers Award, presented by Caregivers Outreach Mentorship Empowerment Inc. (C.O.M.E.).

Neo was nominated by Maria Miranda, LMSW, Aging in Place Social Worker, Advocate for Family Caregivers, and member of the AACY National Advisory Council, in recognition of both his dedicated care for his father following a stroke and his leadership in raising national awareness about Caregiving Youth.

Neo’s contributions to the caregiving movement have been significant. He represented AACY at the United Nations screening of the WETA/PBS documentary Caregiving in June 2025, where he received an official UN pin from Charles Katoanga of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. He was also the only youth under 18 to respond to AACY and PBS Well Beings’ national call for stories, creating a seven-part Instagram video journal that captured the emotional realities of youth caregiving with clarity, honesty, and originality. His storytelling has helped elevate the experiences of the more than six million Caregiving Youth across the United States.

“We are incredibly proud of Neo. Sharing our family’s caregiving journey has never been easy, but he chose to step forward and use his voice so that other young caregivers feel seen and understood. His courage continues to inspire all of us.”
— Dita W. Yolashasanti

“We are so proud of you, Neo, and your courage in sharing your caregiving story. Thank you for helping the nation better understand the experiences and needs of Caregiving Youth.”
— Connie Siskowski, RN, PhD, President and Founder of the American Association of Caregiving Youth

The Leon David Simmons Caregivers Award honors family caregivers whose dedication, compassion, and commitment have made a meaningful impact on their loved ones and their communities.

The award was presented during C.O.M.E.’s 19th Annual Family Caregiver Award Gala on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at Maestro’s Caterers in Bronx, NY, in celebration of National Family Caregivers Month.

Neo’s Video Journal | Caregiving Youth | 7-Part Series

Special acknowledgment to Dita W. Yolashasanti, Pinot, and their family for their openness in sharing their caregiving journey. Their willingness to tell their story continues to support a greater understanding of Caregiving Youth nationwide.

Additional Recognition

Neo’s award and his ongoing advocacy were also recently featured by Bayside Highlights, which showcases the diverse accomplishments of students in the community. The publication notes that “Neo embodies the kind of quiet dignity we come across only a few times over the course of our lives,” and expresses gratitude to Principal Martinez, AP Tessenholtz, and AP Hirata for supporting this work.

Read the feature:
https://sites.google.com/view/baysidehighlights/students/students25-26/student13-neo-rimbatara-neomardhika?authuser=0