Newsletter Vol. 7

My son, Michael, has Microcephaly and we enrolled him in Camp Anchor when he was five years old. Now 23, Michael has developed a fulfilling social life and lifelong friendships thanks to the Town of Hempstead’s A.N.C.H.O.R Program.

It’s hard to believe our family has been part of the A.N.C.H.O.R community for 17 years. I joined the Board of Directors for the Anchor Program Fund (APF) in 2016 and became Office Manager in 2017.

The Anchor Program Fund is a charitable nonprofit that accepts donations to fund special activities and events, as well as the necessary supplies and equipment, for the 1,000+ town residents who participate in A.N.C.H.O.R each year.

The APF Board has been working hard to step-up our fundraising efforts. Over the past year, we applied for a record number of grants, formed partnerships with new foundations and businesses and expanded APF’s online giving platform.

It was well-worth the time spent because we’ve been able to fund new programs for A.N.C.H.OR participants and other enhancements that benefit the entire A.N.C.H.O.R community.

Here are some highlights of APF’s accomplishments on behalf of A.N.C.H.O.R in 2018:

• We applied for and received $305,000 in grants from foundations, which funded additional programs, including Equine Therapy, a Fitness Bootcamp and Tae Kwon Do; six state-of-the-art beach/sand wheelchairs; five $5,000 educational scholarships for A.N.C.H.O.R employees; a new acoustic system for the Recreation Center to make the space even more sensory-friendly; as well as much-needed event equipment and storage.

• Thanks to the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation and many of you, our Middle Camp Matching Gift effort raised $134,400 and the group is being formed.

• We raised more than $11,000 through our new online giving options, which currently include AmazonSmile, Network for Good, PayPal and Facebook.

• APF and A.N.C.H.O.R parents organized a number of fundraising events, raising $81,600 for A.N.C.H.O.R. This includes $51,000 from our annual Beach Ball and $11,500 from “Light it Up Blue” organized by the D’Angelo family.

Fundraising is absolutely critical to keep our programs running. We’re always looking for foundations, corporate sponsors, and local vendors who want to support our efforts, so please share your ideas.

We also count on direct donations from individuals and support for special programs that enrich the A.N.C.H.O.R experience, including our surfing clinic run by the Tommy Brull Foundation, our annual summer Block Party organized by the Nassau County PBA, and our art experience and fair hosted by the Exceptional Artists Foundation.

On behalf of the entire APF Board, I want to thank all of you for the many ways you continue to support our work. Have a happy and healthy new year.

Marianne Pizza
Office Manager, Anchor Program Fund, Inc.

Anchor Program Fund awarded grants from the Francis and Gertrude Levett Foundation

The Anchor Program Fund, Inc. applied for and received two grants from the Francis and Gertrude Levett Foundation.

The grants will be used to enhance the Town of Hempstead’s A.N.C.H.O.R Program, which serves more than 1,000 residents with physical and developmental disabilities across 22 incorporated villages.

This is the second largest award from a single foundation that APF has received since the fund was established 40 years ago.

“Receiving this extremely generous grant is a fabulous way to wrap-up what has been a wonderful anniversary year for A.N.C.H.O.R and APF,” said Susan Cuoccio, APF’s Board Treasurer.

Working with A.N.C.H.O.R APF developed and submitted a “wish list” of items that would improve the program experience for A.N.C.H.O.R participants.

The grants, totaling $117,000, will fund six, state-of-the-art sand and beach wheelchairs, a 100-foot beach mat, much-needed equipment and storage space, and new iPads to support point-of-sale purchases of A.N.C.H.O.R merchandize, tickets, etc.

The grants will also be used to upgrade technology at Camp A.N.C.H.O.R. For example, a new acoustic system will be installed in the Malone-Mulhall Recreation Center. A.N.C.H.O.R and APF host events in the facility through the year, and this new technology will make the space even more sensory-friendly.

“I cannot overemphasize how important fundraising is to our mission and how much these donations mean to A.N.C.H.O.R and all those the program serves,” said Cuoccio.

Established in 2001 and based in Saint Petersburg, Florida, the Francis and Gertrude Levett Foundation provides educational scholarships and other types of student financial aid to deserving organizations.

Pat Roth introduced APF to the Levett Foundation. Roth is aunt to two current A.N.C.H.O.R volunteer and sister to Tara Roth-Ramos, who served as a camp counselor for several years.