News

The Alfred N. Sanzari Family Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving communities across the Northeast, is proud to announce it has awarded 9 grants totaling $50,000 for its Spring 2022 grant program. Grant recipients include Center for Hope and Safety Inc., Community Hope Inc., Happiness is Camping, Social Service Association of Ridgewood and Vicinity, The Office of Concern Food Pantry at St. Cecilia, The Power to Inspire Foundation, Spectrum for Living Development, Age-Friendly Teaneck, and the Care Plus Foundation.

The Alfred N. Sanzari (ANS) Family Foundation was established in 2006 to carry on the legacy of Alfred N. Sanzari, founder of Alfred Sanzari Enterprises, through the promotion and support of a wide range of causes throughout northern New Jersey. Reflecting the values of Alfred and his family, the ANS Family Foundation supports various organizations with a special preference for patient care and Parkinson’s disease, local education programs, and programs that assist disadvantaged populations such as shelters/housing, and services for women and children in need. Since its founding, the ANS Family Foundation has donated over $2 million to organizations throughout northern New Jersey and surrounding communities.

“At a time where individuals and families in need are facing more uncertainty than ever, we are truly honored to be able to both assist and honor the non-profit organizations that work tirelessly to make our communities a better place,” said Dana Jareck, member of the Alfred N. Sanzari Family Foundation Board of Trustees. “No amount of financial support can accurately express the deep gratitude we hold towards these outstanding organizations as they continue to touch the lives of those who need them most.”

Center for Hope and Safety Inc. is Bergen County’s only not-for-profit agency dedicated to helping adults and children rebuild their lives beyond domestic violence and abuse. The grant will be used to help fund Center for Hope and Safety’s Children’s Program which is designed to stabilize a child’s environment and to counteract the effects of abuse by addressing the anxiety, depression, anger, aggression, self-esteem problems, and impaired social skill development that result from exposure to violence in the home.  The program includes preschool activities for toddlers, after-school programming for adolescents, tutoring, case management services to assist with schooling and referrals to community services, and social-recreational activities.  Additionally, Center for Hope and Safety provides an art therapy program to help children who have experienced chaotic circumstances adjust to a new environment as they come to the Safe House.

Community Hope Inc. serves as the leading New Jersey charity geared towards aiding homeless veterans struggling with mental health issues. Having rescued more than 7,000 veterans from homelessness and poverty over the past 15 years, the organization is firmly committed to helping those struggling to rebuild their lives. Their grant will be utilized towards providing veterans with shelter, food, and wraparound services to help improve their overall health and place them on the path towards a more independent and productive life.

Based in Hardwick, N.J., Happiness is Camping is a free five-week summer camp experience designed for children suffering from cancer and their siblings. Hosting over 400 children each summer, the camp offers an exciting array of traditional camp activities while remaining inclusive to all campers regardless of their health. Through their grant, the camp will be able to continue to provide ongoing care and programs for all children including those with blood disorders, infections, physical disabilities enrolled in their program and allow them to feel like kids again.

For over 100 years, the Social Service Association of Ridgewood and Vicinity has worked tirelessly to provide food and emergency assistance to those struggling to afford rent and additional utilities. Through their community food pantry and partnership with The Food Brigade, the organization can provide supplies to 60-100 families per week. Their grant will go towards updating and repairing the physical space designed to house their food pantry and will allow them to continue stocking in-demand items for families in need such as canned fruits and vegetables, soup, cereal, fresh produce, and milk.

Committed towards alleviating hunger for the most impoverished residents living in Bergen County, the Office of Concern Food Pantry at St. Cecilia is an essential support organization for retired senior citizens, families with young children, and the working poor who are in dire need of food and other necessities. The organization intends to use its grant to further support its Nutrition Plus program, which seeks to provide fresh produce and food to clients as well as combat food insecurity through the introduction of freshly cooked and diverse meals.

Founded by Vivian and Ray Chew in 2013, The Power to Inspire Foundation is dedicated to serving as an opportunity pipeline for individuals such as aspiring musicians, singers and songwriters, and music business executives through offering a variety of scholarships and masterclasses. Operating on a nationwide scale, the organization’s grant will go towards one of the five scholarships offered through their program and will continue to allow the most ambitious and gifted young artists to pursue their dreams.

The Spectrum for Living Development is an organization focused on enabling those with developmental and physical disabilities to reach the highest levels of skills, purpose, and independence. Operating through their Immediate Care Facility, the organization provides comprehensive care for patients aged 21-65 plus in severe need of medically intensive treatments. The organization will utilize their grant to acquire additional accessible and adaptive equipment to ensure their facilities continue to be equipped to the highest standards. With this equipment, Spectrum for Living Development hopes to normalize high-quality accommodations and continue offering their clients the tools, programs, and classes necessary for their success.

Age-Friendly Teaneck is an initiative focused on making Teaneck more livable for people of all ages, while also increasing awareness of the needs of the Township’s rapidly growing older population. Through their grant, Age-Friendly Teaneck hopes to establish programs to remedy the social isolation and economic instability of at-risk older residents while engaging young and old citizens alike in intergenerational meetings that allow them to share their diverse knowledge and experiences.

The Care Plus Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization that supports the innovative and life-changing programs and services provided by Care Plus NJ, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Since its inception in 1998, the Foundation has been dedicated to helping to provide care and support for individuals affected by mental illness, as well as education and outreach to decrease the stigma of the disease. Their grant will be utilized to continue the organization’s programs to provide financial support to clients to ensure they can remain in their homes with continuous access to necessary utilities and essentials such as electricity and medication without the presence of outside stressors.

The ANS Family Foundation has two grant cycles per year with grant amounts ranging from $500 to $10,000. The Foundation is currently in its first grant application period for 2022. All grant applications are due by February 28, 2022. For more information on the grant application process and to apply, please visit the ANS Family Foundation at https://sanzarifoundation.com/how-to-apply.