News

The Alfred N. Sanzari Family Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving communities across northern New Jersey, is proud to announce it has made a donation of $20,000 to the Hackensack Public School District to aid in the district’s efforts to supply elementary school students with iPads to facilitate virtual learning this school year as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the New Jersey Department of Education, over 350,000 students lacked the devices needed to successfully learn from home at the start of the 2020-2021 school year. With many districts across the state offering hybrid in-person and virtual learning or all-virtual learning this school year as a result of the pandemic, the widening technology gap has made it a challenge for students in need to find educational success.

The Alfred N. Sanzari (ANS) Family Foundation’s donation was used to support the purchase of iPads for the district’s almost 1,800 students at its four elementary schools – Fairmount School, Fanny Meyer Hillers School, Jackson Ave. School, and Nellie K. Parker School. The ANS Family Foundation’s donation of $20,000 will help the Hackensack Public School District as they seek to ensure that every elementary school student in Hackensack, regardless of income has the tools needed to succeed this school year.

The donation reaffirms both Alfred Sanzari Enterprises and the ANS Family Foundation’s deep ties to Hackensack and the Hackensack Public School District. Alfred Sanzari, the namesake of both organizations, graduated from Hackensack High School in 1937 prior to serving in World War II. Following his service, he came back to Hackensack in 1945 to start Alfred Sanzari Enterprises, one of the state’s most respected commercial real estate development and management companies.

With Alfred’s passing in 2005, the ANS Family Foundation was created to carry on his legacy and continue to make an impact on the communities and causes that were held so near and dear to him, particularly in Hackensack. Reflecting the values of Alfred and his family, the ANS Family Foundation supports a wide range of causes including the promotion and support of healthcare with a special preference for patient care and Parkinson’s Disease, local education programs, and programs that support 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.

“75 years ago, my grandfather founded Alfred Sanzari Enterprises and at the core of his success was his commitment to helping the communities that he worked in. Hackensack has always held a special place in the hearts of the Sanzari family as it is where our story began,” said Benita Sanzari Raia, member of the Alfred N. Sanzari Family Foundation Board of Trustees. “When we were made aware of the technology gap facing many students in the district, it was an easy decision for us to provide this donation to help those in need this school year. We hope that this can make a tangible impact in the lives of thousands of students and their families as they continue to navigate the significant educational challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Robert Sanchez, Superintendent of the Hackensack Public School District added, “On behalf of the Hackensack Board of Education, I would like to thank The Alfred N Sanzari Foundation for their very generous donation of $20,000 to the District.  This donation will help us bridge the digital divide ensuring equitable teaching and learning environments for our youngest learners.  We are very grateful to the Sanzari Family for supporting our efforts.  Even while we are asked to stay apart, it’s great to see our community come together.”