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 8 grants totaling $50,000 for its Spring 2021 grant program. Grant recipients include Camp Acorn, Evolve Pink, Fulfill, Giving Hope Network, Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, Northern New Jersey Council – Boy Scouts of America, Social Service Association of Ridgewood and Vicinity and Villanova University.

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 the promotion of healthcare 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.

“In a year filled with challenges and reasons for pessimism, the selfless commitment of non-profit organizations in every community across the nation has been a bright light,” said Dana Jareck, member of the Alfred N. Sanzari Family Foundation Board of Trustees. “We are proud to provide much-needed financial support to these organizations to ensure they can continue to serve as sources of inspiration and continue to make a positive impact on the lives of everyone they serve.”

Based in Paramus, N.J., Camp Acorn’s mission is to provide a supportive environment through enrichment programs that address the physical, emotional, and social well-being of children and adults with developmental disabilities. Their grant will be utilized to support the expansion of their music therapy program that has been critical for the diverse population they serve, especially in an extended period of virtual learning.

Evolve Pink provides programs that support, empower, and comfort women and families affected by breast cancer across Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, and Union counties. Through their grant, they will be able to strengthen virtual and in-house programming with a focus on delivering counseling services to breast cancer patients.

Formerly named The Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, Fulfill seeks to alleviate hunger and other forms of insecurity for residents of Monmouth and Ocean counties. Fulfill’s programming covers the full spectrum of services those in need might require including tax refund assistance, SNAP enrollment assistance, and access to affordable healthcare. Fulfill will be utilizing their grant to support their Backpack Program that ensures at-risk children can receive weekend meals when they otherwise might go hungry. For many working and struggling families, these meals help keep children fed in difficult times and reduce the stress of weekend hunger for families.

The Giving Hope Network focuses on supporting individuals with autism and their families, orphans, and disadvantaged youth across Essex, Hunterdon and Morris counties. A key piece of their mission is the operation of Independence 360, a day habilitation program in Whippany, N.J. that focuses on three core content areas: life skills, social skills, and personal development. Their grant will be utilized to purchase iPads to teach their students how to communicate, provide learning opportunities and help move them toward a path of adult employment. 

Further reinforcing the Sanzari Family’s deep ties to Hackensack University Medical Center, the Alfred N. Sanzari Family Foundation’s grant to the Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation will be utilized to purchase a sensory cart for patients with autism at Hackensack University Medical Center’s Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital. The sensory carts will be stocked with tactile, visual and auditory objects that soothe anxiety and provide appealing stimulation to help pediatric patients with autism feel safe and centered during their visit to the hospital.

Since 1999, Northern New Jersey Council – Boy Scouts of America has provided effective character, citizenship, and personal fitness training for youth. One of the more recent introductions to the Boy Scouts of America’s programming is their Exploring program that aims to teach important life and career skills to young people from all backgrounds through immersive career experiences and mentorship provided by community and business leaders. Their grant will enable the Northern New Jersey Council to expand its online and virtual Exploring offerings to ensure the program is accessible to everyone.

For over 100 years, the volunteers at the Social Service Association of Ridgewood and Vicinity have been dedicated to helping the local community through providing food, emergency rent, utility assistance and support services to individuals and families in Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Midland Park, Ho-Ho-Kus, Wyckoff and Waldwick, N.J. Their grant will be utilized to help keep their food pantry stocked and open.

Aligning with the Alfred N. Sanzari Family Foundation’s support for Parkinson’s disease research, Villanova University has been awarded a grant to expand the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing’s use of Interprofessional Education, a training method proven to improve patient outcomes for Parkinson’s disease patients.

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 second grant application period for 2021. All grant applications are due by August 30^th, 2021. For more information on the grant application process and to apply, please visit the ANS Family Foundation at https://sanzarifoundation.com/how-to-apply.

About the Alfred N. Sanzari Family Foundation

Established in 2006, the Alfred N. Sanzari Family Foundation was established 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 the northeast. Reflecting the priorities 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. For more information on the Alfred N. Sanzari Family Foundation, please visit their website at https://sanzarifoundation.com/.