Staatsburg, New York….Anderson Center for Autism today announced that it will be hosting a special Centennial event on Wednesday, July 17th at its main campus, located at 4885 Route 9 in Staatsburg, New York. Hosted in part by the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, this event will begin at 12pm with a ribbon cutting ceremony in honor of Anderson Center for Autism’s 100th birthday, which will be followed by Founder’s Day, featuring food trucks, tours, and a chance for attendees to see the many beautification projects that have recently been completed on the campus.
Anderson Center for Autism was founded in 1924 to support people with special needs. Today, it offers award-winning educational, vocational, residential, clinical, and training programs designed to help further its mission of “optimizing the quality of life for individuals with autism.” According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 36 are now diagnosed with the neurological disorder, which can present with a wide range of communication, sensory processing, and socialization challenges.
Said Patrick Paul, CEO/Executive Director of Anderson Center for Autism, “The ribbon cutting and founder’s day event will present an excellent opportunity for past and present students, residents, and families, along with colleagues, community members, volunteers, and trustees to celebrate our Centennial and to see firsthand the improvements we continue to make to our services and facilities. I think that all of the guests who join us that day – particularly those who have not been to Anderson in many years – will be amazed by the many ways we have developed and evolved to meet growing demand.”
Added Eliza Bozenski, Chief Development Officer of Anderson Foundation for Autism, “The ribbon cutting and founder’s day event is one of many celebrations that we have coordinated this year for Anderson’s Centennial. 2024 began with a 100th anniversary kickoff event, and fundraisers like our golf classic, Mr. Anderson Ale launch, and others have all incorporated a tagline developed by Anderson dietician Taylor Reynolds: a legacy of compassion, a century of impact. Our gala, scheduled for this fall, will likewise capture that theme, and will honor Vance Anderson Gage, longtime volunteer and the grandson of our founder, Dr. Victor V. Anderson. It is really meaningful and rewarding for all of us who get to honor our rich history this year – and especially exciting to do so as we plan for a new century ahead.”
Bozenski continued, “To that end, we recently launched a $1 million fundraising campaign, which will make possible (pending appropriate approvals) the complete rebuild of an historic, 11,000-square-foot carriage house at Anderson called ‘Dellinwood.’ This building is of great historical significance for our organization, and our vision is for ‘New Dellinwood’ to house Anderson programs currently being developed to help address a worldwide workforce shortage in education, healthcare, and behavioral health. This project really demonstrates our commitment to ongoing growth, evolution, and unwavering commitment to our field and the people we serve as we move into the next century of Anderson’s story; it is an incredibly exciting and meaningful time for all of us.”
In addition to the full-time residences and school at its Staatsburg campus, Anderson also runs Cold Spring Early Learning Center (in Pine Plains), Anderson Early Learning Academy and The Anderson Center Clinic (based in Latham), Anderson Center International (a training program for scholars from all corners of the globe who spend 12-18 months gaining the skills needed to develop programs upon return to their home countries), and Anderson Center Consulting and Training (also known as ACCT, which educates families/caregivers, educators, businesses, community groups, and others on how to best support the needs of neurodivergent and autistic individuals). Over 800 people are currently employed by the organization.
The July 17th ribbon cutting and founder’s day event is free of charge and open to the public.
For more information, call 845.889.9208, email info@andersoncares.org, or visit https://www.andersoncenterforautism.org/ribboncutting.
About Anderson Center for Autism
Our mission at Anderson Center for Autism is to optimize the quality of life for individuals with autism.
About Anderson Foundation for Autism
Through grantmaking, fundraising, and marketing initiatives, Anderson Foundation for Autism helps support, sustain, and expand upon Anderson Center for Autism’s efforts to optimize the quality of life for individuals with autism.