Cookies with Santa

sponsored by

'Tis the Season!

All of our children at Anna House wrote

Letters to Santa

and provided him with their three holiday wishes.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

all of their wishes came true this year!

Santa thrilled us all with an early stop today at Anna House!

As the children awoke from their naps,

they were greeted with their gifts and candy canes.

A special thank you to Lt. Triolo of NYRA Security

for reprising his role as Santa once again!

Thank you, Eclipse!

Families4Families - Garden city Supports BCCA

BCCA thanks the Families4Families – Garden City chapter for creating a "Bag of Basics" for every student in our Olivia’s Herd after-school program. Each bag was filled with thoughtful cards and essential household goods which will make a real difference in the daily lives of our children and their families.

We are grateful to everyone for their generosity

and we so appreciate their commitment to our Anna House families!

BCCA celebrates Halloween with 

a Fall Festival at Anna House!

Each classroom stopped to take a group photo in front of the pumpkins and gourds.

BCCA Executive Director, Joanne K. Adams, visited the classrooms today

and read "A Witchy Spelling Bee".

Our parents were invited to join their children in their classrooms to participate

in a special Fall activity!

Hooray for Fall!

Throughout the month of October, we spent time outside

and we brought nature inside to our classrooms.

Our creative infants had so much fun painting paper towel tubes

to help decorate their classroom door.

The tubes were transformed into corn stalks, which added a warm fall vibe.

It was amazing to see their tiny hands explore new textures and colors

while connecting with nature indoors.

Great job, little artists!

Learning to express yourself through art is an important part of our curriculum here at Anna House and our students had fun creating Fall themes for their classroom doors.

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month at Anna House!

BCCA was honored to celebrate this month with our students and their families!

BCCA is so proud to recognize the rich history, traditions, and achievements of Hispanic Americans during Hispanic Heritage Month. Our teachers plan immersive activities including storytime, dance, culture, and tradition. Storytime features books written by Hispanic authors, movement classes explore the steps of Hispanic dances, and our Little Chef’s program offers an opportunity to taste foods from Hispanic countries.

Alexa and Bellemery came to class dressed up in gorgeous traditional Mexican dresses.

Hispanic Heritage Month is not just a celebration, it’s an opportunity for reflection and education. BCCA is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where every child feels valued and heard. By learning about the histories and cultures that shape our society, we empower our children to appreciate differences and cultivate empathy.

Our Students Dream BIG at

Science Saturday at Rockefeller University!

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our Name that Trip Sponsors Susan and Chip Fisher!

Our students explored the science behind color and participated in hands-on experiments where they were immersed in a world of discovery.

Science Saturday was filled with exciting group discussions, live demonstrations, and interactive learning that truly brought science to life!

Watching our young scientists light up with curiosity and excitement was priceless.

Special thanks to Rockefeller University for hosting such a wonderful event and inspiring our students to Dream BIG!

Ready for a new school year!

Happy Monday - We are so excited for the first full week of school!

Our students were thrilled to kick-off a new school year after their Summer of fun at Anna House.

BCCA continues to support our school-age students throughout the year, as they join us in the early morning before school, for after-school tutoring, on weekends, and during school breaks.

Our school-age students started school this week and were well prepared as they nurtured their love of reading by setting aside time to read each day at Anna House this Summer.

"Today a reader, tomorrow a leader!"

We are so proud of our students for their dedication to their education.

240 books!

Our children had the best time at the happiest place in Saratoga!

A special THANK YOU to our special guest readers

who joined us for Storytime at Faith's House this year!

Pictured: Andy Serling, NYRA Racing Analyst 

We can't wait to see you all next Summer!

Unleashing the Spirit of Competition

The Inaugural Anna House Olympic Games

As the summer sun blazed down, Anna House was abuzz with excitement and camaraderie. Our school-age students gathered for a special event that promised fun, teamwork, and a dash of friendly competition. This year, we kicked off our very first Anna House Olympic Games!

First up was the water relay race, and this event quickly became a favorite among the students. The relay involved passing a sponge filled with water between teammates while navigating a playful obstacle course. The relay showcased the kids' determination and creativity as they tried different strategies to minimize spills. The excitement was infectious as students raced through the course, occasionally slipping and sliding through puddles but always with huge smiles on their faces. It wasn’t just about winning but enjoying the summer fun and fostering teamwork.

The next event on our Olympic roster was the javelin throw. With a makeshift javelin crafted from pool noodles and duct tape, the students took their turns, demonstrating impressive focus and technique. Each participant channeled their inner Olympian, aiming for distance and accuracy.

The third event this week was the bean bag toss! This classic game added a new dimension of fun and challenge to our Olympic Games. Students took turns tossing bean bags into the Olympic Rings, testing both their aim and strategy. The bean bag toss was to be a delightful addition to our lineup, combining skill and laughter in equal measure. It was a fantastic display of precision and skill, and the cheers of encouragement from fellow students made the experience even more exhilarating. The God’s, the Polar Bears, the Tigers, and the Black Pikachu’s are fired up to take on the next event.

 The inaugural Anna House Olympic Games have been a wonderful success so far. Beyond the medals and scores, the true highlight has been seeing our students come together, cheering each other on, and deepening bonds that will last beyond the summer. The sense of community and the spirit of friendly competition have truly shone through in every event. Stay tuned for more updates and highlights from the Anna House Olympic Games.

Summer Fun in the sun!

Our families enjoyed our 2024 Summer Carnival today as we welcomed EJ’s PJ’s and Kerboomkidz to Anna House. Thank you to EJ’s PJ’s for the brand-new pajamas which were presented to every child in our program. Kerboomkidz led a dance fitness class before our picnic lunch.

Mister Softee stopped by to supply delicious ice cream for everyone! Who can say no to soft serve with extra sprinkles? We sure can’t! We all ‘screamed for ice cream’!

We would like to extend an extra-special thank you to the National Charity League - Garden City Chapter for providing all the children of Anna House with these amazing Summer activity baskets! We're so grateful for your longtime support and partnership!

Each child received a unique summer fun basket, courtesy of the National Charity League – Garden City Chapter. We are so grateful for the mother-daughter teams that joined us to volunteer! The mother-daughter duos have served as after-school program tutors and mentors, and they have included project driven teams to provide much needed support to our students and their families.

BCCA presents the Anna House Class of 2024!

Our graduates were presented with diplomas by BCCA Founder and Chairman, Michael Dubb, and BCCA President, Libby Imperio, in front of their proud families.

We would like to thank the following distinguished guests for joining us:

BCCA Board Member, Joan Hope MacNaughton, NYRA President and CEO, Dave O'Rourke, NYRA Executive Vice President, Glen Kozak, NYRA Community Affairs Manager, Robert Hines, as well as representatives from the Backstretch Employee Service Team, New York Race Track Chaplaincy, and the Office of the Nassau County Executive.

We look forward to seeing our graduates thrive in Kindergarten this Fall!

BCCA was proud to recognize Andres, Anna House Class of 2011, with a college scholarship. He plans to attend SUNY Purchase to pursue a degree in Communications and Marketing.

---

NYRA Trophy Presentation in the Winner’s Circle!

BCCA was thrilled to have our 2024 Anna House graduates in the Winner’s Circle for the NYRA Trophy Presentation.

Anthony, Axel, Kennedy, and Victoria were so excited to get an up-close look at the race! They even got to snap a picture with jockeys Irad Ortiz., Jr., Trevor McCarthy, and Katie Davis.

Andy Serling, TV Analyst and Handicapper for the New York Racing Association, stopped by the Paddock to take a photo and send his best wishes to our graduates.

"Change the first five years of a child's life and you change everything!"

Hat’s Off to the 10th Annual Spring Fling Hat Luncheon

The Belmont Child Care Association, Inc. (BCCA) hosted its annual Spring Fling Hat Luncheon and Fashion Presentation on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at The Garden City Hotel, 45 7th Street, Garden City, NY. Thanks to the generous sponsors, donors, guests, and volunteers, the 2024 Spring Fling was a record-breaking success!

The luncheon began with a cocktail reception featuring a two-tiered raffle and a luxury silent auction, followed by a seated luncheon. BCCA was proud to recognize Emmy award-winning actress, Susan Lucci, as its 2024 Community Honoree, and Cate Masterson, Director of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, as its 2024 Thoroughbred Industry Honoree, for their efforts in advancing the quality of life for the children and families of Anna House and Faith’s House and beyond.

Susan Lucci is a two-time Emmy award-winning actress, New York Times best-selling author, entrepreneur, and advocate for women's heart health as the American Heart Association's ambassador for the Go Red for Women movement. Lucci is best-known for her role as the most famous face in daytime television history, the beautiful Erica Kane on ABC-TV's, ALL MY CHILDREN. Susan received her first Emmy in 1999, and she was recently the recipient of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daytime Emmys broadcast, Primetime, Live on CBS.

Cate Masterson was appointed as Director of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2019 after serving as the Museum's Director of Development for three years. In her previous role at the museum, Masterson led development and sponsorship initiatives and held a key role in special events and racing industry outreach.

BCCA welcomed Emmy award-winning News 12 Long Island anchor, Antoinette Biordi, as the Celebrity Emcee and guests were treated to a fashion presentation by Neiman Marcus – Garden City throughout the luncheon. During the luncheon program, BCCA debuted its 2024 video, which highlights why Extraordinary Things Really Do Happen at Anna House and Faith's House!

BCCA surprised Joanne K. Adams as she celebrated her 10th anniversary as Executive Director of BCCA! There were smiles throughout the room as guests recognized her accomplishments.

Please visit our photo gallery for memories from our record-breaking 2024 Spring Fling!

BCCA Celebrates the 2024 Spring Art Show!

The Anna House Spring Art Show blew everyone away!

Each class utilized a different technique to highlight the diversity and beauty within artistic expression.

Our students learned about engineering and balance, practiced hand-eye coordination and dexterity, and applied the scientific method of trial and error. Most importantly, they had lots of fun!

Each school-age student created a self-portrait. As they discussed what makes them unique, they learned the correct proportions for themselves and discussed the differences between their features.

Lastly, each student added the most important part: bubble gum!

Our preschool class worked together on a very special dots project inspired by the work of

"The Princess of Polka Dots", Yayoi Kusama. BCCA is so proud of all our incredible student artists!

Check out the entire collection below.