The BCCA and NCL-GC Community Partnership

BCCA’s community partnerships are important because they connect us to our neighbors and provide us with opportunities to share our mission. The National Charity League-Garden City Chapter (NCL-GC) has worked closely with us for the past four years. 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.

The NCL-GC Back to School project provided backpacks with school supplies for our school-age students as well as early childhood project supplies and snacks for all of our classrooms at Anna House: K-Prep, Pre-School, Toddlers, and Infants, too! Our students were filled with joy upon receiving their backpacks as the excitement begins to fill at Anna House with anticipation for a new school year.

NCL-GC is making a difference in the lives of our children by reminding them that, through these thoughtful donations, there are many incredible individuals in the community who remember them and take the time to make a difference. And, BCCA, in return, remembers the NCL-GC every day. In fact, they were a 2019 Honoree at our annual Spring Fling Hat Luncheon. We are truly grateful for their on-going support.

BCCA's School-Age Students Express Their Understanding of Science Through Art

BCCA’s school-age students at Anna House are learning about science behind the importance of wearing masks and social distancing during this pandemic. Thanks to BCCA’s Integrated Arts Program our students use art to express their feelings and their understanding of the subject matter.

Washing hands on a regular basis is common practice in the classroom. Our school-age students learn the importance of practicing good health routines in an effort to combat disease.

BCCA's Racing for the Children Week-Long Virtual Party

BCCA hosted its annual fundraiser online this summer. The virtual party began on Monday, August 3 at noon and ran through Sunday, August 9 at noon. The virtual format served as a temporary substitute for BCCA's annual dinner in Saratoga. Over the seven-day period, supporters were invited to visit the website to enjoy video messages from well-known racing personalities, bid on our premium auction, learn about the call-to-action for our programs, and enjoy recipes from Saratoga Springs restaurants, amongst other interactive elements. All proceeds from the event supported BCCA's mission to care for the children and families of the backstretch, including the operation of Anna House at Belmont Park, as well as the forthcoming Saratoga Child Care Center, which is set to open in 2021.

Presenting the 2020 Anna House Graduates!

On July 29, nine Students graduated from Anna House in a socially-distanced ceremony. Each child was given a backpack full of school supplies to take with them when they head off to Kindergarten in the Fall.

Anna House to Reopen at Belmont Park on June 22

With strict new safety protocols firmly in place, the Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA) is set to reopen its Belmont Park daycare center Anna House, on Monday, June 22..

Anna House, the childcare and early-childhood education facility at Belmont designed for the families of backstretch workers, most of whom are based at Belmont Park, will reopen utilizing the most up-to-date health guidance established by the New York State Department of Health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (C.D.C.) and BCCA's educational consultant, Bright Horizons, to combat the spread of COVID-19. 

Anna House closed on March 17, shortly before NYRA suspended live racing on March 19 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York. Live racing without spectators resumed at Belmont on June 3, and the spring/summer meet will continue through Sunday, July 12. 

This week, teachers and staff at Anna House are receiving intensive training about the new protocols; and BCCA Executive Director Joanne K. Adams said she also intends to create more opportunities for the children to use distance learning and at-home instruction. "Virtual learning is a part of the 'new norm,' and we are committed to providing our children with the support they need to achieve success in school," she said. 

In the more than two months that Anna House has been closed, BCCA staff have remained active in helping families on the backstretch, They mounted a drive to collect supplies for infants and toddlers who attend its education facility. Adams also worked with United Way of Long Island through its United Together Response Fund for COVID-19 to distribute donated gift cards, totaling more than $30,000 in value, to all backstretch workers at Belmont Park.

"Reopening Anna House has been our goal from the get-go and we're proud once again be fulfilling our mission of serving these families," said BCCA President Libby Imperio. "It will be wonderful to see the children again."

BCCA Board Chairman and co-founder Michael Dubb said the reopening marks an important step forward for backstretch workers, who kept fulfilling their duties, often at considerable personal risk, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Giving a solid head start to the children at Anna House is critically important to the whole ecosystem of the racetrack," Dubb said. "Backstretch workers are the unsung heroes of the racing world. Helping their kids helps them and makes our industry and sport a lot stronger. It's great to be getting back to what we do best."

Join us in being Tougher Together!

Give mom something special this Mother’s Day!

"A mother’s arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them."

– Victor Hugo

For a limited time, receive a BCCA custom-designed scarf with a $150 donation. The scarf has a hidden message, CHILDREN, spelled out in the nautical alphabet between the horses.

BCCA is proud to partner with the United Way of Long Island!

“Working as a team is essentially what we've been doing throughout the coronavirus outbreak,” said BCCA Executive Director Joanne K. Adams. “We're all dedicated to the same ends: Giving these families who are the heart of our sport, some relief at a difficult time. That's why this wonderful and unexpected gift from United Way of Long Island is so wonderful.”

While practicing social distancing, BCCA Executive Director, Joanne K. Adams, picked up gift cards for all of the Anna House families from Theresa Regnante, President and CEO of the United Way of Long Island.

We are most grateful for this important community partnership and we were delighted to share this connection with other backstretch organizations. As a result, over 700 backstretch workers at Belmont Park are also receiving gift cards during this time of crisis.

We send our immense gratitude and appreciation to the United Way of Long Island.

Join BCCA’s Family Fund and Assist Us In Our Efforts to Purchase Supplies

BCCA has been collecting donations of much needed items for infants and toddlers including diapers, wipes, and formula. Due to the current New York State mandate on social distancing, the most effective and efficient way to help our families is to make a financial donation to cover the costs of essential supplies. 

Suggested donations:

• $75 will purchase 5 tubs of 16 oz. diaper cream. 

• $50 will purchase 6 bottles of baby formula. 

• $25 will purchase 50 diapers. 

Any amount makes a difference!

BCCA Thanks NYRA For Assisting Us With Donations

Please check out NYRA’s press release, below and email Patricia O’Grady at pogrady@belmontchildcare.org with any questions on where to drop off or how to donate.  

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The BCCA provides vital support to those who work in thoroughbred racing, but on March 17 they closed their facility, called Anna House, consistent with Nassau County's decision to close public schools to help limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Anna House was built in 2002 by BCCA board chairman Michael Dubb. Opened in January 2003, it continues to be the base of BCCA's operations. BCCA has served more than 1,000 students and has raised more than $10 million to cover tuition and operational expenses.

Dubb, a perennial leading owner on the NYRA circuit and a member of NYRA's Board of Directors, said it is important to support the backstretch community during this time of uncertainty.

"Anna House has been an integral part of the community, 365 days a year, since 2003 when we opened. This is the first time we've ever been closed," said Dubb. "The backstretch has always been one big family of hard working people and they are the unsung stars of the sport. We're extremely troubled to have had to close our doors because we know how much the families rely on us."

The BCCA is collecting donations of much-needed items including diapers, wipes, diaper cream, powered milk, and formula, among other items. (See below for a complete list.) If you wish to donate, go to www.belmontchildcare.org/blog for additional information.

Libby Imperio, a longtime horse owner on the NYRA circuit and president of the BCCA board, serves on all of the BCCA committees and oversees its fundraising and outreach efforts.

"Right now, what we need for the families are baby formula, diapers, Desitin diaper cream, juice boxes and any kind of art supplies or creative activities for young kids to work on at home. The need is real and continuous," said Imperio.

Anna House is an integral part of the New York racing community assisting young families - with children ranging from 6-weeks-old to 12-years-old - who work daily to tend to the needs of the equine athletes.

"We have about 60 children on a daily basis and with our school-age program, for children who have graduated Anna House and return on days off and weekends, we have about 100 children in need," said Imperio. "They are all children of the families of the backstretch - the hotwalkers, grooms, exercise riders, assistant trainers and more"

The BCCA is working with the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), the New York Race Track Chaplaincy of America, and the Backstretch Employee Service Team (BEST) to coordinate accepting and distributing items to those in need.

"NYRA has been very supportive and working very closely with us, especially to coordinate pickups for the families," said BCCA Executive Director Joanne Adams, who works closely with a BCCA executive committee comprised of Dubb, Imperio, Donald Little, Jr., Laura Barillaro, and Patrick Mackay.

With live racing at Aqueduct Racetrack suspended until further notice due to changing circumstances in the racing community relative to the coronavirus, Imperio noted that the community is relying more than ever on the services of the BCCA.

"We are in need. We've had to cancel two of our fundraisers thus far and we will need both the physical and financial donations," said Imperio. "Right now, my immediate concern is for the families and we appreciate anyone who can help us out in any way. The people that take care of the animals have families and without racing they'll be in more need than ever."

Imperio said she is buoyed by the strong sense of family on the backstretch while navigating through the hardships caused by the coronavirus.

"Racing, as a community, is one big family," said Imperio. "We may race against each other in the afternoon, but we all come together in times of need. And right now, we all need to be there for each other."

Below is a list of items currently needed by BCCA:

Food
Non-perishable breakfast and lunch items and healthy snacks

Drinks
Juice boxes
Water
Powdered milk
Horizon milk in cartons

Soaps
Hand sanitizer
Dishwashing soap
Hand soap
Laundry detergent

For Infants and Toddlers
Diapers (all sizes)
Pull-ups Wipes
Enfamil purple baby formula
Desitin diaper cream
Baby Tylenol
Thermometers

Our Families Need Your Help.

Dear Friends:

We have heard from our families and what they need most right now are necessary supplies for infants and toddlers. These supplies include: diapers, wipes, diaper cream, powdered milk and formula.

Here is a detailed list of specific requests by parents (List will be updated as requests come in).

• Diapers (3 packages of each size below)

• Parents brand preferences PAMPERS

  • Size 3

  • Size 5

  • Size 6

• Baby Formula (5 large containers)

  • Enfamil purple

• Others (15 infants and toddlers)

  • Wipes

  • Apple Juice

  • 1% Milk

  • Destin Cream

Please reach out to Patricia O’Grady at: pogrady@belmontchildcare.com to arrange drop off. 

With gratitude and appreciation, 

Belmont Child Care Association, Inc.