They're off at Saratoga
and so is BCCA!
Our long-time dream is now a reality!
Photo Credit: Adam Coglianese, NYRA
BCCA’s 2021 Anna House Graduates!
Congratulations Estefany and Karter!
BCCA Chairman, Michael Dubb, and BCCA President, Libby Imperio, presented the 2021 graduates with their diplomas!
A special thank you to Floral Park Memorial High School's National Junior Honor Society for providing each of our graduates with a backpack full of school supplies for Kindergarten in the Fall.
Belmont Child Care Association offers first look at new child care center serving Saratoga Race Course backstretch
Faith’s House to provide child care and early childhood education programs for the children of backstretch families
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The Belmont Child Care Association, Inc. (BCCA) today offered a first look at Faith’s House, the new child care center at Saratoga Race Course, which is set to begin serving families and children of the backstretch community in summer 2021.
Located on the Oklahoma side of the Saratoga backstretch, the 4,300-square-foot facility will provide child care and early education programs for infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children. The center will be open seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. to accommodate the schedules of backstretch workers and horsemen.
The building was funded by Michael and Lee Dubb and is named in honor of Faith Dubb, the late mother of BCCA founder and board chairman Michael Dubb.
“We are very excited to open the doors of Faith’s House to the backstretch community this summer,” said Dubb, who is a prominent thoroughbred owner in addition to his work with the BCCA. “This important program will provide the hardworking families of the Saratoga backstretch with the peace of mind that comes with knowing their children are being cared for in a fun and enriching environment with a focus on early education.”
Faith’s House will feature dedicated rooms to serve infants, toddlers and preschool aged children. Upon entering the new child care center, visitors are greeted by an oversized black and white mural of a thoroughbred racehorse.
The facility is designed to accommodate up to 35 children and includes numerous cribs for newborn infants. Two rooms within Faith’s House are dedicated to serving preschool aged children with an array of educational resources, including books, dictionaries and writing and drawing materials.
A fenced-in play area is located outside the rear of the building with eco-friendly, rubber tiles and flooring to provide a safe and forgiving playground surface.
The Saratoga facility will complement BCCA’s sister child care center Anna House, which serves families of the Belmont Park backstretch. More than 1,000 students have participated in Anna House’s programs since its opening in 2002.
“On behalf of the New York Racing Association, I would like to thank Michael and Lee Dubb for their generosity and dedication to the backstretch community,” said NYRA President & CEO Dave O’Rourke. “We have been fortunate to witness the benefits of child care and early education through their initial vision of Anna House at Belmont Park and are indebted to Michael and Lee for funding and spearheading this companion facility at Saratoga Race Course. We are thrilled to welcome this beautiful new facility to Saratoga and extend our appreciation to the entire BCCA team and our own facilities staff for bringing this project to life.”
The summer 2021 opening coincides with the annual summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, which brings approximately 950 backstretch workers and their families to the Spa.
Faith’s House will be operated by Bright Horizons, an organization known for excellence in the child care industry which manages early childhood education programs at more than 1,000 child care centers.
“On behalf of the BCCA Board of Directors, I would like to thank Mike and Lee Dubb for their incredible generosity in building Faith’s House which fulfills a 10-year dream for the BCCA,” said BCCA President Libby Imperio.
Local officials shared their support and enthusiasm for the new child care center, which will open in July.
“I would like to congratulate the Belmont Child Care Association, along with Michael and Lee Dubb, on the opening of Faith’s House,” said Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner (113th AD). “The backstretch workers who are integral to the sport of racing have long needed the child care services and support that will be provided by Faith’s House so that their families can join them in Saratoga for the summer meet.”
“The past year has informed us more than ever of the importance of quality child care for working families in our community,” said City of Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly. “This new center will undoubtedly be an outstanding addition to Saratoga Race Course and to our city. We are thrilled to welcome Faith’s House to Saratoga Springs and thank Michael and Lee, the BCCA and NYRA for making this project possible.”
For more information about Faith’s House, including details on registration and enrollment, contact BCCA Executive Director Joanne K. Adams by phone at (516) 488-2103 or via email at jadams@belmontchildcare.org.
Preparations Underway for 2021 Summer Opening!
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
New childcare center serving Saratoga backstretch community prepares for summer 2021 opening with sign installation
Faith’s House to provide childcare and early childhood education programs for the children of backstretch families
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today installed the sign for the forthcoming Belmont Child Care Association, Inc. (BCCA) childcare center at Saratoga Race Course, which is set to begin serving families and children of the backstretch community in summer 2021.
Located on the Oklahoma side of the Saratoga backstretch, the colorful sign for the 4,300-square-foot childcare center features the BCCA logo underneath the facility’s official name: Faith’s House. Funded by Michael and Lee Dubb, the center is named in honor of Faith Dubb, mother of BCCA founder and board chairman Michael Dubb.
Faith’s House will provide child care and early education programs for infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children. The center will be open seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. to accommodate the schedules of backstretch workers and horsemen.
The Saratoga facility will complement BCCA’s sister childcare center Anna House, which serves families of the Belmont Park backstretch. More than 1,000 students have participated in Anna House’s programs since its opening in 2002.
The anticipated summer 2021 opening coincides with the annual summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, which brings approximately 950 backstretch workers and their families to the Spa. The opening of the new center is contingent upon licensing approval from New York State and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.
Faith’s House will be operated by Bright Horizons, an organization known for excellence in the child care industry which manages early childhood education programs at more than 1,000 child care centers.
More information about Faith’s House, including details on registration and enrollment, will be announced in the coming months. Individuals interested in further details may contact BCCA Executive Director Joanne K. Adams by phone at (516) 488-2103 or via email at jadams@belmontchildcare.org.
The Belmont Child Care Association works to provide a safe, supportive, and academically inspiring environment for the children of parents working in the thoroughbred racing backstretch area located at New York’s historic Belmont Park, Aqueduct Racetrack and Saratoga Race Course. For more information, visit BelmontChildCare.org.
[Sent by NYRA on behalf of the BCCA]
CONTACTS:
Pat McKenna
NYRA
Mark Bardack or Caitlin Cortelyou
Ed Lewi Associates
C: M. Bardack (518) 867-7943 or C. Cortelyou (518) 867-2440
BCCA Welcomes Faith's House to the Family!
Faith's House completes BCCA's dream to provide children of backstretch workers a safe and nurturing environment during the Saratoga race meet and year-round at Belmont Park!
Friday, February 26, 2021
New childcare center serving Saratoga backstretch community to open summer 2021
Faith’s House to provide childcare and early childhood education programs for the children of backstretch families.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The Belmont Child Care Association, Inc. (BCCA) today announced that its new childcare center serving families and children of the backstretch community at Saratoga Race Course is scheduled to open in summer 2021.
The 4,300-square-foot childcare center will be located on the Oklahoma side of the Saratoga backstretch. Funded by Michael and Lee Dubb, the facility will be named Faith’s House in honor of Faith Dubb, mother of BCCA founder and board chairman Michael Dubb.
Faith’s House will provide child care and early education programs for infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children. The center will be open seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. to accommodate the schedules of backstretch workers and horsemen.
“All working parents deserve to know that their children are being cared for in a safe, healthy and enriching environment during the workday,” said Dubb, who is a prominent thoroughbred owner in addition to his work with the BCCA. “We are thrilled to extend this important program to the hardworking families of the Saratoga backstretch community, who provide a vital service to the racing community.”
The Saratoga facility will complement BCCA’s sister childcare center Anna House, which serves families of the Belmont Park backstretch. More than 1,000 students have participated in Anna House’s programs since its opening in 2002.
“Faith’s House fulfills a dream that the BCCA has been working on for over ten years. We are so excited to bring a winning formula in child care to Saratoga,” said Libby Imperio, BCCA President.
The anticipated summer 2021 opening coincides with the annual summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, which brings approximately 950 backstretch workers and their families to the Spa. The opening of the new center is contingent upon licensing approval from New York State and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.
“The backstretch community is the foundation of the racing industry,” said New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) President and CEO Dave O’Rourke. “All of us at NYRA extend our sincere gratitude to Michael and Lee, and the entire BCCA staff for their continued dedication and commitment to increasing access to affordable and reliable childcare for families on the backstretch. I would also like to thank our facilities team for their work on this project. NYRA is proud to host this new center of childhood education.”
Faith’s House will be operated by Bright Horizons, an organization known for excellence in the child care industry which manages early childhood education programs at more than 1,000 child care centers.
More information about Faith’s House, including details on registration and enrollment, will be announced in the coming months. Individuals interested in further details may contact BCCA Executive Director Joanne K. Adams by phone at (516) 488-2103 or via email at jadams@belmontchildcare.org.
The Belmont Child Care Association works to provide a safe, supportive, and academically inspiring environment for the children of parents working in the thoroughbred racing backstretch area located at New York’s historic Belmont Park, Aqueduct Racetrack and Saratoga Race Course. For more information, visit BelmontChildCare.org.
Media Contact:
Mark Bardack or Caitlin Cortelyou
Ed Lewi Associates
C: M. Bardack (518) 867-7943 or C. Cortelyou (518) 867-2440
E: mbardack@edlewi.com or ccortelyou@edlewi.com
[Distributed by NYRA on behalf of the Belmont Child Care Association]
BCCA thanks the Town of Hempstead!
BCCA is so grateful to our longstanding partner, the Town of Hempstead (TOH), for their Community Block Grant! As a proud recipient, BCCA will apply this funding to Covid-19 related costs.
Thank you for Thinking BIG for BCCA!
Pictured (left to right): Thomas E. Muscarella, TOH Council Member, Libby Imperio, BCCA President, Michael Dubb, BCCA Chairman, Joanne K. Adams, BCCA Executive Director, Donald X. Clavin, Jr., TOH Supervisor.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
BCCA is so grateful to Lt. Triolo from NYRA Security for reprising his role as Santa this year and surprising all the children at Anna House for Cookies with Santa.
We thank the USMC Toys for Tots and Major Chuck Kilbride for helping spread the Christmas joy! Every year they collect and donate hundreds of toys for the children of Anna House and the backstretch.
Our Women's Literacy mothers received a special Christmas gift for all their hard work! BCCA thanks the New York Women's Foundation for their generous support which makes this program possible!
'Tis the season at Anna House! Our school age children got in the holiday spirit and helped decorate their classrooms. Here, Jasmine made a Christmas sweater ornament for the tree.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving from Anna House to your house!
We have an attitude of gratitude at Anna House!
Hear from one of our school-age students, Lourdes, about what she is grateful for this year!
BCCA is so thankful for our community partners, supporters, and friends. It is because of you that we were able to make this Thanksgiving a special one for all the Anna House children and their families.
BCCA thanks the National Charity League - Garden City Chapter for their partnership and generous donation of Thanksgiving packages for our Anna House families!
We are so grateful for our partnership with the Junior League of Long Island (JLLI) who also provided Thanksgiving packages for our Anna House families!
BCCA Executive Director Joanne K. Adams picked up the packages from JLLI President Stephanie Kearns.
BCCA was thrilled to resume our Women's Literacy Program in a virtual setting this fall and we expanded the program to include cooking demonstrations for our mothers and their friends!
For our Thanksgiving themed class, BCCA provided each woman with a bag filled with all the necessary ingredients which were distributed by BCCA President Libby Imperio prior to the class.
Thank you NYRA and TVG!
BCCA is incredibly grateful to NYRA and TVG for their support as their generosity will help to ensure that BCCA is able to continue providing our life-changing programs for the children of the backstretch workers. As we set out on a new path this year to keep our students connected in this time of education and internet inequality, we launched our Virtual Learning Program. By building out our toolkits and outfitting our classrooms with smartboards and tablets, we are now able to "beam in" music, dance, and art teachers from the outside!
“Thank you to NYRA and TVG for the incredibly generous donation to BCCA, as well as BEST and RTCA-NY", said BCCA President Libby Imperio. "The recognition of the tireless work being done by the backstretch community is not only commendable but a necessity for the betterment of all of our racing families.”
“NYRA President David O’Rourke has been incredibly supportive of the people of the backstretch and the fact that he was able to guide us through this period of tremendous challenge and uncertainty while spearheading this innovative and thoughtful process that resulted in a large donation from TVG to all of the backstretch charities is without parallel and so appreciated by all of us at the BCCA," said BCCA Chairman Michael Dubb.
It is with immense gratitude and appreciation that we thank NYRA and TVG for Thinking BIG for BCCA during these challenging times. When we come together, we can make a great impact!
NYRA and TVG to donate $410,000 to support COVID-19 relief for backstretch non-profits and thoroughbred organizations
By Pat McKenna
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and TVG today announced a series of COVID-19 relief donations for a broad spectrum of non-profit organizations working to support the thoroughbred racing community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $410,000 in charitable contributions will be distributed to seven non-profit organizations including the New York Chapter of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America (NYRTCA), the Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T), the Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA), the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium (RMTC), the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP), the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund (PDJF) and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA).
"The racing industry has rallied in incredible ways in response to the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Kip Levin, CEO of TVG. “The entire TVG team is grateful that our partnership with NYRA will benefit these great organizations who do so much every day to help those in need.”
NYRA and TVG created the relief fund in the spring of 2020 to proactively respond to the myriad challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the 54-day suspension of live racing in New York, the closure of casinos across the state and the continued lack of on-track attendance at all racetracks in New York.
“These organizations are all longtime partners of NYRA who have performed outstanding and oftentimes heroic work throughout the pandemic,” said NYRA President and CEO David O’Rourke. “Our thanks to TVG for recognizing the importance of the services they provide to the men and women who sustain the sport here in New York.”
As a result of the success of the joint effort between NYRA and TVG, the NYRTCA, B.E.S.T and the BCCA, whose work is devoted to the overall health and well-being of New York’s backstretch community, will each receive donations of $100,000.
In addition, $30,000 each will be donated to the RMTC and the RTIP with $25,000 going to both the PDJF and the TAA.
In early March, NYRA established the COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan Committee, comprised of key NYRA staff members as well as representatives from the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA), B.E.S.T, and the NYRTCA. Working together, the committee developed and implemented health and safety protocols aligning with the most updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and the New York State Department of Health.
Representatives of B.E.S.T, NYRTCA and BCCA set up food banks, distributed masks, provided up-to-date communications on health care, worked as translators and collected and even distributed gift cards for groceries for the hundreds of Belmont-based backstretch workers and their families. They also created more virtual learning opportunities and at-home instruction for the children of backstretch workers enrolled in Anna House, the childcare and early education facility at Belmont Park, along with performing hundreds of other tasks that will never be recorded.
TVG has been able to remain on air since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and has prioritized keeping its employees safe through strict social distancing, health protocols and remote broadcasting. The network has maintained a strong commitment to the horse racing industry and has continued sponsorships of the TVG Pacific Classic, TVG.com Haskell Invitational and the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile while also expanding to sponsor additional races at Keeneland in both July and October as well as a Breeders' Crown race. Additionally, TVG has partnered with charitable organizations throughout the industry, including the TAA, California Retirement Management Account (CARMA) and the PDJF to raise funding and awareness.
About TVG
Headquartered in Los Angeles, TVG, an affiliate of FanDuel Group, is one of the largest legal online gaming companies in the US, processing over $1 billion in horseracing wagers annually from residents of 33 US states. TVG network airs races at over 150 racetracks worldwide and is among the most widely distributed horseracing networks in the world, operating TVG and TVG2 in more than 50 million US homes. The network was recently upgraded to HD on Spectrum cable and DirecTV. The company has demonstrated its commitment to the racing industry, its horse owners, tracks and fans through sponsorship of several preeminent races including the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, the TVG.com Haskell Invitational and the TVG Pacific Classic. For more information about TVG, visit: tvg.com.
About the New York Racing Association
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) holds the exclusive franchise to conduct thoroughbred racing at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.
NYRA tracks are the cornerstone of New York State's thoroughbred industry, which is responsible for 19,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual statewide economic impact.
Accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance, NYRA is a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, a group of the nation's leading racing organizations working collaboratively to advance safety reforms across the sport.
Over the course of 217 days of live racing in 2019, NYRA generated more than $2.1 billion in all-sources wagering handle with paid attendance exceeding 1.5 million.
Spooky Doors of Anna House
Learning to express yourself through art is an important part of the curriculum here at Anna House and one of our favorite ways to do so is by decorating our classroom doors!
Throughout the month of October, our students worked together to come up with a theme for their door and they were thrilled to finally reveal the finished project in the week leading up to Halloween. Take a look below to see our 2020 Spooktacular Doors of Anna House!
Virtual Learning in BCCA’s Women's Literacy Program
BCCA is proud to lead the way in the empowerment of women, specifically the mothers of our children of the backstretch. BCCA’s Women’s Literacy Program is generously funded by the New York Women’s Foundation and this year BCCA launched a virtual learning program to address the issues of internet and education inequality. We worked hard to provide our mothers with the toolkits necessary to engage in virtual learning and we were proud to offer them iPads to allow for the continuation of English classes via Zoom in addition to encouraging the bonds between mother and child through both education and ESL opportunities.
First day Back to School for BCCA's School-Age students learning remotely from Anna House!
BCCA is thrilled to offer our school-age students an opportunity to attend their local public school in a virtual setting at Anna House. We have provided our students with tablets and earphones and each classroom is equip with a white board for remote learning. BCCA is grateful to our generous grantors who make it possible for us to provide this technology at a time when internet inequality is so prevalent among under served communities.
BCCA has worked with our Bright Horizons staff at Anna House to create learning pods of 10 students/classroom and our Anna House teachers offer our students with one-on-one attention during their school day session as well as after school tutoring 5 days/week. Our teaching staff are also working with our parents to assist them with Seesaw Distance learning.
