The AHRC New York City Foundation was created in 1995 to raise funds for, and make grants to, programs in New York City that benefit people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The AHRC New York City Foundation raises funds exclusively from private philanthropic sources.  It makes grants to meet needs that cannot be met with government funds.

Among Recent Grants:

• The Foundation has contributed more than $1 million toward the construction of AHRC New York City’s Camp Anne, which opened in 2003. Each summer, Camp Anne serves approximately 600 children, teens and adults who have moderate to profound developmental disabilities and provides respite to their families. 

• The AHRC Quality Toner Cartridge Program employs more than two dozen men and women with disabilities in well-paying jobs re-manufacturing toner cartridges used in computer printers.  These cartridges are sold to New York businesses.

• AHRC’s Travel Training Program teaches people with disabilities how to travel independently.  Being able to travel increases their employment opportunities and increases what they can do on their own, such as going to a doctor or dentist appointment, visiting family or friends, or shopping for clothes.

• A new program in AHRC adult day centers is engaging adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the art of filmmaking. Program participants serve as actors, writers, composers and sound and lighting technicians. A pilot project found this had therapeutic benefits for some people.  For example, one person with extremely limited verbal skills began to speak more fluently after participating in the program.

• A weekend recreation program for children with disabilities who live in Queens is giving the children a chance to have fun and make friends while providing respite for their parents. Queens was the only borough where AHRC New York City did not have such a program.

• An after-school program at AHRC Middle/High School, which serves students ages 12 to 21 who have autism, is offering help with homework, opportunities to socialize and therapeutic recreation for 10 of the students.

• An accessible garden has been built at an AHRC center where 155 adults spend their days. The garden is not only a pleasant place for relaxation and socializing, it allows people of all abilities to improve their fitness, confidence and physical ability while enjoying gardening.

• A pilot program using "telemedicine" at AHRC residences for medically fragile children and adults aims to reduce the number of emergency-room visits with as good or better results for patients. "Telemedicine" is the use of technology to transfer medical information between two locations. In this case, vital signs and visual images are transmitted, allowing a doctor off-site to assess an AHRC resident's injury or illness, determine if an emergency-room visit is warranted and prescribe medication if necessary.

Won’t you join us in supporting important and innovative programs like these?

For more information about the people and programs of the AHRC New York City Foundation, please download the AHRC New York City Foundation brochure.