Centennial Celebration
Anderson Center for Autism is celebrating our 100th year!
The tagline for our Centennial Celebration is a legacy of compassion, a century of impact!
2024 Centennial Celebration Events
April 4th – Mr. Anderson Ale Launch Party (Mill House Brewing Company)
*This event is sold out – thank you to everyone who purchased tickets! We will see you there!
June 6th – Anderson Centennial Celebration Golf Classic (The Links at Union Vale)
July 17th – Centennial Ribbon Cutting (Anderson Center for Autism)
September 28th – Anderson Centennial Celebration Gala (The Grandview)
*This year Anderson Foundation for Autism will be honoring Anderson Center for Autism’s founder’s grandson, Vance A. Gage with the 2024 V.V. Anderson Community Service Award
Centennial Celebration Donation – Click here to make a donation in honor of our Centennial Celebration!
Have an Anderson memory you would like to share? Email our Communications Team at info@AndersonCares.org!
Anderson’s Centennial in the news!
Anderson Center for Autism Prepares to Kick off 100-Year Anniversary Celebration
The Secrets to Longevity for Nonprofits
Anderson Center For Autism Kicks Off Centennial Celebration with Special Event
Anderson Center for Autism Celebrates 100 Years
Centennial Spotlight
Dr. Victor V. Anderson
Carolyn Weber
In honor of Anderson’s centennial year, we will be sharing 100 different facts about ACA leading up to our
Centennial Celebration Gala in September!
Did you know…?
- Anderson was founded in 1924 by psychiatrist Victor V. Anderson.
- All Children’s Program residences on Anderson’s campus are named after trees, except for Upper/Lower Davis & Dellinwood.
- Anderson was first called The Anderson School, before becoming Anderson Center for Autism in 2006.
- Anderson’s mission is to Optimize the Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism.
- Vance Gage, Victor V. Anderson’s grandson, has previously served Anderson as a board of trustee member for many years.
- For a short time, Anderson was located in New Jersey before permanently relocating to Staatsburg, NY.
- Eleanor Roosevelt was the speaker at an Anderson Commencement Ceremony in the 1940’s.
- Anderson’s administrative building, Spruces Business Center, was formerly a dormitory hall for students.
- Walkways on our campus are named after our founder Victor V. Anderson and his family (Polly, Gage, Vance, Anderson).
- Each year, Anderson presents the V.V. Anderson Community Service Award during our annual Gala event.
- Anderson’s first adult group home Shelley Hill IRA, opened in 1993.
- The Anderson campus is over 100 acres, extending from Route 9 to the Hudson River.
- A time capsule to be opened in 2107 is buried on the Anderson campus in Staatsburg.
- Anderson expanded their services to the Capital Region of New York in 2021 with the opening of Anderson Center Clinic and Anderson Early Learning Academy in Latham.
- Anderson’s founder worked for R. H. Macy & Co. in NYC as a medical research director before opening Anderson School.
- Anderson School had a distinguished honor society, formed in 1933 called “Alpha Beta”.
- Anderson’s art program, Expressive Outcomes, held its first art exhibit in 2004, in one of their LifeLong Learning℠ Centers.
- The Anderson Athletics program’s official team name is the Blue Knights.
- Anderson’s family group Anderson Family Partners, was established by parents, guardians and immediate family members of individuals we serve in 2013.
- Anderson hosts a weekly podcast titled after the autism prevalence rate in the U.S – “1 in 36”.
- There are 17 residences on our Staatsburg campus housing all indiviudals in our residential children’s program.
- Anderson employs over 900 team members in various departments and positions: Nursing, Operations, IT, Direct Support Professionals, Day Habilitation Specialists, Teachers/TAs and more!
- The Anderson campus was transformed during our master site plan renovations from 2005 until completion in 2012.
- Dr. Anderson’s wife, Margaret, known to students as Miss Peggy, took over Anderson School when he passed away in 1960.
- Anderson individuals have been competing in Special Olympics events since 1988!
- American writer and novelist Gore Vidal was the Anderson School Commencement speaker for the class of 1960.
- Our founder Dr. Anderson was born in Barbourville, Kentucky in 1878.
- Anderson Foundation for Autism has hosted the annual Anderson Golf Classic since 2001!
- Anderson has three Boards of Trustees: Anderson Center for Autism & Anderson Center Services, Anderson Foundation for Autism, and Anderson Center International.
- In 1976, local businessman Dominic Giambona purchased Anderson School & the surrounding property from the Anderson family.
