Goshen, NY and Staatsburg, New York…The leadership team and trustees of Anderson Foundation for Autism announced today that the Foundation has awarded a grant of $5,000 to Beautiful People Adaptive Sports.
Beautiful People is a nonprofit organization based in Goshen, New York; its mission is to build bridges between children with disabilities, their families, and the broader community of Orange County, New York by providing adaptive sports for children and young adults ages 5 and up.
Said Katie O’Leary, Program Manager for Beautiful People Adaptive Sports, “We will use the grant from Anderson Foundation for Autism to support and grow our programs throughout 2026, ensuring that more athletes have access to inclusive opportunities. The funds will allow us to purchase much-needed adaptive equipment that will help enhance safety, accessibility, and the overall participant experience. Additionally, this grant will help us expand program offerings so we can welcome even more families into our community.”
“Being selected as one of the recipients of Anderson Foundation for Autism’s grants is an incredible honor for our organization, and demonstrates meaningful recognition of the work we do in our community. It reaffirms the importance of inclusive programming, and strengthens our capacity to continue creating opportunities for individuals of all abilities. Ultimately, this support empowers us to grow, evolve, and positively impact even more people in the years ahead, and we are so excited about all that lies ahead,” O’Leary reflected.
In addition to the $5,000 award for Beautiful People Adaptive Sports, Anderson Foundation for Autism included other nonprofits in its 2025 grantmaking announcement: Autism Society Greater Hudson Region ($5,000 grant award), Arcadia University ($5,000 grant award), Backyard Sports Cares ($10,000 grant award), and BluePath Service Dogs ($5,000 grant award).
Said Kevin Kollar, Chair of Anderson Foundation for Autism’s Board of Trustees: “It is deeply gratifying to know that Anderson Foundation for Autism is able to ‘pay it forward’ to these visionary grantees. Each of these organizations shares a commitment to our cause, and we look forward to watching them continue to make valuable contributions to our field as time goes on.”
Reflected Susan Brune, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Grants Committee, “These grantees all presented initiatives that are very much aligned with Anderson’s mission of optimizing the quality of life for individuals with autism. It is an honor to help them advance their efforts.”
Brune added that all recipients will be required to report on outcomes, and that the Foundation reserved up to $50,000 in total for its 2025 grantmaking cycle.
According to Patrick Paul, CEO/Executive Director of Anderson Center for Autism, “Anderson Foundation for Autism was initially launched to help bridge gaps between financial needs and resources for Anderson Center for Autism, but the success of Foundation fundraising has far exceeded every expectation. Now, we’re well-positioned to support the work of other nonprofits too, and we look forward to building on our grantmaking program in the years to come.”
Eliza Bozenski, Chief Development Officer at Anderson Foundation for Autism, added: “The collective generosity of philanthropists, businesses, families, trustees, and community members is what drives our success; it has been awe-inspiring to see the outpouring of support for our work. We are deeply thankful to everyone who has made Anderson Foundation as strong as it is today, and all who continue to pave the way for a successful future. Each donor is giving to something much larger than our agency; every gift really supports a broader humanitarian movement.”
Anderson Foundation for Autism’s 2026 grant cycle will open in January. For application guidelines and updates, follow Anderson Center for Autism on social media or visit https://www.andersoncenterforautism.org/afagrants/. Until then, inquiries can be directed to Eliza Bozenski, Chief Development Officer of Anderson Foundation for Autism, by calling (845) 889-9594 or emailing EBozenski@AndersonCares.org.
For more information about Anderson Center for Autism, visit andersoncenterforautism.org. Learn more about Anderson Foundation for Autism at andersoncenterforautism.org/giving/.
About Anderson Center for Autism
Our mission at Anderson Center for Autism is to optimize the quality of life for individuals with autism.
About Anderson Foundation for Autism
Through grantmaking, fundraising, and marketing initiatives, Anderson Foundation for Autism helps support, sustain, and expand upon Anderson Center for Autism’s efforts to optimize the quality of life for individuals with autism.