White Plains, NY and Staatsburg, New York…The leadership team and trustees of Anderson Foundation for Autism announced today that it has awarded a grant of $10,000 to Backyard Sports Cares.
Based in White Plains, New York, Backyard Sports Cares is a nonprofit organization that provides athletic programming to athletes who have limited access to traditional community sports programs.
Said Ray Wilcox, Chief Advancement Officer of Backyard Sports Cares, “Anderson Foundation for Autism’s grant will help us address critical gaps in service for children with special needs, who often do not have access to athletic experiences due to a lack of resources, support, and opportunities. With Anderson Foundation for Autism’s help, we can further our work in this area, and we are very excited to do so.”
Wilcox shared that grant funding from Anderson Foundation for Autism will allow Backyard Sports Cares to expand on its “Plus” program. “Adaptive sports and recreation will be offered on Sunday mornings to approximately 40-45 children ages 5-17. Additionally, through our Friday night special events, participants will enjoy memorable experiences in a fun, social setting that promotes physical activity and camaraderie.” The Plus program, according to Wilcox, is “also supported by our robust cohort of volunteers; we match neurotypical high-school athletes with our neurodivergent athletes on a one-to-one basis, thus creating long-lasting friendships and relationships that live past the duration of the program.”
In addition to the $10,000 award for Backyard Sports Cares, 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), BluePath Service Dogs ($5,000 grant award), and Beautiful People ($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.