|
Mission
Statement
Established in
1992 in memory of Theresa Alessandra Russo, the Foundation is
dedicated to assisting children with disabilities and their families.
The Foundation
strives to touch the lives of special children through its support
of workshops and programs of enrichment and therapy.
The Foundation
supports creativity and Art for All Children by granting funds
for Art / Music / Dance and Recreation programs so that children
with disabilities can attain the highest level of educational,
artistic, emotional, physical and intellectual achievement possible.
Board of Directors
Officers
Susan S. Russo
President
Father James L. Maltese
Vice President
Judy Murdaugh Jackson
Secretary
Vincent J. Russo, Esq.
Treasurer
Directors
Laury Adsit Gelardi
Stephanie C. DeMarco
Jane S. James
Beth S. Meyers
Dana M. Russo
Joseph J. Russo
Diane Uda
|
The Theresa Foundation
Making a Difference
The Treasurer's Report
by: Vincent J. Russo
Over the past ten years, the Theresa Foundation
has helped thousands of children with special needs.
True to our mission, since 1995, we have awarded
grants in excess of $200,000 in support of Art, Music, Dance and
Recreation Programs for children with disabilities. We have also
provided direct financial assistance to children in need.
We are a 100% volunteer organization. Over 90% of
the contributions received by the Foundation are used for these
grants. Our overhead costs only include supplies, telephone, typesetting,
printing and postage.
We have been blessed by the many friends of Theresa
who have donated their time, energy and money.
Our Foundation is stable and we have no debt. We
also have a reserve for future grants and special projects.
We thank you for keeping the memory of Theresa alive.
Note: This pie chart represents the total monies available after
payment of fundraising expenses.
A Year in Support -
2001
| Research Foundation of SUNY College, Brockport,
NY |
$1,500 |
Camp Abilities for blind/visually impaired children
|
| Long Beach Regional Catholic School, Long Beach, NY |
$250 |
Recognize an 8th grader for community service |
| Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, Inc., Huntington, NY |
$2,800 |
Therapeutic horseback riding for disabled |
| Justin Weisner Learning Center, Sarasota, FL |
$500 |
Maintain services of a special education teacher |
| El Rio Health Care - Reach Out and Read Program Tucson,
AZ |
$500 |
Disability awareness program and provide books |
| The We Care Fund—Nassau County Bar Association, Mineola,
NY |
$500 |
Sponsorship for a week at Camp Kiwanis
|
| Direct Financial Support |
$4,688 |
To fund construction of adaptive bathroom |
| TILT Dance Company, Makawao, HI |
$2,300 |
Provide for 2 dance teachers & studio space |
| Technology for Language and Learning, Inc. East Rockaway,
NY |
$1,000 |
Establish software lending library/computer |
| Holy Angels, Inc., Belmont, NC |
$2,500 |
Operating costs of creative arts program |
| Full Radius Dance, Atlanta, GA |
$1,600 |
Positive motion program for visually impaired |
| Research Foundation of SUNY College at Brockport |
$2,000 |
Camp Abilities for blind/visually impaired |
| Northern Westchester Center for the Arts, Mt. Kisco, NY |
$1,500 |
Dance classes for children in wheelchairs |
Long Island Infant and Development Program
Hewlett, NY |
$2,600 |
Funds to enhance LIIDP Library |
| Lawrence Public Schools Cedarhurst, NY |
$1,250 |
Purchase of prosthetic limb for student |
| Direct Financial Support |
$1,700 |
Assist in payment of medical
expenses for child |
| Mount Hope Family Center, Rochester, NY |
$2,500 |
Renovation of school space |
| FEGS - Long Island Division, Syosset, NY |
$500 |
Supports Family Counseling, education program |
| All Island Sports, Lindenhurst, NY |
$4,000 |
Continued support for special needs recreation |
| Accessible Arts, Inc., Kansas City, KS |
$3,000 |
Funding to write and produce a musical play |
| Indiana University Foundation-Craniofacial Program Indianapolis,
Indiana |
$4,000 |
Camp that helps children with facial defects |
| Valley Stream North High School, Franklin Square, NY |
$2,000 |
Kids on the Block Program |
| United Cerebral Palsy of Nassau County, Roosevelt, NY |
$500 |
Special keyboard for music therapy classes |
| The Center for Discovery, Harris, NY |
$500 |
Educational clinical experiences for families |
| Holy Angels Foundation, Belmont, NC |
$500 |
Support creative arts program |
TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS PAID: $44,688 |
|
FUNDRAISING 2002 UPDATE
| |
2001 |
2002* |
Theresa Dinner Dance |
$23,587 |
33,000 |
| Theresa Golf Outing |
$7,948 |
13,000 |
*estimated (to be
finalized) |
|
The Financial Records of the Theresa
Foundation are available for review at 1600 Stewart Ave., Suite
300, Westbury, NY.
Milestones
Reprinted with Permission and Published by Mill
Neck Manor School for the Deaf - May 2002
Friends Who Do - Impacting
Education
Every day, staff at Mill Neck Manor shape the minds
and characters of our students. By working with the students daily,
the staff has maximum impact on students' growth. There are also
many others who touch our students' lives
and education, though they are often unseen and do not work on
our campus.
The Giordano Foundation, Ladies Auxiliary of the
American Legion, MAX Foundation and the Theresa Foundation are
four organizations that have taken a particularly pro-active role
to help Mill Neck Manor best meet students' needs. By granting
funding for specific purposes, the generosity of these friends
helps our students, and even our graduates, in many and diverse
ways. . . .
Five Mill Neck Manor students contributed artwork
for the Theresa Foundation 8th Annual Awards Dinner. The artwork
was auctioned as a fundraiser for art therapy programs for children
with special needs. From left to right: Art teacher Leah Canale,
students Theresa Tuttle, Bruna Kamaroski, Sky Samuel, Nancy Tseng
and J.J. Rivera.
. . . The Theresa Foundation
Stimulating students in the arts, the Theresa Foundation provides
grants for enrichment programs in the areas of art, dance, music
and recreation therapy for children with disabilities. Recently,
five young artists from Mill Neck Manor contributed their artwork
towards a fundraiser and auction for the Eighth Annual Theresa
Awards. A portion of the funds raised from the auction will be
given back to Mill Neck Manor in the form of a grant.
Mill Neck Manor contributed the artwork last January at the request
of Susan Russo, Theresa Foundation president. Art teacher Leah
Canale selected five pieces created by Mill Neck students during
the past year. In addition, six other special education schools
and programs donated artwork to the fundraiser.
| “Seeing art as "a natural
process for young children," the Theresa Foundation
grant will go towards a program utilizing a special movement
floor in the DEC auditorium.” |
During the auction, the Mill Neck Manor art pieces attracted
large numbers of bids and many exclamations of praise. Mill Neck
high school student Nancy Tseng's painting, "Portrait of
Dolly," drew the most bids of the evening. Mill Neck students
who contributed artwork were: Theresa Tuttle,
Bruna Kamaroski, Sky Samuel, Nancy Tseng and J.J. Rivera.
Seeing art as "a natural process for young children,"
the Theresa Foundation grant will go towards a program utilizing
a special movement floor in the DEC auditorium. The movement floor
will allow students to feel and learn music.
High school student Nancy Tseng's painting, "Portrait
of Dolly," drew the most bids and was won by Chris and Michelle
Logan, of Valley Stream, during the Theresa art auction.
As unseen, yet active partners in providing the best education
possible, these organizations, and the people behind them, continue
the tradition of generosity and spirit that built Mill Neck Manor.
Their contributions, like the contributions of all who have given
generously to Mill Neck, are a positive investment that will carry
the school and its students into an exciting future.
|
