Center for Hope and Safety Receives Grant from Alfred N. Sanzari Family Foundation to Support Children’s Services for Domestic Abuse Victims

Rochelle Park, N.J. (November 12, 2021) – Center for Hope and Safety, Bergen County’s only not-for-profit agency dedicated to helping adults and children rebuild their lives beyond domestic violence and abuse, announces it has received an $8,000 grant for its Children’s Program from the Alfred N. Sanzari Family Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving communities across the northeast.  

The grant will be used to help fund Center for Hope and Safety’s Children’s Program which is designed to stabilize a child’s environment and to counteract the effects of abuse by addressing the anxiety, depression, anger, aggression, self-esteem problems, and impaired social skill development that result from exposure to violence in the home.  The program includes preschool activities for toddlers, after school programming for adolescents, tutoring, case management services to assist with schooling and referrals to community services, and social-recreational activities.  Additionally, Center for Hope and Safety provides an art therapy program to help children who come to their Safe House experiencing chaotic circumstances as they adjust to a new environment.

“We are incredibly thankful to the Alfred N. Sanzari Family Foundation for this generous grant which will help us to fill gaps in funding and enable us to continue to provide children that have experienced or witnessed domestic abuse with vital service and programs to assist them in healing,” said Julye Myner, PhD, Executive Director of Center for Hope and Safety.

Incidents of domestic violence have surged during the pandemic leading to a nearly 50% increase in calls to Center for Hope and Safety’s 24/7 hotline. During that time, the Center answered more than 6,150 calls, some which took place during moments of violence, providing domestic violence victims with immediate access to emergency and vital support services.  The Center offers a full spectrum of free services designed to address and support emotional, physical and financial healing for domestic violence victims and survivors including legal counsel, employment support services, and therapeutic programs for children.

“Our Children’s Program and art therapy sessions provide children the opportunity to express themselves in a non-judgmental, private setting, where the emphasis is placed on therapeutic experiences that are fun, teach appropriate behaviors, and build self-esteem,” said Myner. “Ensuring that children have proper outlets to safely express their feelings is a vital component of breaking future cycles of domestic abuse.”

The Alfred N. Sanzari (ANS) Family Foundation was established in 2006 to carry on the legacy of Alfred N. Sanzari, founder of Alfred Sanzari Enterprises, through the promotion and support of a wide range of causes throughout northern New Jersey. Reflecting the values of Alfred and his family, the ANS Family Foundation supports the promotion of healthcare with a special preference for patient care and Parkinson's disease, local education programs, and programs that assist disadvantaged populations such as shelters/housing, and services for women and children in need. Since its founding, the ANS Family Foundation has donated over $2 million to organizations throughout northern New Jersey and surrounding communities.

“We are so grateful to be able to support Center for Hope and Safety and their mission of rebuilding lives beyond domestic violence,” said Lisa Britt of the Alfred N. Sanzari Family Foundation. “Providing assistance to women and children services in our community is a core to our mission and the work Center for Hope and Safety does to help children of domestic abuse heal and find safety is critically important.”

For immediate access to crisis intervention, counseling and referrals including enrollment in our safe house for you or someone you know call: (201) 944-9600 or visit: https://www.hopeandsafetynj.org/. To help support Center for Hope and Safety visit: https://www.hopeandsafetynj.org/give-help/donate/.

About Center for Hope and Safety

Center for Hope and Safety is Bergen County’s only not-for-profit agency dedicated to helping adults and children rebuild their lives beyond domestic violence. Since 1976, Center for Hope and Safety has been providing a safe haven and critical support services for domestic violence survivors and their children throughout Bergen County. Our mission is to assist adults and children who are victims of domestic violence, including emotional, economic, sexual and physical abuse. We offer a full spectrum of free services designed to address and support emotional, physical and financial healing, including a legal services program to provide free legal representation, advice and counsel on restraining orders, appeals and emergent custody, visitation, child support, spousal support and other domestic violence family law matters. Our free, confidential hotline answers more than 4,200 calls a year and operates 7 days a week, 365 days a year. For immediate access to crisis intervention, counseling and referrals including enrollment in our safe house call (201) 944-9600 or visit: https://www.hopeandsafetynj.org/.

About the Alfred N. Sanzari Family Foundation

Established in 2006, the Alfred N. Sanzari Family Foundation was established to carry on the legacy of Alfred N. Sanzari, founder of Alfred Sanzari Enterprises, through the promotion and support of a wide range of causes through the northeast. Reflecting the priorities of Alfred and his family, the ANS Family Foundation supports a wide range of causes including the promotion and support of healthcare with a special preference for patient care and Parkinson's Disease; local education programs; and programs that support disadvantaged populations such as shelters/housing, and services for women and children in need. Since its founding, the ANS Family Foundation has donated over $2 million. For more information on the Alfred N. Sanzari Family Foundation, please visit their website at https://sanzarifoundation.com/.