Some of the attendees at the Spring Fling fundraising luncheon. Back row: Neilly Ricketts, Aimee Adamo, Andrea Cilmi, Kristen Bianco; Angela Panageas, Kim Bancroft and Joclyn Laporte. Seated: Gina Raso, Lynn Elliott, Libby Imperio and Tanya Lesperance. (Photo: Glenmar Studios/Belmont Child Care Association)
Good News

Luncheon raises $100K for Belmont Child Care Association

The Spring Fling fundraising luncheon raised $100,000 for the Belmont Child Care Association.

Held earlier this month at the Garden City Hotel, the event honored Angela Jaggar, Erin King Sweeney and the Junior League of Long Island for their charitable efforts on behalf of the BCCA, which supports the many Belmont Park backstretch workers and their families.

The crown jewel of the BCCA programs is Anna House, a child-care and early childhood education facility located on the Elmont racetrack’s grounds.

Since it opened 20 years ago, more than 1,000 students of all ages have attended programs at Anna House, which is accessible to employees of both Belmont and Aqueduct racetracks. Its unique location, pre-dawn opening, and weekend hours make it the ideal, and often only, affordable child-care option for backstretch families.

Anna House was built by BCCA Chairman Michael Dubb, a principal of Jericho-based Beechwood Organization, one of the region’s most prolific housing developers. A similar facility, Faith’s House, donated by Dubb and named after his mother, opened at Saratoga Race Course last year.