Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson, (D-Rochester/Chili/Henrietta) joined by Mary Cariola Children’s Center Executive Director, Karen Zandi, announced the conclusion of the ‘Warm Hearts, Warm Hands” drive that helped so many families struggling to keep their children warm during the winter months.

“This time of year presents a wonderful opportunity for us to give back to those less fortunate within our community and ensure that we all have a warm, safe and happy holiday season,” Bronson said. “The response from our community has been overwhelming and I am pleased to deliver and share these scarves, mittens and hats for the children and youth of Mary Cariola Children’s Center.”

“We are so grateful for this donation of winter wear that will help our students and residents stay warm during the upcoming months,” said Agency President Karen Zandi. “Many of our families are focused on household essentials and can overlook some of these winter necessities—this collection will be given to those in need to ensure extra protection and warmth. We thank Assemblymember Bronson and the generous community supporters who supported the Warm Hearts, Warm Hands drive.”

All items collected during the “Warm Hearts, Warm Hands” drive are being donated to local children in need at Mary Cariola Children’s Center and Rochester Childfirst Network.

Additionally, Assemblymember Bronson is pleased to announce that he has been able to secure $500,000 in funding that will ensure that Mary Cariola Children’s Center is able to expand their classrooms at the East Henrietta Road and Elmwood Avenue Campus and provide additional respite services at their Bailey Road facility. This funding will allow Mary Cariola to offer much needed support and educational opportunities to local children and youth with disabilities and provide much needed assistance to their families.

“Mary Cariola Children's Center does amazing work for children with developmental disabilities,” said Assemblymember Harry Bronson. “The teachers, staff and administrators are truly gifted and talent and share in the success of our children because they challenge them to reach their full potential. Working with my colleagues, I was able to secure this funding for Mary Cariola Children’s Center to help them continue their outstanding work with children with physical, intellectual and behavioral challenges.”

The funding will provide for two projects that will advance the work at Mary Cariola Children’s Center. The first project will increase the amount of space on the school’s campus. This will help alleviate the current overcrowding caused by the addition of services, including more intense physical therapy sessions and in-house healthcare visits. The second project will add two bedrooms, a bathroom and recreational space to Cariola’s Bailey Road residential home in Henrietta. These improvements will provide much needed respite service for families and will implement a therapeutic model of intervention to benefit the youth and their families.

“Our children have an active imagination and an unending curiosity for learning,” continues Bronson. “This expansion will provide the students at Mary Cariola with the innovative programs that make them a recognized leader in educating youth with severe behavioral challenges. I applaud Karen, her staff and the board of Mary Cariola for developing this vision to bring our children into the next step of their educational development.”

“Assemblymember Bronson has a sincere interest in expanding opportunities for children and youth with disabilities, said Karen Zandi. “His gift will allow us to continue to discover the lifelong potential of all our students and residents.”

“Our innovative and passionate staff brings out the best in all of our students and residents. This gift will allow us to have the additional tools and space to carry on our mission,” Zandi said. “We are eager to expand our medical suite to provide additional examination rooms for student privacy and to allow a dedicated space for our E-Health visits,” Zandi added.

“In addition, we will create more occupational and physical therapy space for our students, add a new music therapy suite and create a fun and interactive indoor sensory play area. Our families will also benefit from this gift as we introduce Respite Service to our families by expanding our Bailey Road residential home. This short term care will be a blessing for many families who have nowhere else to turn for care of their child. The service will allow parents and caregivers the gift of time to relax and recharge, while Mary Cariola staff provide expert care for their child in our welcoming residential setting,” said Zandi.

Mary Cariola Children's Center provides evidence-based solutions in education and life skills development for children and youth with complex disabilities.

A leader in programming for children and youth with disabilities, Mary Cariola is a private, nonprofit agency and is considered a leader in providing education, residential programs and other services for children and youth with disabilities. The Center was the first in the nation to have a sensory room for children and opened the state’s first group home for children and youth with significant behavior management needs.