Donation will allow Wildwood to improve summer camp special education programming for students with complex needs
Grant brings two-year contribution from Hannaford to Wildwood Programs to $70,000
SCHENECTADY, New York – The Hannaford Charitable Foundation yesterday announced a $50,000 donation to support capital improvements at Camp Wildwood, the signature entity of Wildwood School’s outdoor Summer Extension special education program. The grant will enable Wildwood to better meet the educational, therapeutic, health and safety needs of students with developmental disabilities.
The donation will provide funding to support the second phase of renovations to improve the infrastructure at Camp Wildwood which hosts approximately 100 students from the Capital Region each summer in Altamont, NY. The improvements include a new nursing and administration building, which will feature a kitchenette named in honor of Hannaford. The second phase of enhancements, which will be conducted over a five-year period, also includes a new septic system and free-standing bathroom facilities.
Representatives from Hannaford Supermarkets joined officials and students from Wildwood Programs to present the donation at Wildwood School on Curry Road Extension in Schenectady.
“Camp Wildwood gives children with developmental disabilities the opportunity to further their educational development in a special setting that promotes an active lifestyle,” said Hannaford Supermarkets Community Relations Specialist Brian Fabre. “Hannaford is pleased to support Wildwood School’s efforts to provide students with the opportunity to maintain and improve their academic, social, behavioral, therapeutic, wellness and daily living skills in a fun, outdoor camp setting during the summer months.”
The grant from Hannaford Supermarkets is the second in as many years for Wildwood Programs. In 2015, the Hannaford Charitable Foundation donated $20,000 to support the initial phase of enhancements to Camp Wildwood, including repairs to the foundation of the lodge building at the site, a new bus drop-off area and parking lot, and the addition of sidewalks and curbing, among other upgrades.
“Hannaford’s continued generosity enables Wildwood Programs to move forward with much needed improvements to our School’s Summer Extension at Camp Wildwood. This important program helps students with complex needs achieve their educational goals in a fun camp setting,” said Wildwood Foundation Director Lauren Roecker. “We are very fortunate to have a corporate partner like Hannaford that shares our vision of what life can be like for students living with disabilities.”
Camp Wildwood, a summer extension program certified by the New York State Education Department, annually supports students ages 5 to 17 who attend Wildwood School or other special education programs throughout the greater Capital Region. The education program is designed to address extended school year goals and related services in an outdoor educational environment during the months of July and August. The Camp Wildwood campus includes classrooms in open pavilions, hiking trails, ball fields, a pond and a swimming pool.
Camp Wildwood and the Wildwood School are a component of the Schenectady-based non-profit organization Wildwood Programs, which works collaboratively with the community and families to empower and enable children and adults with neurological impairments, learning disabilities, autism and other developmental disabilities to lead independent, productive and fulfilling lives.
For more information about Camp Wildwood and Wildwood Programs, visit www.wildwood.edu.
About Hannaford Supermarkets
Hannaford Supermarkets, based in Scarborough, Maine, operates 179 stores in the Northeast. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Hannaford employs more than 27,000 associates. Additional information can be found at www.hannaford.com.