Chris Hanley '80 Executive Director of Advancement
Deborah Kendric P'22 Director of Alumni
Bro. Richard Hartz, S.M. '59 Director Emeritus of Development and Alumni Relations
Mary Naglia Creative Lead
Jenna Bianco Senior Graphic Designer Element Media Photography
Michael Bruno '90
William Clemens '14 Pat Reichart '01 Contributors
Office of Advancement (516) 742-5555 ext. 444
Office of Communications and Marketing (516) 742-5555 ext. 492
4 Making a Heart a Home CHAMINADE SENIOR FORMS A NEW FRIENDSHIP
6 When Traditions Meet ALUMNI AND STUDENTS UNITE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO FALLEN HEROES
8 Alumni Spotlight
PETER J. WHITE, JR., CLASS OF 1942
10 An Infinite Honor to be Like Him FLYERS SERVE THE CHURCH BY SPREADING THE GOSPEL
12 Successful Service Starts with a Passion JUNIOR PIONEERS WITH A NOVEL IDEA
14 The Center of Change LOCAL ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT
Students in Emmaus and members of the Alumni Association visited the graves of 16 Gold Star alumni at the Long Island National Cemetery ahead of Veterans Day to place flags and coins to honor their sacrifice. The day was a powerful reminder of the importance of service and the lasting legacy of Chaminade’s fallen heroes.
PRESIDENT'S LETTER
Dear Chaminade Family,
On Saturday, October 26, I, along with several members of the Alumni Association, participated in the wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. We have done this annually for almost 40 years, and it is a highlight of the many events that I am privileged to attend.
The ceremony itself is simple yet profoundly moving and inspirational. To stand in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and place a wreath in memory of our 56 Gold Star Alumni is the very least we can do to acknowledge, memorialize, and honor the service of not only our 56 Flyers, but the thousands of men and women who have served and defended our country.
After the ceremony, we gathered with several dozen alumni for a reception that evening. In my comments to the group that night I said, “Standing in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier gives witness to the ultimate service our Gold Star Alumni gave to their God and country. Today’s ceremony is also a clarion call to each of us to live lives of service each and every day, service perhaps with a small 's' compared to our Gold Star Alumni, but service, nonetheless.”
Service. I know that every Chaminade student graduates with an awareness that he is called to a life of service, in some capacity, to his fellow man and to our society.
It is something we build into the very culture here at school. It is difficult to avoid getting swept up by the call to service, whether by joining the various clubs that provide service in one way or another, or through the “Living our Faith” service component of the senior religion class, or just by pitching in and offering help at an event on campus.
Our Parish Religious Education Program, PREP, started in 1980 and has served several parishes across Long Island, educating thousands of students in their faith development. I am always edified by the myriad ways our students volunteer and serve their broader communities!
Early September, students quickly settled into their classes, the Parents Club held their opening school year cocktail reception, we celebrated the Combined Reunion for the classes ending in 4 and 9…great to have these alums gather on Faerber field with food trucks and live music. We welcomed the Class of 1974 for their 50th class reunion, celebrated the 80th Gold Star Mass, and have already started gearing up for the Christmas season. Amid all that I have been training my new pup, Tucker. It’s been 14 years since I trained a puppy, and I almost forgot how much work that is!
Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas. We appreciate all the support, prayers, and friendship of our Chaminade Family.
by the myriad ways our students volunteer and serve their broader communities.”
Bro. Thomas J. Cleary, S.M. ’81 President
Making a Heart a Home
CHAMINADE SENIOR FORMS A NEW FRIENDSHIP
The clink and clang of silverware against China plates filled the hall as a handful of late-arriving guests made their way to their chairs. A palpable cloud of nervous energy hung in the air as salad was served by the wait staff, questions buzzing through the brains of the attendees.
Which one is my salad fork again? How can I introduce myself to this person? Is everyone staring at me? Do I look alright? What if they don’t like me? Maybe I should just leave now. What if…
“Hey,” said the young man as he settled into his seat. “What’s goin’ on? I’m Jack.”
A pair of acorn-brown eyes set deep into a long, oval face peered back at the teenager. Across the table sat a man several inches shorter and a few generations older.
“I’m Alexander,” the man stoically replied, his unchanging expression successfully shielding from view the many wrinkles that had formed over his years as a welder. “It’s nice to meet you.” Just like that, a friendship was born.
“We would see each other on the street in town and say hello,” Jack explained. “Over the course of a few weeks, I learned his story, and I wanted to help him out.”
A member of Chaminade’s senior class, Jack Hansen also serves as the Partnership Chair for DUO (Do Unto Others) Youth Group, which meets at St. John’s of Lattingtown Episcopal Church. Once a week, members of the group would volunteer at a now-shuttered men’s shelter in Glen Cove to serve “Dinner With Dignity” – providing homeless men in the community with a healthy meal, a place to stay the night, and a safe environment for conversation.
“I was never really nervous or scared,” reflected Jack, who was often accompanied at the Wednesday-night dinners by his friends from DUO, but sometimes was the only teenager there. “I just see the homeless population the same way I see anybody else – I enjoy having conversations with them and asking what’s going on in their lives.”
In one such conversation, Jack learned that Alexander had finished high school one English credit shy of earning his degree, and that he had long aspired to receive his diploma.
“The next day, Jack reached out to Dr. Kenneth Graham, the superintendent of the North Babylon School District,” explained Dana Hansen, Jack’s mom. “Jack went back and forth with him for awhile and eventually convinced him to issue Alexander an honorary degree.”
On May 13, Jack and his friends from DUO gathered to present Alexander with his diploma and throw him a graduation party.
“They decorated the shelter, prepared a big dinner, got him a cap and gown, and even a graduation cake,” recalled Dana, who attended the event. “Alexander is usually a pretty quiet shelter guest, but that night, he shined.”
As Alexander lifted his diploma above his head, there were few, if any, dry eyes in the room as the crowd broke into a spontaneous rendition of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.”
“It was pretty special to see him – he wasn’t a very emotional guy – but that was awesome,” said Jack. “I saw a big smile on his face I had never seen before, and he was super proud; all I ever wanted for him was to feel a sense of pride.”
“I saw a big smile on his face I had never seen before, and he was super proud; all I ever wanted for him was to feel a sense of pride.”
Less than two weeks after the memorable event, Alexander was admitted to Glen Cove Hospital, where he has refused treatment for the Stage 3 cancer from which he suffers.
When Jack went to visit Alexander, he found his diploma hanging in his hospital room – and few, if any hospital staffers who hadn’t already heard all about the accomplishment. “He was still so proud,” recalled Jack. “I just want to help people out. In Glen Cove, there’s a pretty big homeless problem.
Through DUO, Jack has helped organize other events for the local homeless population, such as the second annual DOORS Art Show, which was held at Glen Cove Library on October 8 and featured paintings by homeless men.
“DOORS represents an opening to a brighter future – or the closing of a door on their path to leave something behind and pursue something better,” Jack explained. “I love seeing their creativity; these are real people with real emotions, and this is a way for them to share with everyone else.”
As the calendar pages turn to winter and the homeless community on Long Island fights for survival in the face of countless harsh realities, Jack offers this appeal to follow in his footsteps:
“You just have to do it, because most of the time those people will be more grateful than you’d ever imagine or ever know. Whether it be giving food or just saying hi on the street – that says to them, ‘Wow, I’m being respected by real people’ – and I think every time something like that interaction happens, it makes us a little bit better as a society.”
When Traditions Meet
ALUMNI AND STUDENTS UNITE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO FALLEN HEROES
On Thursday, October 17, 2024, the Chaminade Family gathered to celebrate its 80th Gold Star Mass. This yearly tradition honors the 56 Chaminade Men who sacrificed their lives in service to the United States. At the Mass, the names of each of these young men are read aloud, and an American flag that draped one of their coffins is presented at the altar. Moreover, Chaminade High School has long prided itself on its ability to provide students with multiple public service opportunities and the chance to give back to communities on Long Island.
Several years ago, Chaminade’s Alumni Association wanted to share those same opportunities for service with alumni, to continue this wonderful tradition. Led by David Jacaruso ’85, the Alumni Service Association was formed with hundreds of members representing a wide span of years. Along with student volunteers, Chaminade alumni have been able to volunteer their time in meaningful ways from painting
projects in the Catholic Charities' group home, cooking meals at Ronald McDonald House, and even traveling to Montebello, NY, to Annunciation, the novitiate/motherhouse of the Sisters of Life to begin installing electric wiring for a storage shed.
This year, the association wanted to pay tribute to Chaminade’s Gold Star Alumni, 16 of whom are buried at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York. Together with the students of Emmaus under the leadership of Mr. Dan Hauslbauer ’11, the group wanted to place a flag at the gravesites of each of our fallen servicemen along with a Gold Star coin to recognize their sacrifice.
The group was met by Bill Riordan P’ 93, 97, 00, 02, who volunteers at the cemetery. He shared stories of the cemetery’s history and overall design. School chaplain, Fr. Peter Heiskell, S.M. ’86, then led the volunteers for a short prayer service which included this most appropriate Gospel passage:
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:1-6
Groups soon split up to visit individual gravesites, to lay their flags, and place their coins. Most importantly they prayed at each site, thanking our alumni for their service and ultimate sacrifice.
Perhaps, the most appropriate way to encapsulate the day’s experience is best left to those who were there.
Fr. Peter: Being at the actual gravesite, being able to honor the service, sacrifice, and ultimately the love of our fallen alumni was a very powerful and moving experience for all of us. On a personal level, I was especially grateful to pray at the gravesites of the alumni that I knew personally, like Ronald Winchester ’97 and Michael LiCalzi ’00.
Fred Yosca ’69: The role of the Gold Star Alumni in teaching our boys the value of service and sacrifice is invaluable. Hopefully that lesson is balanced with an awareness that war is humanity’s ultimate abomination. In a perfect world the roster of Chaminade Gold Star Alumni will forever remain at 56.
John Prosceo ’25: This visit really drove home the impact and importance of the Gold Star Mass. All of those posters surrounding the AAC just became so much more real for me.
David Jacaruso ’85: When we hear the term, "Gold Star" and see the plaques in the school and out on the field, it becomes too real when you meet some of the families and visit their graves. We look differently at those plaques.
Dan Haslbauer ’11: Even though the school has so many reminders of the Gold Star Alumni, it was made much more real by being at their gravestones with current students and alumni. I had an overwhelming feeling of the impact of their sacrifice and willingness to serve.
Mr. Jacaruso notes that he hopes to continue this new tradition in years to come and was especially grateful for the assistance he received from all that made the day possible.
Alumni Spotlight:
Peter J. White, Jr., Class of 1942
Peter J. White, Jr., a distinguished member of Chaminade High School's Class of 1942, embodies a life of service, resilience, and lifelong learning. Celebrated for his contributions to family, community, and country, Peter's remarkable journey from the streets of Manhattan to the battlefields of Europe serves as an inspiring testament to the values instilled at Chaminade. Born on October 6, 1924, in Manhattan on West 34th Street, Peter spent his early childhood amid the vibrancy of a growing New York City. His formative years were marked by the close-knit neighborhood and routines of parochial school and, as was commonplace in the early 20th century, he traveled daily, on his own, to school at St. Ann’s Academy on the Upper East Side.
In the mid-1930s, Peter moved with his mother and sister to Forest Hills. While he doesn’t recall much of the struggles and difficulties of the Great Depression, he does remember the importance of his education. Chaminade, a new Marianist high school in Mineola, was already well-regarded and seemed a natural choice. Peter fondly recalls his time there. He especially recalls the daily journey of taking a train from Forest Hills to Jamaica and then a steam-engine train to Mineola. Disembarking at the Mineola station, he followed paths through gardens and small streets for the one–mile walk to school. He enjoyed being part of Chaminade's Airplane Club and writing for Tarmac. Peter credits the school with instilling critical thinking skills that served him throughout his life. He also shared that the school graduated two senior classes per year at that time, and Peter graduated in January of 1942 just one month after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
After graduating from Chaminade, Peter enrolled in Columbia University, where he studied pre-law. Drafted by the Army in 1944 at age 19, he trained extensively, including studying engineering at Princeton before serving as a Second Lieutenant in Europe and Asia during WW II. He saw action in France and Belgium before being stationed in Japan postwar as part of the allied occupying force, where he served as a JAG defense attorney.
Following his military service, Peter completed his legal studies at Albany Law School in 1949 and then embarked on a diverse career, working on Wall Street and later for American Cyanamid Company. In the 1970s, he became president of Venture Exploration Corporation, leading teams across locations in Georgia and Delaware. Despite his busy travel schedule, he remained dedicated to his family, work and community.
Settling in Williamstown, Massachusetts, in the late 1980s, Peter started a financial advisory services practice until he retired due to macular degeneration, which eventually rendered him legally blind. A lifelong learner, he audited history courses at Williams College, often sharing first-hand insights on topics like Japan. Peter’s lifelong intellectual curiosity continues to shine despite his handicap through his daily Audible sessions, listening to works on Greek and American history. To this day, he credits Chaminade for his persistence and inquisitive nature.
Peter’s family was central to his life. He and his late wife raised three children—Adrienne, Tim and Dana. Peter remarried in 1985, and he and his wife, Sally, added Sam and Lucy to the growing family. He’s now a proud grandfather of eight and great-grandfather of nine, whose homes span from Oregon to Ireland. Remarkably, his grandfather, who immigrated from Ireland in the 1880s, was a blacksmith who worked not far from Peter’s childhood home and enabled the larger family to pursue the American dream.
Peter and his wife, Sally, have been an active couple in the Williamstown community as members of St. Patrick's Church and American Legion Post #152, supporting veterans and the community. Peter’s loyalty to Chaminade has continued through his ongoing financial support since 1986, including donations to the annual Torch Fund and contributions to the Dolan Family Science, Technology, and Research Center campaign.
With his milestone 100th birthday recently celebrated, Peter White exemplifies our motto of Fortes in Unitate and the values of service to God and country. His legacy, as a Flyer alumnus and a lifelong contributor to society, serves as an inspiring testament to generations of Chaminade men who follow in his footsteps.
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An Infinite Honor to be Like Him
FLYERS SERVE THE CHURCH BY SPREADING THE GOSPEL
“For it is in giving that we receive.” PREP, or the Parish Religious Education Program, continues to be an expansive, apostolic mission of Chaminade’s outreach into the local faith community of Long Island for many decades. Each year, a cohort of lay and professed Marianist teachers invite and mentor over 100 Chaminade students from all grade levels in the faith formation of young people at five partner parishes throughout the Diocese of Rockville Centre. These students go out into our local parishes to design, plan, and teach the faith and sacraments to countless elementary-aged students. Since its inception to today, PREP has expanded on the Marianist call to witness the Gospel in the formation of young people by sending students out to serve the youth of the diocese.
Mr. Brian Gallery ’18, head moderator of PREP, reflects on the consequential nature of a service program oriented at forming young Catholics. “What we offer at our partner parishes directly alleviates and supports the pastoral ministry of young people. Our PREP teachers often have the privilege of being one of the more prominent witnesses of the faith that these children have on a weekly basis.”
“PREP at its core is empowering, humbling, and fulfilling for both the students who teach and for the children of the various parishes who receive the Word of God each week,” adds assistant moderator Mr. Daniel Haslbauer ’11.
“A program like PREP can completely change the rhetoric that faith formation is only taken seriously by older generations,” states Charles Clague, a senior member of PREP from Huntington, while reflecting on the necessity of a program that responds to the direct needs and personalities of young people. “Throughout the week, we prepare lesson plans based on the upcoming Sunday Gospel. We focus not on a rigid classroom structure but on an engaging but fun environment where we can effectively witness the Catholic faith for others. By seeing the example of teenage catechists, young children see that faith is a real thing that many
young people take seriously. By sharing the faith with those in formation, PREP has taught me that faith is not simply caught up in books alone, but in the active love of God.”
“I have always considered PREP to be one of the most important activities that we have at Chaminade. These students are in the business of making saints and getting kids into heaven, what else could be more important than this,” says Bro. Joseph Bellizzi, S.M. ’78, provincial of the Province of Meribah and assistant PREP moderator. “It is rewarding to see how much the faith of our PREP teachers grows over the time they are in the program.”
Recognizing not just the importance of a program such as PREP but also how this opportunity can provide joy to others, junior Aiden Stenson ’26, from Manhasset, reflects on his time teaching fifth grade. “I continue participating in PREP not only because I enjoy it, but also because I want to make a positive impact on my students. ”
Stetson remarks on how PREP has contributed to his ideas for post-graduate studies. “PREP has shown me that I enjoy teaching and making connections that are more than running lesson plans. PREP has shown me that I might consider teaching later in life.”
Matthew LaFroscia ’27, a PREP catechist from Rockaway Beach, just began teaching this year. He reflects, “We hear from Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew that we must make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything that Jesus has commanded to us. Through PREP, I feel as if I am fulfilling Jesus’ words, trying to spread his message to as many people as possible.” Matthew also considers the weight of his vocation to teach the faith to others as one that is personally formative. “I think that service is recognizing the needs of others and acting to fulfill those needs with care and compassion. PREP has helped me take a new perspective on my faith allowing me to grow more deeply in my relationship with Jesus and with others.”
“PREP is built on the Marianist tenets of community, fraternity, and evangelization,” reflects Mr. Gallery. “Everything we do goes back to witnessing the truth of Jesus Christ. That witness gives our students strength to go out and evangelize.” While the program is exceedingly rewarding, it is at the end of the day a sacrifice, one that many students
make so that the witness of faith remains alive and active on Long Island. As the youth of the world continue to diversify and expand, the Parish Religious Education Program will provide ways for Flyers to grow, meet local church needs, and witness the Gospel through every word, action, and encounter.
Successful Service Starts with a Passion
JUNIOR PIONEERS WITH A NOVEL IDEA
Theologian Frederick Buechner once said that “one’s vocation, or calling, is the place where your deepest gladness and the world's deepest hunger meet.” All Chaminade students are called to develop their identities on many levels while in the Flyer experience. These young men form their hearts and minds in the light of the Gospel truth that what they do and say matters and makes an impact on the world. For Owen Sileo, a current junior, passion has turned into action in the form of a service enterprise that is beginning to expand outwards in the community. Leaning into his love for family while also noticing a need for student support in the field of special education, Owen founded his own 501(c)(3) nonprofit called Flexible Success.
“I developed the idea for this nonprofit about a year ago in honor of my sisters, Drew and Ryan, who live with varying sensory and learning disabilities,” reflects Owen. “The essential purpose of this company is to raise money to provide flexible seating to Title One school districts who cannot regularly afford such classroom tools. There are not many resources consistently across classrooms that directly support the physical needs of students with individualized education plans.”
From East Setauket, Owen commutes into school a total of three hours daily, participating in many after-school activities, such as the Economics and Business Clubs, all while maintaining his skill for playing lacrosse. Even in his academic and athletic schedule, Owen has found space for his passion for special education services to develop. “I have learned so much at Chaminade,” says Owen. “I have learned how to communicate well, which has become an invaluable skill in expanding this service outward into the community.”
“Flexible Success is designed to provide the funds and seating arrangement tools for students who need learning support,” explains Owen. “We provide tools such as wobble seats to engage posture differently and fidgets on chairs to give students modes for expression and motion in the classroom environment. All of this is for engaging different learning styles and preferences.”
“Service has always been a part of my life,” reflects Owen. “I cannot describe it besides that it is part of my heart. My family is so excited that I am taking my beliefs and making them into action items for the betterment of others, rooted in my love for my sisters.”
As if it were meant to be, while riding the Long Island Rail Road one day, Owen connected with Michael Laffey, a mentor in the field of insurance and nonprofit development, who has begun working proactively to support Owen’s goals for this service-oriented program. “Working in the insurance business and helping others get their nonprofit endeavors
on solid ground, it was remarkable to see how thought out Owen’s conception and plan was for this company,” says Mr. Laffey. “Owen is extremely well-spoken and intentional with his passion for this special services program. Right from the beginning of our dynamic, Owen’s personality sold me on his ideas and hopes for how he wants to grow this organization. As we have begun working on expanding fundraising and networking, I have seen how much people buy into Owen’s idea because Owen is totally committed to what he is doing, rooted in his love of family and the essential need to serve others.”
“His passion and energy for what he does is contagiously philanthropic,” reflects Mr. Laffey. “Owen has grown so much over his high school career simply by addressing a need that is so personal for him. My mom always said ‘family first,’ and Owen lives that out in everything he does. Owen is a man amongst boys for his willingness to serve.”
“You have to find something or someone that you love; if you do, your work becomes more than effort and stress. It becomes tethered to something bigger than yourself, something good for the world,” explains Owen. “As I have worked further into this service program, I have gained many new relationships and the trust of others. I feel like I am growing a community in this endeavor, and that makes me feel like my work matters.”
Flexible Success continues to grow by connecting with alumni and partner school districts for opportunities for both funding and resource development. Owen will take his heartfelt passion for service with him into his collegiate years, all built on the foundation of faith gained through his time at Chaminade.
The Center of Change
LOCAL ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT: THE VISCARDI CENTER
Each day, dozens of school busses transport students from all over New York – Nassau, Suffolk, the five boroughs, and Westchester – to a campus nestled for decades between Roslyn and Garden City, Herricks to its west and Westbury to the east.
Located just two miles north of Chaminade’s home in Mineola, The Viscardi Center is perhaps the most remarkable institution on our island.
“We don’t want anybody with a disability sitting at home,” explained Kim Brussell, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Marketing at The Viscardi Center. “Everyone should have an active role in their community – achieving their goals – and that’s what we are all about.”
The Center is best known by Long Islanders for its Henry Viscardi School, which first opened its doors in 1962. This was the product of a decade of dedication from the school’s
founder, who was inspired by a conversation he shared with a former First Lady in the aftermath of World War II.
“Henry Viscardi himself was disabled – he wore prosthetic legs,” explained Brussell. “He saw that many injured veterans were having trouble finding work in the aftermath of the war, which was something he discussed with Eleanor Roosevelt. In 1952, at her urging, he founded and operated one of the first U.S. businesses to be staffed primarily by people with disabilities.”
“Dr. Viscardi set out to prove that people with disabilities can help themselves, if only given the chance,” Brussell continued. “In one year’s time, he created new jobs for 57 disabled men and women - all of whom others felt were unemployable, sold nearly $200,000 worth of goods, and closed out that first year with a $48,000 profit - his investors paid off and reserve funds to spare!”
Over six decades after the school opened its doors, it continues to thrive, boasting an enrollment of about 170 students between pre-K and 12th grade (up to age 21).
“Although the majority of our students use a wheelchair and many assistive devices, they still earn the same diplomas as other students in their age groups,” noted Brussell, who also highlighted popular events like the annual prom, as well as the school’s athletic success, which includes three championship-level wheelchair basketball squads.
When asked about his long-time support of both Chaminade and The Viscardi Center and the opportunity for collaboration, John Westerman ’75, Co-Managing Partner of Westerman Ball Ederer Miller Zucker & Sharfstein, LLP, noted, “These are two institutions doing God’s work.”
Walking the halls of the school, one would almost certainly encounter Sunny, the Center’s beloved facility dog best known for greeting students as they arrive on campus each day.
“Sunny helps out in so many ways - classroom work, physical therapy, helping with the social and emotional well-being of our students, and more,” said Brussell of the adorable golden lab who once appeared on NBC’s Today.
The Viscardi Center’s work is focused on their “Three E’s” – education, employment, and empowerment. In addition to its offerings within the school, The Viscardi Center also provides services such as vocational training and employment placement, as well as programs to build independent living skills.
“We help with everything - from learning how to write a resume and apply for positions online to job interview preparation,” explained Brussell. “In our Youth Transition and Day Habilitation Without Walls programs, youth and adults learn how to bank, prepare meals, manage personal finances, and partake in work-readiness and social activities.”
The Viscardi Center also partners with other schools in various endeavors:
“We work with at-risk youth at Brentwood, Freeport and Westbury High Schools through our vocational-focused attendance retention program,” Brussell explained. “It stresses the relevance of staying in school and its impact on the rest of your life.”
This initiative, known as PROSPER (People Reaching for Opportunities to Succeed Personally, Educationally, and Realistically), affords students the opportunity to take classes at their high schools early in the day and then later, with Viscardi, visit local businesses and college campuses for career and higher education exploration.
The work of The Viscardi Center has had such an indelibly positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities that the Museum of Disability History is relocating to Long Island from Buffalo next fall. The only institution of its kind in the United States, the museum will be housed in a newly-renovated area of The Viscardi Center, a testament to the lasting legacy of a groundbreaking institution.
“There are so many good people I interact with at The Viscardi Center – whether it be individuals or companies – who just want to make a change in the world,” reflected Brussell. “There is a lot more good in the world than bad, and we see that here.”
