Hempstead Town Awards Grant To Cerebral Palsy Association

ROOSEVELT, NY — On Tuesday, the Town of Hempstead announced a new collaboration with the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County to further protect children and adults with developmental disabilities from the coronavirus.

The town awarded a grant for $434,977 to the organization, which will help it pay the costs of PPE for its staff and adult program participants. It will also fund new disinfecting systems, machines, cleansers and other equipment needed for coronavirus safety protocols.

“We continue to thank Senator Schumer for his part in securing funding for our town that has and continues to support and protect hundreds of thousands of our Town’s residents,” said Hempstead Town Supervisor Dona.d Clavin. “We need to make sure people with developmental disabilities can continue their educational programs with peace of mind, with the least risk of infection.”

The money from the bond comes from the $133 million the town received from the federal CARES Act, which is used to cover expenses associated with the coronavirus pandemic. The grant to the Cerebral Palsy Association was unanimously approved by the Town Board.

The Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County serves approximately 1,500 children and adults with developmental disabilities. The organization has more than 900 employees, a majority of whom reside in the Town of Hempstead. The Roosevelt location is home to the Children’s Learning Center, which offers individualized educational programs for 250 children between the ages of 2 and 21, as well as myriad therapy sessions including occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, music and art therapy, as well as computer instruction and an adapted gym. Adults also have specialized day programs at the main building and hub sites.

“We are immensely grateful for the town’s support as it will allow us to continue supporting those who depend on us every day,” said Bob McGuire, executive director of the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau. “This funding is essential to continue fulfilling our mission in a safe and protective manner while also keeping our staff and participants safe.”

The Town of Hempstead has given many grants for coronavirus expenses from the CARES Act funding it received. It has provided funds to colleges, food banks, testing programs and more. However, the town came under fire recently for allocating $60 million it received for itself. County, state and federal officials have called for the Department of Treasury to investigate the town's CARES Act expenses. Town officials called the accusations a political attack.