Supporting Abilities!
YES! I want to support Abilities!
Your generous gift today will enhance our ability to empower people with disabilities
to be active, independent, and self-sufficient participants in our society.
You can make a difference in the lives of children and adults with disabilities
by contributing to Abilities!. Your gift can put a smile on the faces of the girls
and boys who refuse to let severe disabilities stand in the way of their learning
and achieving. Your gift can also help men and women put their lives back together
after a serious accident or illness.
Outright Gifts
Gifts you make today for immediate use are known as outright gifts, and there are many ways to make them. Outright gifts are primarily unresricted, which means that the donor allows Abilities! to determine how the money is used.
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Designated Gifts
A donor may wish to designate a gift to a particular program, or purpose. To accomplish this, a donor simply needs to place his or her request in writing and submit it along with a gift to Abilities!. Gifts may also be restricted to:
Abilities!
- Research & Training Institute
- Smeal Learning Center
- Research Department
- Global Institute
- Nathaniel H. Kornreich Technology Center
- Abilities USA
Abilities, Inc.
Henry Viscardi School
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Special Occasions
A gift made in honor of a person or an event, such as a birthday, anniversary, or retirement, should include a note with the following information:
- Name and address of the person(s) to be honored and the event (if applicable) for which he/she/they are being honored
- Telephone number of the person to be contacted in case there are any questions
The honoree(s) will be notified of the gift and the name and address of the donor (but not the amount of the gift). Special funds may be set up in the name of the honoree depending on the amount of the gift.
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Memorial Gifts
When making a memorial gift, please include a note with the gift with the following information:
- Name of the deceased and date of death (copy of obituary is very helpful)
- Telephone number of the principal donor, in case there are any questions about the gift(s)
- Name of surviving family member, other benefactor, or estate executor to whom notice of the gift should be sent
- Name, address and amount of each donation included in gift total
Abilities! sends a note to the surviving family mentioning the name and address of the donor, but not the amount of the gift. Special funds may be set up in the name of the deceased, if requested, depending on the amount of the gift and whether or not donors intend to make additional gifts in the future.
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Matching Gifts
Many employers provide a corporate matching gift which may double or triple a donor’s contribution to Abilities!. This is an effective, no-cost way for friends to increase the impact of their personal gifts to Abilities!. Many organizations match the contributions of spouses and retirees, too.
Contact the Human Resources office where you work to find out if your company has a matching gift program. Each company has its own guidelines for employees to follow and may have a form for employees to complete. Most matches are initiated by a form submitted to Abilities! by the donor or by a phone call to the company's human resources (or corporate contribution) office from the donor.
Once the form is submitted to Abilities! with your gift, it will be verified by the Development Office and returned to your company. Your company will then issue a matching gift contribution to Abilities!.
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Making Your Gift to Abilities!
Online
Support Abilities! with an online donation.
By donating online you make an immediate difference in the lives of children and adults with disabilities.
By Phone (credit card)
Abilities! accepts Visa, MasterCard and American Express. To make a credit card gift by phone, please call Ilana Isaacson in the Development Office at (516) 465-1590.
By Mail (check or credit card/money order)
Abilities! accepts Visa, MasterCard and American Express. To make a credit card gift via mail, please send your credit card number, expiration date, a daytime telephone number and instructions on your gift intent in an envelope to:
Development Office
Abilities!
201 I. U. Willets Road
Albertson, New York 11507
To make a gift by check or money order, please make your check or money order payable to “Abilities!” and send it in an envelope to:
Development Office
Abilities!
201 I. U. Willets Road
Albertson, New York 11507
Please do not send cash by mail.
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Special Events
Abilities! hosts a number of annual special events, including the Legacy Luncheon, the Reach for A Star Luncheon and Celebrity Sports Night. If you would like more information about any of these events, or to be placed on our mailing list, please email
Lauren McGowan.
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Special Projects
PROSPER Program
We are seeking funding to expand our successful PROSPER program.
PROSPER is an acronym for People Reaching for Opportunities to Succeed Personally, Educationally and Realistically. The program was created in 1997 to meet the needs of special education and special needs students “at risk” for failing or dropping out of high school in economically disadvantaged areas on Long Island. Currently in its 11th year and providing direct services to selected youth enrolled in Freeport High School District, PROSPER is a collaborative program which involves Nassau Community College, Adelphi University, SUNY Old Westbury, Hofstra University and many area businesses.
Emerging Leaders
Abilities! is currently seeking funding to expand our regional Emerging Leaders Program into a national program for qualified college students with disabilities. Emerging Leaders is a unique initiative with a twofold purpose: to place highly qualified college students with disabilities into competitive summer internships with the nation’s leading employers; to provide employers with a pool of young workers with disabilities to diversify their workforce.
For more information on Special Projects at Abilities!, please contact Lynn Drucker at (516) 465-1596.
Abilities Naming Opportunities

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