ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
Community Mayors for Children with Special Needs
MISSION STATEMENT
The Community Mayors for Special Children creates opportunities for mentally and physically challenged children to experience and enjoy numerous activities designed to accommodate their needs, stimulate their interests, and lift their spirits.
Making a Positive Difference
Over the years, the Community Mayors have served the needs of millions of children with disabilities by providing opportunities for them to experience and enjoy a diverse array of events and activities tailored to their unique needs. Through the efforts of all those who give their time, energy, and financial support, The Community Mayors is able to make a positive difference in the lives of the children it serves.
We have no paid staff. All money raised by the organization goes directly to benefit the children. In addition, thousands of volunteers from the uniformed service organizations, businesses, government, and the community at large participate in the activities. The New York City Firefighters, the Port Authority Police of New York and New Jersey, the New York City Police Department, the NYC Sanitation Department, Secret Service, and FBI all provide significant volunteer personnel and services.
Minds, Hearts and Spirits
As you can imagine these are monumentally complicated events. But the most amazing thing is that they are completely staffed by volunteers. We are funded almost exclusively by donations from our own membership and in-kind contributions from sponsors.
Our membership boasts the best of New York’s best, including such luminaries as former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, NY State Senator Marty Golden, NY State Senator, Tony Avella, Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz, and many more.
We need your help!
BECOME A COMMUNITY MAYOR
Over 95% of received donations go directly into our events and helping the children; a percentage almost unheard of in charitable organizations.
To continue our all-important work, to enrich and expand the activities we offer children with disabilities, we need your help.
Together, we can provide these children with special needs experiences that engage their minds, hearts, and spirits.
Our History
The organization, founded by Louis Zeltner in 1875 as The Locality Mayors, was dedicated to communal civic and charitable activities and included Teddy Roosevelt among its notable members.
In 1956, under the leadership of Dominick Della Rocca, K.M., the organization was reincorporated as The Community Mayors, a 501-C-3 not-for-profit, non-political organization, with special needs children as its primary focus, dedicated to improving the quality of life of children with disabilities.
Dominick Della Rocca dedicated his life to the special children and was the Community Mayors’ Chief Mayor for almost 50 years. Today, under the leadership of his daughter Shelley, the Community Mayors provides “recreational therapy” for over 50,000 children with disabilities in the New York area each year by sponsoring a series of varied events and activities.
Board of Directors
COMMUNITY MAYORS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Today, Community Mayors operates under the leadership of Shelley Della Rocca. The organization continues to sponsor a series of events benefiting tens of thousands of special children. Business and community leaders, dedicated volunteers from uniformed service organizations (many of who are first responders), businesses, government, and the community at large make up the membership.
The Community Mayors has a Board of Directors which includes four officers and no less than 6 and no more than 15 members who serve three year terms on a rotating basis. Approximately one hundred Mayors and Associate Mayors represent communities from New York and the tri-state area.
No Paid Staff
Community Mayors for Children with Special Needs operates solely on the time dedicated by our generous volunteers. The organization has no paid staff.
Donations
All the money raised and donated by the generous community goes directly to the children we help and the series of events we host.
Our Volunteers
The Community Mayors organization is operated by members, officers, and volunteers who give their time freely and organize our events.
Hon. Shelley Della Rocca
CHIEF MAYOR, PRESIDENT & CEO
- Mayor of Bedminster, NJ
- V.P. SD Real Estate Development & Consultant
Hon. Vincent Petraro, Esq.
DEPUTY CHIEF MAYOR & VICE PRESIDENT
- Mayor of Midtown Manhattan
- Vincent L. Petraro, PLLC
- Chair of the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Advocacy Committee
Hon. Christine O’Connor
CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- Mayor of Atlantic Highlands, NJ
- Assistant Vice President, Labor & Government Accounts, Emblem Health.
Hon. Kenneth D. Honig
TREASURER
- Mayor of LaGuardia Airport
- (ret) Commanding Officer, JFK International Airport Port PAPD
- Director Redland Strategies, Emergency & Crisis Management
Hon. Vic Cipullo
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
- Mayor of Kingsbridge, Bronx
- (ret.) Vice President, NYPD Detective’s Endowment Association
Hon. Joshua E. Bienstock, Esq.
BOARD OF DIRECTOR
- Mayor of Westbury
- President, Resolve It, Inc.
Hon. Warren Jakoby
BOARD OF DIRECTOR
- Mayor of Astoria
- Jakoby Realty Associates, Inc.
Hon. Eileen Gregan
SGT-AT-ARMS
- (ret.) Trailblazer FDNY
Hon. John Gabriele, Jr.
BOARD OF DIRECTOR
- Mayor of Bulls Head, S.I.
- President DSNY Columbia Association
