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.

Group of teens and chaperones at Community Mayors event

Community Mayors volunteer and child smiling

Group of teens enjoying amusement park ride

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.

Make a Donation

Volunteer Registration

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.

1000000

Kids Helped

3000

Volunteers

400

Buses

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.