Keynote features NCAA Champion wrestler Anthony Robles

Family and Children’s Association (FCA), a leading health and human services nonprofit organization on Long Island, held its 39^th Annual Scholarship Breakfast last month at Nassau County Community College in Garden City. The event celebrated the shared accomplishments of its 46 scholarship recipients, who drew inspiration from two guest speakers; past scholarship winner Andrea Gomez and motivational speaker Anthony Robles, the 2011 NCAA individual wrestling national champion in the 125-pound weight class and 3-time All-America wrestler. Born with only one leg, Robles is the author of the book, Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion.

Nassau County Community College student Andrea Gomez opened the program, speaking of her journey to college; the challenges she faced immigrating from Honduras, her time in foster care and especially her determination to succeed. “Unstoppable” Anthony Robles gave the keynote address, holding the audience in rapt attention as he chronicled his astounding journey to achieve his wrestling titles and life goals. Both speakers touched upon their successes and their setbacks, stressing the importance of persistence, accepting help, guidance, and belief in oneself.  As Robles put it, “Never let your challenges be your excuse.”

New for this year, all attendees were invited to interact with and contribute inspirational, positive quotes or words of wisdom and share them on FCA’s “Wisdom Wall.” In addition, through a collaboration with Little Words Project, which creates inspirational bracelets popularized by Taylor Swift and other celebrities, FCA customized its own “Unstoppable” bracelet.  Guests who made a $35 donation received a bracelet specially designed to honor FCA’s 2024 Scholarship recipients and remind us ALL that there are no limits to what we can do.  One hundred percent of the profits go directly to FCA and benefit the more than 35,000 Long Islanders they help every year. Bracelets are still available. Make a donation and receive your bracelet by clicking HERE. 

The scholarship breakfast celebrates the generosity of scholarship donors, the extraordinary achievements of the scholarship winners, and the dedicated staff who administer the program. As part of the breakfast program, scholarship recipients are encouraged to meet the FCA donors who help make their education journey possible, gaining further opportunity for career insights and guidance.

Over three decades, FCA has gifted more than 1,500 scholarships collectively worth over $2,000,000 to students engaged with FCA’s programs and services, enabling at-risk teens to pursue higher education and improve their lives. In 2023 35 students received scholarship support and this year, 46 students will be receiving scholarships.

About FCA

FCA is a not-for-profit agency helping more than 35,000 Long Islanders each year. For 140 years, the organization has worked to protect and strengthen vulnerable children, seniors, families, and communities on Long Island.

FCA believes in the potential of Long Island – a place where no child, senior, family or community is left to struggle alone with barriers to health care, education, employment, or economic prosperity. Long Island continues to be one of the greatest places in the world to live and raise a family for many; FCA exists to ensure that be the case for all.

For more information about FCA, visit www.fcali.org