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HOLBROOK, N.Y. (Oct. 6, 2022) — American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (AP)—an independent broker/dealer which provides services and support to financial advisors throughout the country—continues its long-standing support of World T.E.A.M. (WT) and The Center for Discovery (TCFD) through its sponsorship and participation in the annual Adventure Team Challenge – New York (ATC), the first since 2019. Held Sept. 8-10 in upstate New York, the event celebrated its 11th years by bringing able-bodied and adaptive athletes together to accomplish a number of outdoor activities, including a bike ride, regatta and two-mile hike.
The WT goal is to “empower, enable and engage.” For more than 25 years, the non-profit organization has conducted various athletic events in partnering adaptive and able-bodied men, women and children together to accomplish physical challenges they never thought possible.
“We were thrilled to bring back this amazing program with The Center for Discovery after missing two years due to the pandemic,” said Jon Brideau, president and CEO of World T.E.A.M. “American Portfolios and their team of incredible volunteers made this possible and we are so grateful for their ongoing support to bring back this program in its 11th edition. The Center for Discovery is truly one of the most unique institutions in the world, caring for people with various disabilities and complex conditions. Their staff has a relentless pursuit of solutions to enable their residents to participate in Adventure Team Challenge New York.”
TCFD is an internationally-recognized research and innovation center that serves to provide high-quality programs and unique opportunities for personal growth to nearly 1,200 children and adults annually who have complex disabilities, medical frailties and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This year’s ATC was held on the grounds of The Center for Discovery, with the regatta taking place at Morningside Park in Hurleyville, New York, and the hiking of a new mountain trail called Red Hill Fire Tower in Claryville, New York.
AP CEO and President Lon T. Dolber, who serves as the vice chairman for WT, is the organizational force behind the partnership between WT and TCFD.
“What started as an off-the-cuff conversation with a business partner whose son was—and remains—a resident at TCFD evolved into an openness for new ideas and an outside-the-box way of thinking, resulting in the creation of an outdoor, team-building event designed for individuals with complex disabilities that followed the guiding principles of WT,” states Dolber. “For AP, the Adventure Team Challenge at TCFD has become a favorite activity for many of our staff members and affiliated investment professionals who have volunteered as WT coaches during a weekend of wonderful memories and unforeseen fulfilling experiences.”
Barring cancellations in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, AP, WT and TCFD have partnered together since 2010 to make this event possible every year. To date, more than 350 adaptive and able-bodied athletes have completed this inclusive program, comprised of a series of athletic, recreational and outdoor experiences that are designed to provide a sense of achievement and teamwork for athletes with varying abilities.
“Thanks to a beautiful partnership with American Portfolios and World Team Sports, The Center for Discovery has lovingly supported and challenged over 200 children and adult athletes in an array of exciting adaptive sports no one thought possible,” said Jim Cashen, director of recreation at The Center for Discovery. “The Center cherishes its special relationship with American Portfolios and Lon Dolber’s amazing team! This event was a smashing success, and our parents and staff alike were in awe of our athletes’ courage, determination and team spirit.”
Each team partaking in the challenge was made up of TCFD special-needs athletes alongside their able-bodied coaches. Through the inclusive competition, adaptive participants were able to build confidence, serve as role models for others, and inspire teammates and spectators.
AP Chief Administrative Officer Dalchand Laljit, a first-time participant, says, “It was a humbling and rewarding experience. I should have participated earlier. I encourage others to get involved.”
Another first-time participant, Virtual Administrative Services Specialist Miriam Zambrano, says, “Spending time with the residents was eye-opening. It allowed me to self-reflect on the struggles the residents face in their everyday lives.”
This year’s AP employee participants included: Lon Dolber, Maria Zarb, Miriam Zambrano, Cara Cutinella, Cynthia Dorsch, Patricia Salaway-Cimpric, Dalchand Laljit, Diane Hawkins and MaryAnn Rosolino. AP’s affiliated investment professionals and associates included: Ed Levine and his daughter, Amanda, David Rey, Sandy White, AP Controller Anne Antunovich’s husband, Rich, and WTS representatives Jon Brideau, Rob Cant and Alexandra Nadler.
About American Portfolios
Headquartered in Holbrook, New York, American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (APFS) is a full-service, independent broker/dealer and member firm of FINRA and SIPC, offering a complete range of financial services, including personal financial and retirement planning, securities trading, mutual funds, access to investment research, long-term care planning, insurance products and tax-free investing. Fee-based asset management is offered through its sister subsidiary, American Portfolios Advisors, Inc., (APA), an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Both entities, along with technology entity American Portfolios Advisory Solutions, LLC, collectively reside under the legal entity American Portfolios Holdings, Inc. (APH). Full-service securities brokerage is available through a clearing firm relationship with Pershing, LLC, a BNY Mellon firm, the securities of which are held on a fully disclosed basis. The company currently supports roughly 830 independent investment professionals—inclusive of registered assistants—and more than 375 non-registered associates, located in 383 branch locations throughout the nation.
American Portfolios has numerous recognitions by a number of industry publications and organizations. Such acknowledgment includes: Broker-Dealer of the Year* (Division III) by Investment Advisor magazine for six consecutive years (2015-2020); multiple 2021 ThinkAdvisor LUMINARIES Awards**; a WealthManagement.com Industry Award Finalist*** in multiple categories (2019-2022), and 2020 winner in the service category of B/Ds under 1,000 representatives for its Virtual Administrative Services (VAS) program and 2021 winner in the leadership category of B/Ds under 1,000 representatives for Chief Executive Officer of the Year; a 2021 Corporate Citizen of the Year by Long Island Business News; one of the Best Companies to Work for in the state of New York for seven consecutive years (2016-2022) by the New York State Society for Human Resources Management (NYS-SHRM) and the Best Companies Group (BCG); and one of the Top Long Island Workplaces for 2018-2020 by Newsday.
* Based on a poll of registered representatives conducted by Investment Advisor magazine. Broker/dealers rated highest by their representatives are awarded “Broker/Dealer (B/D) of the Year.”
** ThinkAdvisor LUMINARIES are selected by a distinguished and diverse panel of judges from across the advice industry, as well by the Investment Advisor editorial team.
*** Wealthmanagement.com Industry Award finalists are selected by a panel of independent judges made up of subject matter experts in the industry. Award is based on support provided to AP’s affiliated people and does not reflect public customers nor their account performance.
About World T.E.A.M.
World T.E.A.M. (WT) brings adaptive and able-bodied athletes together by empowering, enabling and engaging individuals through inclusive athletic programs. For more than a quarter century, the organization has used athletics to challenge men, women and children with disabilities to accomplish goals they never thought possible. In all programs—whether mountain climbing, biking, white water rafting or many other sports—WT includes both adaptive and able-bodied participants. Learn more at worldteamsports.org.
About The Center for Discovery
The Center for Discovery (TCFD) is a leading provider of health care and education services for more than 1,200 children and adults with complex conditions, medical frailties and Autism Spectrum Disorders, located 90 miles northwest of New York City. Named a Center of Excellence in 2016, TCFD has long been a leader in developing new models of care for individuals with complex conditions. Located on 1,500 acres of land in Sullivan County, TCFD houses school campuses, residences, medical and research facilities, organic and biodynamic farmland, and leased private businesses offering meaningful employment opportunities. Deeply focused on an individual’s personal potential and possibilities, rather than a disability, TCFD strives to create better care and unique and challenging opportunities for the most vulnerable populations. For more information about TCFD, please visit https://thecenterfordiscovery.org/.
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