CRADLE BEACH

The 716 Foundation is a proud supporter of Cradle Beach, which is the only year-round premium camp facility in the area that maintains the physical infrastructure, trained staff, and proven capabilities to serve children (8-16) and adults (17+) with a wide range of differing abilities and complex social, emotional, developmental, neurological, and medical conditions. Cradle Beach is a nurturing, transformative, and fun experience in nature with a 134-year legacy of serving the WNY community with excellence. Cradle Beach's programming promotes friendship and acceptance in an accessible, welcoming, fun environment. It changes the trajectories of lives by providing skill-building opportunities for those who need extra love.

At Cradle Beach participants grow and heal by experiencing diversity in all forms in a nature. It creates an inclusive community where participants and staff are welcomed, feel safe, and know they are appreciated. The programming is designed to provide opportunities for children and young adults to have meaningful connections with friends of all abilities. Staying on campus enables genuine friendships, acceptance for others, and social interactions that are needed now more than ever.

Starting in 2022, 716 Foundation began providing sponsorship and funding for Cradle Beach to support equitable access for children with disabilities and special needs under the “716 Foundation Camper Scholarship”. This will afford 15 campers the opportunity to enjoy Cradle Beach without any financial burden to their families.

716 Foundation recognizes that Cradle Beach couldn’t provide campers access without proper help. Their staff works from the heart to provide a safe haven for campers. For this reason 716 Foundation started the “Nick Zmuda Employee fund”, which provides incremental employee and staff compensation to their counselors, supervisors, young staff, lifeguards, and nurses in the form of a bonus. It is our hope that this fund will allow Cradle Beach to retain these amazing people that work tirelessly on behalf of campers.

Finally, it was brought to our attention that the basketball court at Cradle Beach was in dire need of restoration. 716 Foundation provided the funds to repair the basketball court, which included resurfacing, new bleachers for seating and storage for equipment. We’ve also installed inclusive adjustable- height basketball hoops which we will allow all campers the opportunity to participate.

716 Foundation looks forward to continuing its relationship with Cradle Beach and helping to provide much needed access to their vital programs and facilities.

We are honored to announce the “716 Foundation Employee Bonus Fund” will be named after Nick Zmunda. He is an asset to Cradle Beach as well as our community. Nick is a perfect example the hard work and dedication given by the

staff at Cradle Beach. 716 Foundation and Cradle Beach agree ,Nick sets the bar for excellence.

Nick originally became involved with Cradle Beach as a camper at just 8 years old. For the next 9 years, Nick would return to Cradle Beach each summer, working his way through the ‘Cradle Beach Continuum’. When he turned 13, he joined what Cradle Beach calls the Pioneer Campers “PC” program. It is during his time as a PC that Nick began taking on leadership roles, and when he turned 17, he became a Young Staff. Here he developed additional skills and took on more responsibilities. Nick eventually aged out of camp, but Cradle Beach never left his heart. When the organization started offering overnight Respite Weekends, Nick was thrilled to return home to Cradle Beach. While at

Respite, Nick was always helping in the kitchen and around the dining hall. Cradle Beach staff quickly

learned Nick had a real talent for helping around campus.

In 2005, Nick was hired to work for Cradle Beach during the camp season in the kitchen, helping serve thousands of meals to campers and keeping the dining hall tidy. Nick still returns every summer, working as kitchen staff. In 2015, Nick was talking with his supervisor about wanting to work more hours during the off-camp season. Because of his connection through Cradle Beach, Nick was able to find employment all on his own as a Dishwasher at Lackawanna Senior High School. Nick accredits his time at Cradle Beach with helping him build the skills necessary to be hired right on the spot!

When Nick isn’t working, he stays active volunteering in our community. He is very involved in helping fundraise for Special Olympics, including annual participation in the Polar Plunge. Nick also does volunteer work with the Erie County Fair and has been involved in SABAH for 30 years, starting as an ice skater himself in the early 1990s. Though a hard worker, Nick manages to find time to indulge in some fun too, and plays hockey with the Buffalo Sabres Thunder. When talking about Cradle Beach, Nick says “my favorite thing about Cradle Beach is that it changes people’s lives!”

“my favorite thing about Cradle Beach is that it changes people’s lives!”

- Nick Zmunda